Matthew 15:10-20 - Defilement From Within

¹⁰ And he called the people unto him, and said to them, "Hear and understand. ¹¹ That which goeth into the mouth, defileth not the man: but that which cometh out of the mouth, defileth the man."

¹² Then came his disciples, and said unto him, "Perceivest thou not, how that the Pharisees are offended in hearing this saying?"

¹³ He answered, and said, "All plants which my heavenly father hath not planted, shall be plucked up by the roots. ¹⁴ Let them alone, they be the blind leaders of the blind. If the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch."

¹⁵ Then answered Peter and said to him, "Declare unto us this parable."

¹⁶ Then said Jesus, "Are ye yet without an understanding? ¹⁷ Perceive ye not, that whatsoever goeth in at the mouth, descendeth down into the belly, and is cast out into the draught? ¹⁸ But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile the man. ¹⁹ For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, breaking of wedlock, whoredom, theft, false witness-bearing, blasphemy. ²⁰ These are the things which defile a man. But to eat with unwashen hands, defileth not a man."

¹⁴ And he called all the people unto him, and said unto them, "Hearken unto me every one of you and understand: ¹⁵ There is nothing without a man that can defile him when it entereth into him, but those things which proceed out of him are those which defile the man. ¹⁶ If any man have ears to hear, let him hear."

¹⁷ And when he came into a house away from the people, his disciples asked him of the similitude, ¹⁸ and he said unto them, "Are ye so without understanding? Do ye not yet perceive, that whatsoever thing from without entereth into a man, it cannot defile him, ¹⁹ because it entereth not into his heart, but into the belly: and goeth out into the draught that purgeth out all meats." ²⁰ And he said, "That defileth a man which cometh out of a man. ²¹ For from within even out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts: adultery, fornication, murder, ²² theft, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, uncleanness, and a wicked eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: ²³ All these evil things come from within, and defile a man."