'Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man': an exposition on Christ's words in Matthew 15:11

LESSON 5

NOT THAT WHICH GOETH INTO THE MOUTH DEFILETH A MAN; BUT THAT WHICH COMETH OUT OF THE MOUTH, THIS DEFILETH A MAN: AN EXPOSITION ON CHRIST'S WORDS IN MATTHEW 15:11

You are welcome to another edition of Insights from God's Word, a Bible study programme that is committed to sharing God's Word by allowing the Bible to speak for itself. In this edition, we continue with our series on How to Prosper in Health. The topic for this study is: "Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man": an exposition on Christ's words in Matthew 15:11. Many in Christendom today have been led to view the words of Christ in Matthew 15:11 as a justification to eat any flesh food, whether clean or unclean. But beloved, a careful analysis of the entire passage show that this text has nothing to do with the supposed Christian liberty to eat unclean food. Now, let us examine closely some of the key texts in Matthew 15 that helps us to come away with a correct understanding of this seemingly confusing text.

Friends, the passage of Mathew 15 opens with some scribes and Pharisees from Jerusalem confronting Christ and saying unto Him: "2 Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? FOR THEY WASH NOT THEIR HANDS WHEN THEY EAT BREAD" (Matthew 15:2; Capital Emphasis Added). From this text in Matthew 15:2, we glean two important points:

1) The issue that the religious leaders confronted Christ with had to do with outward washing ceremonies before eating.

2) The food in context is bread and not flesh food.

With these two points clearly fixed in our mind, we can now progress comfortably into the passage of Matthew 15. As we read further into the chapter, we learn that after Christ has heard the accusation of the scribes and Pharisees, He chastised them for holding up the tradition of men while transgressing the commandments of God (see Matthew 15:7; Matthew 15:13).

When Christ was through with the scribes and Pharisees, He called the multitude closer to Himself and said: "10 ... hear and understand: 11 Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man" (Matthew 15:10-11). As we progress in the chapter of Matthew 15, we learn that the disciples did not understand Christ when He made the statement: "Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man" (Matthew 15:11). From Matthew 15:15-20, we read about the disciples' question through Peter, and Christ's answer to them: "15:15 Then answered Peter and said unto him, Declare unto us this parable.

15:16 And Jesus said, Are ye also yet without understanding?

15:17 Do not ye yet understand, that whatsoever entereth in at the mouth goeth into the belly, and is cast out into the draught? (It is important to note that in this text, Christ was referring to clean food such as bread as the context depicts and not unclean food)

15:18 But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man.

15:19 For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:

15:20 These are the things which defile a man: BUT TO EAT WITH UNWASHEN HANDS DEFILETH NOT A MAN."

(Matthew 15:15-20; Emphasis Added) Friends, Christ's last statement in Matthew 15:20 settles the issue concerning our study today. In His statement: "but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man"; we learn clearly that the issue in Matthew 15 was not about flesh food, but rather, outward ceremonies that the scribes and Pharisees have raised to a status equal to the commandments of God. From Mark's version of the same account, we find interesting parallels: "7:3 For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, except they WASH THEIR HANDS OFT, eat not, holding the tradition of the elders.

7:4 And when they come from the market, EXCEPT THEY WASH, they eat not. And many other things there be, which they have received to hold, AS THE WASHING OF CUPS, AND POTS, BRASEN VESSELS, AND OF TABLES.

7:5 Then the Pharisees and scribes asked him, Why walk not thy disciples according to the tradition of the elders, BUT EAT BREAD WITH UNWASHEN HANDS?"

(Mark 7:3-5; Capital Emphasis Added) Friends, this passage from the gospel of Mark lends great support to the interpretation we have gone through so far. The disciple Mark also makes it clear that the issue of contention that arose between the religious leaders and Christ had to do with outward washing ceremonies and not the consumption of unclean flesh. In fact, Mark also notes the food within the middle of the controversy as bread.

Beloved, if one should carefully go through the entire passages of Matthew 15:1-20 and Mark 7:1-23, it will be difficult for the person to utilise the two passages as scriptural support for the eating of unclean animals, when the issue in context is about outward washing ceremonies. Nevertheless, in spite of this clear message, some in Christendom continue to argue that the passage of Matthew 15:11 supports the eating of all food including the unclean animal species.

Such people utilise the passage of Mark 7:18-19 as key texts to support their stance on their interpretation of Matthew 15:11. The passage in Mark 7:18-19 reads: "7:18 And he saith unto them, Are ye so without understanding also? Do ye not perceive, that whatsoever thing from without entereth into the man, it cannot defile him;

7:19 Because it entereth not into his heart, but into the belly, and goeth out into the draught, PURGING ALL MEATS?"

(Mark 7:18-19; Capital Emphasis Added) Friends, people who interpret Matthew 15:11 as a justification from Christ to make use of all food including even the unclean animal species also view the phrase "purging all meats?" in Mark 7:19 as a license from Christ to make use of even the unclean animals as food. But if such people had only looked at the phrase twice, they would have realized that the phrase is not an affirmative statement, but rather a rhetorical question.

The question "purging all meats?" is a very deep question through which I believe Christ affirmed the perpetuity of the dietary law as against the outward ceremonies of unnecessary hand washing customs. It is however sad to observe that some modern translations of Scripture (such as the NIV, RSV, NLT and GNT), which follow the dynamic view of interpretation have specialized in twisting key words in the original texts, thus making clear Bible passages seem confusing. To protect yourself from being deceived by inaccurate translations, I will encourage you to compare various literal and dynamic translations as you seek to understand various passages of Scripture. In doing this, you will be treading on safer grounds.

Friends, from the scriptural passages we have reviewed so far, it is clear that texts of Matthew 15:11 and Mark 7:19 do not teach that God's people have the liberty to make use of unclean animals as food. The issue that was addressed by Christ had to do with outward washing ceremonies in relation to clean food (such as bread) that the Jews had lifted up even beyond the clear commandments of God.

Exhortation: "For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly. O LORD of hosts, blessed is the man that trusteth in thee" (Psalms 84:11-12).

In our next study, we will consider the topic: "What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common": an exposition on Peter's vision in Acts 10. The Bible study references for this study are Acts 10:1-35 and Galatians 2:11-14. Please do well to go through these passages before the next study is released.

Stay blessed and keep shining for King Jesus.

Maranatha!

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