Matthew 15:17 - What Defiles a Man

Audio Bible

Context

What Defiles a Man
…16“Do you still not understand?” Jesus asked. 17“ Do you not yet realize that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and then is eliminated? 18But the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, and these things defile a man.…

Cross References

Mark 7:18-19
“Are you still so dull?” He asked. “Do you not understand? Nothing that enters a man from the outside can defile him, / because it does not enter his heart, but it goes into the stomach and then is eliminated.” (Thus all foods are clean.)Matthew 12:34
You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks.Luke 6:45
The good man brings good things out of the good treasure of his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil treasure of his heart. For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks.Romans 14:17
For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit.1 Corinthians 6:13
“Food for the stomach and the stomach for food,” but God will destroy them both. The body is not intended for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body.Acts 10:14-15
“No, Lord!” Peter answered. “I have never eaten anything impure or unclean.” / The voice spoke to him a second time: “Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.”1 Timothy 4:4-5
For every creation of God is good, and nothing that is received with thanksgiving should be rejected, / because it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.Colossians 2:21-22
“Do not handle, do not taste, do not touch!”? / These will all perish with use, because they are based on human commands and teachings.Romans 14:20
Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All food is clean, but it is wrong for a man to let his eating be a stumbling block.Titus 1:15
To the pure, all things are pure; but to the defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure. Indeed, both their minds and their consciences are defiled.Genesis 1:29-30
Then God said, “Behold, I have given you every seed-bearing plant on the face of all the earth, and every tree whose fruit contains seed. They will be yours for food. / And to every beast of the earth and every bird of the air and every creature that crawls upon the earth—everything that has the breath of life in it—I have given every green plant for food.” And it was so.Leviticus 11:2-47
“Say to the Israelites, ‘Of all the beasts of the earth, these ones you may eat: / You may eat any animal that has a split hoof completely divided and that chews the cud. / But of those that only chew the cud or only have a divided hoof, you are not to eat the following: The camel, though it chews the cud, does not have a divided hoof; it is unclean for you. ...Deuteronomy 14:3-21
You must not eat any detestable thing. / These are the animals that you may eat: The ox, the sheep, the goat, / the deer, the gazelle, the roe deer, the wild goat, the ibex, the antelope, and the mountain sheep. ...Isaiah 29:13
Therefore the Lord said: “These people draw near to Me with their mouths and honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me. Their worship of Me is but rules taught by men.Ezekiel 4:14
“Ah, Lord GOD,” I said, “I have never defiled myself. From my youth until now I have not eaten anything found dead or mauled by wild beasts. No unclean meat has ever entered my mouth.”

Matthew 7:19,20
Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire…

Luke 6:45
A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.

1 Corinthians 6:13
Meats for the belly, and the belly for meats: but God shall destroy both it and them. Now the body is not for fornication, but for the Lord; and the Lord for the body.

and is.

2 Kings 10:27
And they brake down the image of Baal, and brake down the house of Baal, and made it a draught house unto this day.

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Matthew 15

Do you not yet realize
This phrase indicates a teaching moment where Jesus is addressing His disciples' lack of understanding. It reflects a common theme in the Gospels where Jesus often had to clarify spiritual truths to His followers. The use of "yet" suggests that this is part of an ongoing lesson, emphasizing patience and the gradual process of spiritual enlightenment. This moment is part of a larger discourse where Jesus challenges the Pharisees' focus on external rituals over internal purity (Matthew 15:1-20).

that whatever enters the mouth
Here, Jesus refers to the act of eating, which was heavily regulated by Jewish dietary laws. These laws, found in Leviticus 11 and Deuteronomy 14, were central to Jewish identity and religious practice. Jesus is challenging the traditional view that physical consumption can defile a person spiritually. This teaching foreshadows the New Covenant, where external rituals are less significant than internal faith and purity (Acts 10:9-16, where Peter receives a vision about clean and unclean animals).

goes into the stomach
This phrase highlights the natural, biological process of digestion, which is a neutral act in itself. Jesus uses this physiological fact to illustrate that food, as a physical substance, does not have the power to defile a person spiritually. This teaching aligns with the broader biblical theme that God is more concerned with the heart and intentions than with external observance (1 Samuel 16:7).

and then is eliminated?
The process of elimination signifies the temporary nature of food's impact on the body. Jesus uses this to contrast with the enduring impact of what comes from the heart, such as thoughts and intentions, which can truly defile a person (Matthew 15:18-20). This teaching underscores the importance of internal purity and aligns with the prophetic call for a new heart and spirit found in Ezekiel 36:26.

Persons / Places / Events

1. Jesus Christ
The central figure in this passage, Jesus is teaching His disciples about the nature of defilement and purity.

2. Disciples
Followers of Jesus who are learning from His teachings and seeking to understand His message.

3. Pharisees and Scribes
Religious leaders who often challenged Jesus and His teachings, particularly regarding the traditions of the elders.

4. Crowd
The larger group of people who were present to hear Jesus' teachings and witness His interactions with the religious leaders.

5. Gennesaret
The region where Jesus and His disciples were ministering at this time, located on the northwest shore of the Sea of Galilee.

Teaching Points

Understanding True Defilement
Jesus teaches that defilement is not about external actions or rituals but about the condition of the heart. Believers should focus on internal purity and righteousness.

Guarding the Heart
Since defilement comes from within, Christians are called to guard their hearts diligently, ensuring that their thoughts and desires align with God's will.

Challenging Traditions
Jesus challenges the traditions of the Pharisees, reminding believers to evaluate traditions and practices against the truth of Scripture.

Focus on Inner Transformation
Spiritual growth involves inner transformation through the Holy Spirit, rather than mere adherence to external rules.

Living Out Faith
Believers are encouraged to live out their faith authentically, allowing their actions to reflect the purity and righteousness of their hearts.

Lists and Questions

Top 10 Lessons from Matthew 15Did Jesus come to abolish the law? (Matthew 5:17 vs. Ephesians 2:15)In Matthew 17:24-27, Jesus tells Peter to find a coin in a fish's mouth to pay the temple tax. Is there any evidence or logical explanation for this unusual claim?If some of Jesus' own disciples still doubted (Matthew 28:17), how can their testimony about the resurrection be considered credible?How do warnings against guaranteeing a neighbor's debt in Proverbs 6:1-5 align with Jesus's teachings on generosity (Matthew 5:42)?

(17) Is cast out into the draught.--The word is used in its old English meaning, as equivalent to drain, sewer, cesspool (see 2Kings 10:27). St. Mark (Mark 7:19) adds the somewhat perplexing words, "purging all meats," on which see Note on that verse. The principle implied is that a process purely physical from first to last cannot in itself bring any moral defilement. It was possible, of course, that the appetites connected with that process might bring the taint of moral evil; but then these appetites were there before the food, and they took their place among the things that came "out of the heart," and not into it.

Verse 17. - Whatsoever entereth in at the mouth, etc. Food taken into the mouth goes into the stomach, is assimilated into the bodily system, and its refuse passes away to the draught (ἀφεδρῶνα), the necessary house. It has nothing to do with the heart or the moral being; it affects only the material organization, and has no connection with the spiritual. Christ does not concern himself with questions, which modern philosophers would attempt to solve, concerning the mutual influence of soul and body, the animal and spiritual nature; he puts forth an argument which every one could receive, plain even to those "without understanding." This is the elucidation of the first part of ver. 11. The further explanation follows in vers. 18, 19. Parallel Commentaries ...

Greek

“Do you not yet realize
νοεῖτε (noeite)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 3539: From nous; to exercise the mind, i.e. to comprehend, heed.

that
ὅτι (hoti)
Conjunction
Strong's 3754: Neuter of hostis as conjunction; demonstrative, that; causative, because.

whatever
πᾶν (pan)
Adjective - Nominative Neuter Singular
Strong's 3956: All, the whole, every kind of. Including all the forms of declension; apparently a primary word; all, any, every, the whole.

enters
εἰσπορευόμενον (eisporeuomenon)
Verb - Present Participle Middle or Passive - Nominative Neuter Singular
Strong's 1531: To journey in(to), I go in(to), enter, intervene. From eis and poreuomai; to enter.

the
τὸ (to)
Article - Accusative Neuter Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

mouth
στόμα (stoma)
Noun - Accusative Neuter Singular
Strong's 4750: The mouth, speech, eloquence in speech, the point of a sword.

goes
χωρεῖ (chōrei)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 5562: From chora; to be in space, i.e. to pass, enter, or to hold, admit.

into
εἰς (eis)
Preposition
Strong's 1519: A primary preposition; to or into, of place, time, or purpose; also in adverbial phrases.

the
τὴν (tēn)
Article - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

stomach
κοιλίαν (koilian)
Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 2836: From koilos; a cavity, i.e. the abdomen; by implication, the matrix; figuratively, the heart.

and then
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

is eliminated?
ἐκβάλλεται (ekballetai)
Verb - Present Indicative Middle or Passive - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 1544: To throw (cast, put) out; I banish; I bring forth, produce. From ek and ballo; to eject.

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Matthew 15:17 Catholic BibleNT Gospels: Matthew 15:17 Don't you understand that whatever goes into (Matt. Mat Mt)