Matthew 15:11
“What goes into someone’s mouth does not defile them, but what comes out of their mouth, that is what defiles them.”
“What goes into someone’s mouth does not defile them, but what comes out of their mouth, that is what defiles them.”
I don’t know how familiar you might be with Jesus’ ministry on earth, but at just about every turn the Pharisees were there trying to trip Jesus up and make Him look like He didn’t know what He was doing. They were like, “Well, what about this law Jesus” or “How could you heal that person on the Sabbath, Jesus?” And Jesus would always be composed and confident and would tell them why they were wrong, sometimes even in front of large
crowds (probably hurt the Pharisees’ ego a little bit).
In Matthew 15, the Pharisees are trying to trip Jesus up on some traditions and ceremonial cleanliness rules and one of the things Jesus says is, “What goes into someone’s mouth does not defile them, but what comes out of their mouth, that is what defiles them.” Great words then and now, but what does that mean for us now?
Do you think you’re a good person? Maybe not Mother Teresa, but like, generally pretty good? How do you check yourself? We as humans want to be good, we want to feel like we are doing the best we can in all we do, we live off of accomplishment. So how do you navigate through your own blindness, meaning your own desire to see yourself as good, and really check yourself to see where God still needs to help you grow? With what comes out of your mouth.
In James chapter 3, he spends a large part of the chapter talking about taming your tongue. Jesus, in the following verses in Matthew 15, explains that the things that come out of our mouth come out of our hearts. In other words, the things you talk about are the things you desire. Find yourself a good friend who you can trust and talk to them. Tell them the good and the bad things you think about and let them be your accountability.
God loves you, earnestly seeks to be in relationship with you, and wants you to have a full and prosperous life, that’s why He tells us how to check ourselves. SO WE CAN GROW. If the things that come out of your mouth
aren’t things that you are proud to tell a parent or a good friend, then maybe it’s time to do some soul searching and ask God to help you grow. I mean, it’s quarantine, when else will you have so much time to think.
This week take time with a trusted, Christian friend and pour your hearts out to each other, talk. Then pray and ask God to help you grow. He loves you and wants you to be successful and that starts with who you are at your
core.