“For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until He comes.” 1 Cor. 11:26

“Let each one do just as he has purposed in his heart; not under compulsion; for God loves a cheerful giver.” 2 Cor. 9:7

The True Source of Spiritual Defilement Mark 7:14-23

Rosary Beads Burning Incense Lighting of Candles Wearing veils and other religious clothing

Mark 7:5 And the Pharisees and the scribes asked Him, “Why do Your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat their bread with impure hands?”

Mark 7:6-8 And He said to them, “Rightly did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written, 'THIS PEOPLE HONORS ME WITH THEIR LIPS BUT THEIR HEART IS FAR AWAY FROM ME. 7‘BUT IN VAIN DO THEY WORSHIP ME, TEACHING AS DOCTRINES THE PRECEPTS OF MEN.’ 8 “Neglecting the commandment of God, you hold to the tradition of men.”

True spiritual defilement is a condition of the heart and is a result of neglecting Gods commands.

That Which Does Not Defile (1) That Which Does Not Defile

Mark 7:14-16 And after He called the multitude to Him again, He {began} saying to them, “Listen to Me, all of you, and understand: 15 there is nothing outside the man which going into him can defile him; but the things which proceed out of the man are what defile the man. 16 [“If any man has ears to hear, let him hear.”]

Mark 7:17-18 And when leaving the multitude, He had entered the house, His disciples questioned Him about the parable. 18 And He said to them, “Are you so lacking in understanding also? Do you not understand that whatever goes into the man from outside cannot defile him;

Mark 7:19 because it does not go into his heart, but into his stomach, and is eliminated?” ( {Thus He} declared all foods clean.)

Mark 7:14 And after He called the multitude to Him again, He {began} saying to them, “Listen to Me, all of you, and understand:

Mark 7:14 And after He called the multitude to Him again, He {began} saying to them, “Listen to Me, all of you, and understand:

Matt. 15:11 “Not what enters into the mouth defiles the man, but what proceeds out of the mouth, this defiles the man.” Matt. 15:20 “These are the things which defile the man; but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile the man.”

Matt. 15:15 And Peter answered and said to Him, “Explain the parable to us.”

Why Food Cannot Defile It does not go into the heart. It goes into the stomach and is eliminated.

1Tim. 4:4-5 For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected, if it is received with gratitude; 5 for it is sanctified by means of the word of God and prayer.

(2) That Which Does Defile

Mark 7:20-23 And He was saying, “That which proceeds out of the man, that is what defiles the man. 21 “For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed the evil thoughts, fornications, thefts, murders, adulteries,

Mark 7:22-23 deeds of coveting {and} wickedness, {as well} {as} deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride {and} foolishness. 23 “All these evil things proceed from within and defile the man.”

That Which Defiles Evil Thoughts The foundation for evil acts. These are well considered acts. This man realizes what he is doing. Fornication's (NIV - Sexual immorality) Every kind of sexual corruption. Thefts A mean, deceitful,dishonorable pilferer, John 12:6 - Judas

John 12:6 Now he said this, not because he was concerned about the poor, but because he was a thief, and as he had the money box, he used to pilfer what was put into it.

That Which Defiles Murders Adulteries Greediness (NAS - Deeds of coveting) From two Greek words which mean - to have more. The spirit which snatches at that which is not right to take. The lust in the heart of man who sees happiness in things.

That Which Defiles Iniquities (NIV - Malice) (NAS - Wickedness) This represents the man in whose heart there is the desire to harm. The word for wickedness (evil) is used in reference to Satan - the Evil one. So this wickedness not only affects the man who has it, but others too.

That Which Defiles Deceit Comes from a word which means bait and is used for trickery The idea of a mousetrap Fraud - concealed dishonesty Lewdness (NAS – Sensuality) A disposition of the soul that resents all discipline. The one who is lost to decency and to shame. This individual never hesitates to shock his fellow man.

That Which Defiles An evil eye (NIV, NAS - Envy) The eye that looks at the success and happiness of another in such a way that it would cast an evil spell upon it if it could. This individual actually grieves at the happiness of others. Blasphemy (NIV, NAS - Slander) The idea of insulting man or God. Abusive language against man or God.

That Which Defiles Arrogance (NAS - Pride) Showing oneself above The attitude of a man who has a certain contempt for everyone except himself. The Greeks also used this to describe an attitude that may never become public. This individual may seem humble but in his heart be proud. Yet, sometimes this pride is evident. Foolishness (NIV - Folly) This is not brainless folly or a weak intellect It describes the man who chooses to play the fool.

Mark 7:23 “All these evil things proceed from within and defile the man.”

1John 1:5 And this is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is light, and in Him there is no darkness at all.

Rom. 1:28-29 And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper, 29 being filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, greed, evil; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malice; {they are} gossips,

Rom. 1:30-31 slanderers, haters of God, insolent, arrogant, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, 31 without understanding, untrustworthy, unloving, unmerciful;

Gal. 5:19-20 Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions,

Gal. 5:21 envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you just as I have forewarned you that those who practice such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

True spiritual defilement is a condition of the heart and is a result of neglecting Gods commands.

John 8:24 “I said therefore to you, that you shall die in your sins; for unless you believe that I am {He} , you shall die in your sins.”

Acts 17:30 “Therefore having overlooked the times of ignorance, God is now declaring to men that all everywhere should repent,

Matt. 10:32 “Everyone therefore who shall confess Me before men, I will also confess him before My Father who is in heaven.

Acts 22:16 ‘And now why do you delay? Arise, and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on His name.’

Rom. 6:7 for he who has died is freed from sin. Rom. 6:12-13 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body that you should obey its lusts, 13 and do not go on presenting the members of your body to sin {as} instruments of unrighteousness; but present yourselves to God as those alive from the dead, and your members {as} instruments of righteousness to God.