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Explanation for:
Matthew
15
:
18
But the things which proceed out of the mouth, come forth from the heart, and those things defile a man.
14
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{"arr":[{"author-name":"Jerome of Stridon","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88dcd3432c6dd41375498_Jerome%20of%20Stridon.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":4,"exegesis-text":"Throughout the Gospel texts, heretics and the corrupted are beset with temptations. Some assert that the Lord, lacking knowledge of natural occurrences, believes that all nourishment simply goes to the stomach only to be expelled, despite the truth that food is absorbed and distributed throughout the body, reaching even to the marrow. Consequently, individuals suffering from gastrointestinal issues may frequently expel what they have ingested, yet still feel satisfied afterward, as liquid nourishment and beverages, upon first contact, permeate the body. However, interpreters of this sort demonstrate their own lack of understanding in their attempts to expose the ignorance of others. In actuality, even light liquids and foods, after being processed within the body’s systems, move to the lower regions and exit through the body's subtle openings, known in Greek as πόρους, and are subsequently eliminated in private."},{"author-name":"John Chrysostom","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88ea76859f9f8e2ffd3ee_John%20Chrysostom.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":4,"exegesis-text":"He spoke to correct their misconceptions and, not satisfied with that, He elaborated further: What is consumed enters the stomach and is expelled, yet what emerges from the mouth is a reflection of the heart—this is what defiles a person. For from the heart arise wicked thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, and slander—these actions pollute an individual; however, eating with unclean hands does not contaminate a person (Mt. 15:17-20). Observe how forcefully He reproaches them. He reinforces His teachings with a universal truth of nature for their instruction. By stating, ‘It goes into the belly and is expelled,’ He addresses the concerns of the Jews. He explains that food does not remain in the belly but is ejected; were it to linger in the belly, it would not be a source of defilement. Yet, they struggled to grasp this concept. Thus, the lawgiver permits food to remain unwashed in the body but commands washing once it has been expelled, as he takes into account the process of digestion and excretion. However, the impurity of the heart persists within and taints an individual, not only while it is contained but also when it is emitted. He first lists the sinful thoughts characteristic of the Jews, departing from the evidence of nature to highlight that some arise from within and others do not remain. What comes from external sources is expelled; however, that which originates internally continues to taint a person, even after it has left. He presented this argument as the disciples, as I previously mentioned, were not yet prepared to receive it with full understanding."},{"author-name":"Ephraem the Syrian","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88b589fc3e99eb7bb1839_Ephraem%20the%20Syrian.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":4,"exegesis-text":"Revere godliness as divine. Recognize the goodness of performing virtuous acts, and comprehend that harboring malicious thoughts is sinful; for even if you do not act upon your thoughts, the wickedness you conceive becomes etched in your spirit as if it were an image, while the likeness of goodness also remains imprinted within you. A righteous person embodies the thought of God, and the mind that seeks out hidden truths serves as a prophet for those in need. He who turns away from truth and seeks its shadow ultimately finds that refuge leads to his demise. Do not petition God for worldly riches that are fleeting, for the gifts from God are eternal. Strengthen your soul, so that through the wisdom bestowed upon it, it may discern what is truly worthy and, through the free will granted to it, fulfill what is commanded. The outcome of evildoers’ thoughts is inherently more detrimental than their actions."},{"author-name":"Isidore of Pelusium","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88d94130e668938c9ae9d_Isidore%20of%20Pelusium.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":5,"exegesis-text":"You inquire about the origin of evil thoughts that arise from the heart and corrupt a person. The reason is that the watchful laborers, who are meant to remain alert and oversee the flourishing of the good seed, have become complacent. If we consistently maintained vigilance over ourselves, refraining from indulgence and slumber, and preserving the divine image within us, we would prevent the sowing of harmful seeds. Consequently, the enemy would not find an opportunity to take root in us and produce weeds destined for destruction."},{"author-name":"Theophylact of Bulgaria","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c8989296bafed9104677d7_Theophylact%20of%20Bulgaria.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":11,"exegesis-text":"Ideas originate within and stay there, yet when they manifest, that is, when they transform into actions and behaviors, they corrupt an individual."},{"author-name":"Euthymios Zigabenos","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c96d263b8c22d9c467bdab_no-pic-theosis.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":11,"exegesis-text":"In Matthew 12:34, it is stated that the mouth speaks from the overflow of the heart. Initially, a longing arises within the heart, which we subsequently articulate through our words. What is received from external sources is then voiced, while what emerges from our inner being can linger and lead to defilement."},{"author-name":"Tichon of Zadonsk","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c8989ff6b5b4c943e70095_Tichon%20of%20Zadonsk.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":18,"exegesis-text":"Feet commit wrongdoing only if the soul desires it; hands act unacceptably only if the will permits it. The tongue utters hurtful words only if the heart consents. The body does not engage in immorality unless the heart chooses to do so. What value is there in refraining from external evil while harboring malevolence within? What merit is there in not stealing outwardly, yet internally being a thief? What good is it if one does not take a life with their hands, while internally fostering malice and thoughts of murder? The heart is where the murderer, the adulterer, and the thief reside. A container that is clean on the outside but filled with foulness within serves no purpose. Similarly, a person appearing virtuous externally but harboring wickedness within—one who appears humble and gentle but is filled with pride, envy, and malice—is of no benefit. Such an individual may speak with kindness and smoothness, yet possess deceit and flattery in their heart. They may refrain from robbery but fail to share their own blessings with others. Thus, those who are outwardly righteous yet internally corrupt resemble 'whitewashed tombs, which appear beautiful on the outside, but inside are full of dead bones and all uncleanness' (Matthew 23:27). Our God, the Christian, 'tests hearts and minds' and focuses on the inner self rather than external appearances (Ps. 7:10; 1 Sam. 16:7). He examines the inner heart rather than the external façade and judges accordingly. If humility is displayed outwardly, that is commendable; however, is the heart not filled with pride? While one may appear calm and unprovoked, does bitterness against a neighbor not linger within? Not physically harming your brother may be good, yet consider if hatred resides in your heart. 'Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer' (1 John 3:15). Abstaining from physical relations with a woman is commendable, but if lust fills your heart, you are as one who commits adultery. 'Anyone who looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart' (Matt. 5:28). You may not take what belongs to another, but if you covet it in your heart, you are truly a thief. If you refrain from stealing while holding onto your goods rather than sharing with the needy, you act as a thief indeed. Retaining God’s gifts solely for yourself while refusing to share with others offends just as much as hoarding your own belongings. The human heart is a vessel steeped in impurity and the foulness of desire. Beloved Christians, let us strive to purify this vessel within us so that our outward actions may be pleasing to God. The wonderful promise from God is His willingness to dwell in our hearts: 'I will dwell in them and walk among them; I will be their God, and they shall be My people' (2 Cor. 6:16; Lev. 26:12). There is no greater or more valuable treasure than having God residing within us, and no greater honor for humanity than being God's dwelling place. God inhabits a pure soul as His most cherished temple, and it is far more favorable for Him to reside within a clean soul than in human-made edifices, for the image of God resides within the soul. Let us purify our hearts, dear Christians! Let the image of God shine forth from us, revealing the beauty of our souls, so that we may truly become the temple of our God. 'Therefore, beloved, having these promises, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God' (2 Cor. 7:1). 'In the spirit of the prophet Jonah, I cry, \\"May my life, O Blessed One, be uncorrupted, and save me, O Saviour of the world,\\" proclaiming, “Glory be to You.”’"},{"author-name":"Abbot Panteleimon about the Trinity","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c96d263b8c22d9c467bdab_no-pic-theosis.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"WHAT PROCEEDS FROM THE MOUTH OR FROM THE HEART - THESE ARE WHAT MAKE A PERSON IMPURE; for from the heart arise wicked intentions, including murder, adultery, theft, greed, deceit, slander, false testimony, blasphemy, complaint against God, arrogance, insanity, and countless other sins. All transgressions spring from sinful thoughts; these malevolent thoughts emerging from the heart contaminate an individual, even if he does not consciously affirm them; they nonetheless leave a mark on the spirit. When the heart temporarily entertains a sinful idea, the contamination of the soul is inevitable. Thus, wandering thoughts that linger in the soul already corrupt a person, and when acted upon, they not only taint him but also lead him to destruction. Evil thoughts within the heart are akin to burglars in a cave, always poised to emerge and manifest as wicked actions. The Savior concluded -"},{"author-name":"Michail (Lusin)","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c89550c567e172d15b3055_Michail%20(Lusin).png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"The words that emerge from one’s mouth highlight a significant truth: even if food were to remain within the body, it would not render an individual impure. However, the impurity that resides within the heart is what truly corrupts a person; it does so not only while it remains there but also when it is expressed outwardly, intensifying the corruption (Zlat.). Similarly, the sinful desires that linger in the soul defile an individual and, when acted upon, lead not just to further defilement but ultimately to destruction (Theophilus). The heart serves as the core of the soul, from which good and evil deeds originate (cf. Matt. 22:37). In this discourse, the Lord focuses on the harmful thoughts and actions that arise from the heart, as the context necessitated addressing this particular aspect of human nature."},{"author-name":"Gladkow B.I.","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88bf0ceef8c96e09a6521_Gladkow%20B.I..png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"\\"Do you lack understanding as well?” Christ asked. “Do you not see that nothing that enters a person from the outside can make him unclean?” (Mark 7:18). It doesn’t make him unclean, because it does not penetrate his heart but goes into his stomach and is eliminated, thus purifying all food (Mk. 7:19). What comes out of the mouth — from the heart — is what makes a person unclean; for from within, out of the human heart, arise evil thoughts, adultery, sexual immorality, murder, theft, greed, wickedness, deceit, shamelessness, envy, slander, pride, and foolishness — all these evils come from within and make a person unclean (Mk. 7:21-23). Eating with unwashed hands does not render a man unclean. There is no need to elaborate further on Christ's teachings; everything is evident. However, some conclude from these words that Christ dismissed the practice of fasting, a view with which we cannot concur. Fasting, whether complete abstinence from food or consuming minimal amounts merely to sustain life, has consistently been acknowledged as a significant method for overcoming the desires of the flesh. Individuals aspiring to live a life led by reason, rather than by base instincts, have historically sought to restrain their appetites and bring them under the governance of their spirit; they recognized that excessive food and certain types of consumption (such as meat and wine) tend to inflame passions and dull the voice of conscience. Thus, they opted for total abstinence from food for a time, or avoided meat and wine, or adopted a very modest diet. Christ Himself encouraged His followers to wage war against fleshly desires and, as a model for us, fasted for forty days in the wilderness. Therefore, it cannot be concluded from His statement, 'Not that which enters the mouth defiles a man,' that He dismissed the significance and necessity of fasting. He was merely indicating that what defiles a person, making him unworthy of the Kingdom of Heaven, arises from evil thoughts and actions, rather than from the act of consuming food without observing the external cleanliness valued by the Pharisees: eating with unwashed hands does not render a man unclean, He stated, with these words clarifying any confusion regarding the true intent of this discussion.\\""},{"author-name":"Lopuchin A.P.","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c891400ee1341634d2276d_Lopuchin%20A.P..png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"The Savior instructed both the crowd and His disciples that within the kingdom of heaven, the purity of one’s heart holds greater significance than the cleanliness of one’s hands. \\"For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, thefts, false testimonies, blasphemies.\\" These actions truly \\"defile a person; but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile a person,\\" and the rule regarding this stems merely from a common expectation of cleanliness, lacking any absolute moral weight as interpreted by the Pharisees, who are described as \\"blind guides of the blind.\\""},{"author-name":"Paul Matwejewski","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c8969f5be0d592d5a10576_Paul%20Matwejewski.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"The disciples' inability to grasp the profound truths of the Kingdom of Heaven (Matt. 13:11) was worthy of admonition, prompting Jesus Christ to question them: \\"Are you also without understanding? Do you not realize that anything that enters a person from the outside cannot render them impure, since it does not reach their heart but rather goes into their stomach, and then exits the body, purging all impurities? But what comes out of the mouth is from the heart, and that is what defiles a person.\\""},{"author-name":"Bogolepow D.P.","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c96d263b8c22d9c467bdab_no-pic-theosis.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"After confronting the hypocrisy of the Pharisees, the Lord drew the people nearer and taught them about what is genuinely unclean, leading to their guilt before God. He instructed the crowd with a principle that what enters the mouth does not render a person impure, but what emerges from the mouth can defile a person. Following this declaration, as noted in Mark, Jesus entered a house where His disciples informed Him—an account unique to Matthew—that the Pharisees were offended by His teachings. The Apostles may have been troubled by the fact that Christ's words, which were meant to enlighten, appeared to instead lead the Pharisees into temptation. They might have been uneasy themselves by His declaration concerning what truly constitutes defilement, and thus brought the Pharisees’ concerns to His attention for clarity on the matter.\\n\\nThe statement about defilement in verse 11 had ensnared the Pharisees, who were so accustomed to the expectation of washing their hands for spiritual cleanliness that they viewed Christ's teachings as a threat to their traditions. They could have been upset because, in verse 11, Christ addressed the crowd, undermining their authority with His doctrine. In response to hearing of this temptation among the Pharisees, Christ either denounced the Pharisaic teaching—which was rooted in human traditions rather than divine command—indicating it needed to be dismantled, or He referred directly to the Pharisees themselves. Though they were leaders of the people, they did not embody the principles of God’s plants, acting according to divine will, and thus would face destruction.\\n\\nTherefore, He advised to disregard them, which implied either not following their teachings or risking falling into misguidance alongside them. Subsequently, Peter, representing all the disciples, sought clarification on the Lord’s enigmatic words regarding what defiles a person. Jesus explained clearly that His reference to what enters the mouth concerned food, while what emerges from the mouth signifies malicious thoughts, desires, and intentions arising from the heart. These expressions reveal the impurity of the soul, reflecting its condition, whereas food passes through the body without affecting the spirit."},{"author-name":"Alexander Gorsky","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c8884037c1e1c51e1332e2_Alexander%20Gorsky.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"What, then, is the significance of the perplexing statement, \\"It shall not enter into the mouth\\"? Does it undermine Moses' laws regarding the distinction between clean and unclean foods, or not? If it does undermine these laws, how can it be reconciled with the regard for the law that led the Lord to dismiss the tradition of the Korban? If it does not undermine these laws, what understanding can we derive from it? The disciples were unsure how to interpret this, prompting them to seek clarification from the Lord. Peter requested that the Lord explain this parable to them. The Lord, taken aback by their lack of insight, emphasized that food, as an external entity, does not cause inner moral defilement. (This does not imply that all types of food are inconsequential to individuals. As long as divine commandments remain in place, consuming food that contravenes these laws can render a person unclean, stemming from a heart that disregards the law and caters to desires of the flesh). The other aspect of the parable points to the fact that the source of moral impurity resides within the human heart; therefore, those who aspire to maintain purity before God must first cleanse their hearts. The Lord did not delve into the laws governing clean and unclean foods, which would come to an end with the abrogation of the entire Old Testament system upon the inauguration of the New Covenant between God and humanity, establishing the spiritual law within the hearts of the new Israel. Nevertheless, He made it clear to His disciples that those external regulations are, even now, significantly inferior to the internal standards."}]}
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