There is nothing from without a man, that entering into him can defile him: but the things which come out of him, those are they that defile the man.
Nothing you put into your body from the outside world can make you spiritually unclean. It's what comes out of you, your words, your heart, your actions, that actually makes you unclean.
You're not made dirty by what goes in, but by what comes out of your heart.
📚 Historical Context
In the first century, Jewish religious leaders like the Pharisees strictly followed Old Testament laws about ceremonial cleanliness, such as ritual hand-washing before meals, to maintain purity. Jesus was addressing their criticism of His disciples for not observing these traditions, using this moment to challenge the idea that external things could defile a person. Through this teaching, He emphasized that true defilement comes from within a person's heart, not from outside sources like food or rituals.
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