“But the things that come out of a person’s mouth come from the heart, and these defile them.” – Matthew 15:8
Do you know someone who is always angry and bitter? What about someone who is always upbeat and positive? Well that’s a glimpse into their hearts, according to Matthew 15.
It started when the Pharisees came to Jesus and asked Him why His disciples didn’t wash their hands before they ate, because that was breaking the Pharisaical law. Jesus asked them in return why they broke the commandment to honor your father and mother by taking from their parents to “give to the church,” when really it was going to them.
At that point He differentiated that what you put into your body can’t harm you because it digests and comes out. What comes out of your mouth, though, is born of the sin in your soul.
Let’s all think about this, and it’s going to hurt.
Looking at a skinny girl and saying, “She needs a cheeseburger.”
Looking at a homeless man and saying, “He should get a job.”
Attacking someone because of their political beliefs.
Shaming someone because they live differently than we do.
Being rude to the waiter.
Treating someone like they’re stupid because your expertise is not their expertise.
Judging someone by the color of their skin, their gender, their lifestyle.
The list goes on, and in my opinion not only does it show that we may have some serious God work to do (we all do, so it’s a safe bet), but it’s indicative that we’re putting ourselves and our own opinions over God’s commands. That’s just a split hair away from idolatry, which is literally anything we put ahead of God in our priorities, whether it’s intentional or not.
Make it a game until it’s a habit: Every time you have an ugly thought or something mean comes out of your mouth, stop it there. Ask God to forgive you, and correct the thought. Because Jesus would have loved that girl just exactly like she was. He would have helped the homeless man. He loved in spite of politics and social standing. The only people he spoke harshly to were Pharisees and demons. He respected others.
Ask God to show you if you might more closely resemble a Pharisee than Christ, and then listen and allow Him to convict you if He needs to. Goodness knows I need a reminder quite often that I’m not the expert on everything moral.
We quote John 3:16 all the time, but do you know verse 17? “For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him.”
If He didn’t send Jesus to condemn, He sure didn’t send you to do it. Love first. ❤️
