Text: Matthew 15:10-20 (Reading by Andy Anderson)
What makes a man defiled?
The Scribes and Pharisees accused Jesus’ disciples of defiling themselves as they ate bread with unwashed hands (Matthew 15:1-2). Jesus responded to the scribes and Pharisees by showing that they did not keep God’s commandments themselves because of their tradition (Matthew 15:3-9).

It is not what goes into the mouth that makes a man defiled, but what comes out of the mouth, for the mouth shows the heart. Are you showing the heart of a man defiled by sin?
I. A man is not defiled by what goes into his mouth.
A. Jesus explained to His disciples that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach, and is eliminated (Matthew 15:17; Mark 7:18-19).
B. Paul explained that food is for the stomach and stomach for food, but God will destroy both (1 Corinthians 6:13).
C. Peter learned that God has the authority to call unclean food clean (Acts 10:14-15; Leviticus 11).
D. Paul was convinced that nothing is unclean of itself (Romans 14:14-17).
E. Food is not to be refused if it is received with thanksgiving (1 Timothy 4:3-4).

II. What comes out of the mouth comes from the heart.
A. We should not let our mouth cause us to sin (Ecclesiastes 5:6).
B. Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks (Matthew 12:34-37).
C. The tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity (James 3:6, 8-10).

III. What is in the heart defiles a man.
A. The LORD searches the heart (Jeremiah 17:9-10; 11:20; Revelation 2:23).
B. As a man thinks in his heart, so is he (Proverbs 23:7; 27:19).
C. Jesus explained what was in man’s heart (Matthew 15:19-20; Mark 7:21-23).
D. The word of God is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart (Hebrews 4:12).

What comes out of the mouth comes from the heart, and it shows a man defiled! Instead of putting evil into our hearts, we need to put in the good and remove what defiles us.

* Jesus said, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God (Matthew 5:8).
* Ezekiel pleaded, “Cast away all the transgressions which you have committed, and get yourselves a new heart and a new spirit (Ezekiel 18:31).”
* David pleaded, “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me (Psalm 51:10).”

Does your mouth show the heart of a man defiled? Won’t you get a pure heart right now by washing it clean from sin with the blood of Christ?