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Mark 
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Day 164

2 Peter 1:12 "For this reason I will not be negligent to remind you always of these things..."

Day 164 – Mark 7

“For this reason I will not be negligent to remind you always of these things…” 2 Peter 1:12

THE CORRECT UNDERSTANDING

What would really defile a person? The following text is an important one. It reveals for us what truly can defile a person.

“And He said,
‘What comes out of a man, that defiles a man.
For from within, out of the heart of men proceed
evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders,
thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness,
an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness.
All these evil things come from within and defile a man.'”
MARK 7:20-23

How may we understand what Jesus was trying to teach His Disciples? Let us consider the following thoughts:-

1. The human heart is already defiled

This was a truth that the scribes and Pharisees chose to overlook!

2. The keeping of rituals do nothing for the defiled heart

This was another truth that the scribes and Pharisees did not touch on. The keeping of rituals do absolutely nothing for the human heart at all!

3. Evil thoughts… Evil things (deeds)

The focus should be on the matter of how to combat the problem of evil. The emphasis on keeping rituals was missing the mark!

4. Defilement because of evil thoughts and deeds

a) The Old Testament recognized the fact of defilement from sinful deeds.
b) Sin can affect the individual in the most dreadful manner.
i) The heart becomes contaminated.
ii) The soul would feel that it is sick and needs healing (Cf. Psalm 41:4).
iii) The individual would do well to seek cleansing from the Lord (Cf. Psalm 51:7).

The scribes and Pharisees consistently failed to address doctrines that deal with the heart. Their main focus was always on the external and the ceremonial! Ritualism would never be able to bring about the cleansing of the heart.