Matthew 14

“Every plant,” Jesus replied, “that my heavenly Father has not planted will be rooted up. 
Let them be; they are but blind guides; and, if one blind person guides another, both of them will fall into a ditch.” Peter spoke up: “Explain this saying to us.”

“What, do even you understand nothing yet?” Jesus exclaimed.  “Do you not see that whatever goes into the mouth passes into the stomach, and is afterward expelled? But the things that come out from the mouth proceed from the heart, and it is these that make a person unclean; for out of the heart proceed bad thoughts – murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, perjury, slander. These are the things that make a person unclean but eating with unwashed hands does not make a person unclean.”  Matthew 15:13-20

This reading is in response to the disciples telling Jesus that the Pharisees were upset about what Jesus had just said in response to them coming and pointing out that his followers were eating with unclean hands which was against their traditions.

Two things jump out at me here.  The first is what Jesus says about the blind guides leading another and both falling into a ditch and the second is about our hearts and how what comes out of our mouths, reflects our heart.

I think it can be easy to be deceived by a wolf in sheep’s clothing if we aren’t paying attention.

In Matthew 7:15-16 Jesus talks about false prophets and how we will know them by the fruit of their lives.  He’s telling us to look closely at their lives to see who they really are.

In our verses today, he’s telling us to listen to what comes out people’s mouths because it reflects what is in their heart, so that we are not lead astray.

Today, we have so many voices talking at us 24/7, on the news and social media.  It can be overwhelming and hard to not let it seep into the crevasses of our hearts.  To let it begin to harden them, change them, darken them.

I think Jesus is telling us here to listen carefully to the words we hear, to the words spoken or shared around us so that we can get a glimpse of the “speaker’s” heart.  He is also telling us that if we follow the wrong people they will lead us astray, straight into the ditch.

Are the words we are listening to kind and loving?  Do they offer support and empathy?  Do they reflect a “pure” heart, as in do they reflect the teachings of Jesus and basic human decency?  Do they speak truth or do they work to deceive us? Do they bring us together as siblings or do they separate us into us vs. them?   Are they humble? Do they reflect Jesus’ servant leadership?  Or do they tear others down, while lifting themselves up?  Are they showing kindness and love to everyone?

This is how we will know who they are, this is how we will recognize the false prophets, the wolves in sheep’s clothing, the blind guides who will lead their followers into the ditch.

May we have eyes to see and ears to hear.  May we not be deceived by those who have unclean hearts and if we have been, may our eyes be opened so that we can change course, away from the ditch. May we look in our hearts and find the light and love hiding there and let it loose to shine brightly for all to see.  

Until next time…♥️