Mark Chapter 7

“When Jesus went indoors, away from the crowd, his followers began questioning him about this saying.  ‘What, do even you understand so little?’ exclaimed Jesus.  ‘Do you not see that there is nothing external to a person, which by going into a person, can defile them because it does not pass into their heart, but into their stomach, and is afterward gotten rid off?’ — in saying this Jesus pronounced all food ‘clean.’  It is what comes out from a person,’ he added, ‘that defiles them, for it is from within, out of the hearts of people , that there come evil thoughts —sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, wickedness, deceit, indecency, envy, slander, haughtiness, folly, all these wicked things come from within, and do defile a person.”  Mark 7:17-23

Sometimes, scripture really calls us out, doesn’t it?  I feel like this passage does.  It’s not what goes into our bodies that makes us unclean, it’s what comes out from our hearts that does.

It’s our words and actions, that make us unclean.  It’s what we say, what we do.  It’s how we treat people.  I bet it’s even our inaction and our silence as well, that reflects what is in our hearts too.

I mean, when we speak up and out about the harm caused to others. What does that reflect?  What does it reflect when we put our  bodies between someone else and harm?  What does it reflect when we call for compassion?  When we call for equality, equity?  What does it reflect when we seek basic human care for our neighbors?

What does it reflect when we stand by and watch atrocities  happen without saying or doing anything?  Or when we say, they deserve it, or they shouldn’t have been there, they should stay out of it?  What does that reflect from our hearts?  Or following someone who does all the things listed in the scripture above that are unclean?  What does it say about our hearts when we refuse to see the injustice going on all around us and excuse and even praise those who are perpetrating it?  What does it reflect when we can’t care enough about another person to want them to have a good, safe life?

Jesus listed 12 traits in a list of ‘wickedness’ that comes from within that defiles us.  But throughout all of his teachings he talks about and reflects himself compassion, love, kindness.  In his living he taught us over and over again to love, to be kind, to care for one another.  No wonder he said to his followers, “What, Do even YOU understand so little?”  

I wonder if today, he is asking the same question of so many of his followers.  “What, do even YOU understand so little?”

Until next time…♥️