20 He went on: ‘What comes out of a person is what defiles them. 21 For it is from within, out of a person’s heart, that evil thoughts come – sexual immorality, theft, murder, 22 adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. 23 All these evils come from inside and defile a person.’ (Mark 7:20-23)
These are heart-searching verses. It is easy to focus on externals. How do I look? How am I doing outwardly in my life?
The Pharisees and teachers of the law (v1-3) questioned Jesus because his disciples didn’t look like good religious people. They didn’t keep the outward tradition of hand washing.
We can emphasise the outward at the expense of the heart. We can even attend almost every church meeting but our heart is elsewhere, filled with things that defile us.
The things in the heart come out (v20). But isn’t it better to root them our before they come out?
Some of these things are obvious “big” sins, like murder and adultery. But these start in the heart with hatred and lust. Other things are more “normal” in our culture. Like “arrogance” (v22), or pride. We like to think well of ourselves, better than those around us. Or “folly” (that is, being without reason). We just respond without reflecting biblically and asking ourselves, “is this wise?”
Our hearts, that is , our inmost beings, our so important. We can mask things outwardly for a while, but out heart will determine the direction of our lives. Proverbs 4:23 says:
“Guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.”
But how? Firstly, the word:
“I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.” (Psalm 119:11)
A heart full of the word will have less room for the sins Jesus mentions.
Secondly, prayer:
“Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.” (Psalm 51:10)
May we guard our hearts. May the good things of God’s grace overflow out of our lives.
The best is yet to come 
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