Series â Collage: Portraits of a Revolutionary Message 33 â Inside Out ...
Series – Collage: Portraits of a Revolutionary Message 33 – Inside Out Mark 7: 14-23 INTRODUCTION: The passage (scene or picture) we are examining today is related to (connected to) the same scene as in verses 1-13. Jesus has exposed the problem of teaching traditions of the elders and now he is going to reveal (and address) what is the real problem – Internal impurity. To do this He uses a parable (A secular story with a spiritual meaning). Mark 7: 14-23 HCSB (Parallel passage is Matthew 15: 10-20) 14 Summoning the crowd again, He told them, “Listen to Me, all of you, and understand: 15 Nothing that goes into a person from outside can defile him, but the things that come out of a person are what defile him. 16 If anyone has ears to hear, he should listen!]” 17 When He went into the house away from the crowd, the disciples asked Him about the parable. 18 And He said to them, “Are you also as lacking in understanding? Don’t you realize that nothing going into a man from the outside can defile him? 19 For it doesn’t go into his heart but into the stomach and is eliminated.” (As a result, He made all foods clean.) 20 Then He said, “What comes out of a person—that defiles him. 21 For from within, out of people’s hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immoralities, thefts, murders, 22 adulteries, greed, evil actions, deceit, promiscuity, stinginess, blasphemy, pride, and foolishness. 23 All these evil things come from within and defile a person.” (emphasis added) KEY WORDS Notice these key words or phrases as you read the passage above.
● “Goes into” (vv. 15, 18-19) ● “Comes out” (vv. 15, 20-21) ● “From within” (v. 23) ● “Heart” (vv. 19, 21) ● “Defiles” (vv. 15a, 15b, 18, 20, 23) CONTEXT ● Same context as when we studied about the Scribes and Pharisees questioning Jesus and He responds by telling them they teach their traditions (traditions of the elders) rather than the Word (law) of God. ● Scene: Three groups were represented in most of Jesus’ teaching environments: Disciples (often the real target group), Scribes and Pharisees (monitoring Jesus’ activities as well as questioning and plotting), and the crowd of seekers. ● Before He leaves the crowd, He calls them to attention (v. 14) and gives a brief parable (Parable on Purity – Herbert Lockyer) giving them the truth about true purity (purity of heart – soul purity). Jesus is saying “this is important! Listen up! I’m going to straighten this all out.” ● After they leave the crowd and Jesus is with His disciples, the disciples ask Him (Matthew 15: 15 – Matthew says that it was Peter who asked the question) what the parable meant. I. JESUS ADDRESSES A CRITICAL SPIRITUAL ISSUE NOTE: A critical issue for every generation and for all of mankind. A. We must agree we live in a toxic (poisonous) environment. B. Five times, Jesus uses the same word (koinoo – koy-nah-o) to describe man’s defiled condition. The word is defined as “to make unclean, render unhallowed, defile, profane.” (To be unclean) C. The idea that man is basically good has taken a “hit” due to the increased media coverage of the evil of man: crime, terrorism, and other indicators of spiritual depravity. 1. What is our problem?
2. What can we do to solve the problem? Gun control? More laws? Heightened security? D. What has happened to cause us to be the way we are? Two basic beliefs: 1. Outside influences – we are a product of our environment and our environment plays the most important role in shaping us. Our environment does have a strong influence upon us, but it is not the most dominant force in our development. 2. Internal issues – The issue is internal in nature. II. OUTSIDE-IN: IT’S NOT ABOUT THE BACON! Bacon can clog your arteries and damage your physical heart, but that’s not the issue here. Bacon can’t contaminate your spiritual heart (soul). Jesus is dealing with spiritual contamination. A. The focus of the Pharisees and Scribes: EXTERNALS B. Jesus describes the Scribes and Pharisees (and us as well!) 1. Dirty dinnerware (cups) – Clean outside – dirty inside (Matthew 23: 25-26) 25 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence! 26 Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup, so the outside of it may also become clean. (emphasis added) 2. Whitewashed tombs – Pretty outside but full of dead men’s bones (Matthew 23: 27-28) 27 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which appear beautiful on the outside, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and every impurity.
III. INSIDE-OUT: GETTING TO THE HEART OF THE MATTER A. Understanding the heart: The seat of the mind, will, and emotions. B. What the Bible says about the heart: 1. Deceitful (Jeremiah 17: 9 HCSB) - The heart is more deceitful than anything else, and incurable—who can understand it? 2. Full of evil and madness (Ecclesiastes 9: 3 HCSB) - This is an evil in all that is done under the sun: there is one fate for everyone. In addition, the hearts of people are full of evil, and madness is in their hearts while they live—after that they go to the dead. 3. Fountainhead of evil (Mark 7: 21-22 HCSB) - 21 For from within, out of people’s hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immoralities, thefts, murders, 22 adulteries, greed, evil actions, deceit, promiscuity, stinginess, blasphemy, pride, and foolishness.
SUMMARY We have a heart issue and the only hope is a new heart (Ezekiel 36: 26) - I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. (HCSB)
● “Goes into” (vv. 15, 18-19) ● “Comes out” (vv. 15, 20-21) ● “From within” (v. 23) ● “Heart” (vv. 19, 21) ● “Defiles” (vv. 15a, 15b, 18, 20, 23) CONTEXT ● Same context as when we studied about the Scribes and Pharisees questioning Jesus and He responds by telling them they teach their traditions (traditions of the elders) rather than the Word (law) of God. ● Scene: Three groups were represented in most of Jesus’ teaching environments: Disciples (often the real target group), Scribes and Pharisees (monitoring Jesus’ activities as well as questioning and plotting), and the crowd of seekers. ● Before He leaves the crowd, He calls them to attention (v. 14) and gives a brief parable (Parable on Purity – Herbert Lockyer) giving them the truth about true purity (purity of heart – soul purity). Jesus is saying “this is important! Listen up! I’m going to straighten this all out.” ● After they leave the crowd and Jesus is with His disciples, the disciples ask Him (Matthew 15: 15 – Matthew says that it was Peter who asked the question) what the parable meant. I. JESUS ADDRESSES A CRITICAL SPIRITUAL ISSUE NOTE: A critical issue for every generation and for all of mankind. A. We must agree we live in a toxic (poisonous) environment. B. Five times, Jesus uses the same word (koinoo – koy-nah-o) to describe man’s defiled condition. The word is defined as “to make unclean, render unhallowed, defile, profane.” (To be unclean) C. The idea that man is basically good has taken a “hit” due to the increased media coverage of the evil of man: crime, terrorism, and other indicators of spiritual depravity. 1. What is our problem?
2. What can we do to solve the problem? Gun control? More laws? Heightened security? D. What has happened to cause us to be the way we are? Two basic beliefs: 1. Outside influences – we are a product of our environment and our environment plays the most important role in shaping us. Our environment does have a strong influence upon us, but it is not the most dominant force in our development. 2. Internal issues – The issue is internal in nature. II. OUTSIDE-IN: IT’S NOT ABOUT THE BACON! Bacon can clog your arteries and damage your physical heart, but that’s not the issue here. Bacon can’t contaminate your spiritual heart (soul). Jesus is dealing with spiritual contamination. A. The focus of the Pharisees and Scribes: EXTERNALS B. Jesus describes the Scribes and Pharisees (and us as well!) 1. Dirty dinnerware (cups) – Clean outside – dirty inside (Matthew 23: 25-26) 25 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence! 26 Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup, so the outside of it may also become clean. (emphasis added) 2. Whitewashed tombs – Pretty outside but full of dead men’s bones (Matthew 23: 27-28) 27 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which appear beautiful on the outside, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and every impurity.
III. INSIDE-OUT: GETTING TO THE HEART OF THE MATTER A. Understanding the heart: The seat of the mind, will, and emotions. B. What the Bible says about the heart: 1. Deceitful (Jeremiah 17: 9 HCSB) - The heart is more deceitful than anything else, and incurable—who can understand it? 2. Full of evil and madness (Ecclesiastes 9: 3 HCSB) - This is an evil in all that is done under the sun: there is one fate for everyone. In addition, the hearts of people are full of evil, and madness is in their hearts while they live—after that they go to the dead. 3. Fountainhead of evil (Mark 7: 21-22 HCSB) - 21 For from within, out of people’s hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immoralities, thefts, murders, 22 adulteries, greed, evil actions, deceit, promiscuity, stinginess, blasphemy, pride, and foolishness.
SUMMARY We have a heart issue and the only hope is a new heart (Ezekiel 36: 26) - I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. (HCSB)
