Mark 7:20

And he said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man.

And {G1161} he said {G3004},{G3754} That which cometh {G1607} out of {G1537} the man {G444}, that {G1565} defileth {G2840} the man {G444}.

"It is what comes out of a person," he went on, "that makes him unclean.

He continued: “What comes out of a man, that is what defiles him.

And he said, That which proceedeth out of the man, that defileth the man.

Mark 7:20 (KJV) delivers a profound teaching from Jesus Christ, shifting the focus from ceremonial cleanness to the true source of defilement: the human heart. This verse encapsulates Jesus' revolutionary insight into spiritual purity, asserting that what truly corrupts a person originates from within.

Context

This statement is part of a larger discourse where Jesus challenges the traditions of the elders, particularly regarding ritual handwashing, which the Pharisees and scribes accused His disciples of neglecting. They believed consuming food with "unwashed" hands made one ritually unclean. Jesus responds by exposing their hypocrisy and misinterpretation of God's law, emphasizing that their traditions often nullified the word of God. Verse 20 serves as a summary of His teaching to the crowds and later explained more fully to His disciples, clarifying the principle first stated in Mark 7:15: "There is nothing from without a man, that entering into him can defile him: but the things which come out of him, those are they that defile the man."

Key Themes and Messages

  • Internal Purity Over External Rituals: Jesus dismantles the notion that external practices, food, or physical contact are the primary sources of spiritual defilement. He argues against a superficial understanding of holiness that prioritizes human traditions over the condition of the heart. This teaching on what truly defiles a man highlights God's concern for inner righteousness.
  • The Heart as the Source: The core message is that true defilement stems from the inner being. What "comes out of the man" refers to thoughts, desires, intentions, and actions that originate from a morally corrupt heart. This teaching anticipates the detailed list of evils given in the subsequent verses (Mark 7:21-23), such as evil thoughts, fornications, thefts, murders, and more.
  • Moral and Spiritual Defilement: Jesus redefines "unclean" from a ceremonial state to a moral and spiritual one. It's not about what goes into the mouth, but what comes out of the heart and manifests in behavior. This perspective elevates the importance of inner character and moral integrity above outward religious observance.

Linguistic Insights

The word translated "defileth" in the KJV is the Greek verb koinoi (κοινοῖ), from the root koinos (κοινός), meaning "common" or "unclean." In Jewish ceremonial law, something common was considered profane or ritually impure, thus rendering a person defiled. Jesus uses this term to pivot its meaning from external ritual impurity to internal moral impurity, highlighting that sins originating from within are what truly make a person "common" or separated from God's holiness.

Practical Application

Mark 7:20 calls believers to a profound self-examination. It challenges us to look beyond outward appearances and religious activities to the true condition of our hearts. True spiritual health is not found in adhering to man-made rules or external rituals, but in cultivating a heart that is transformed by God's Spirit. This verse reminds us that genuine purity is an inside-out work, echoing the wisdom of Proverbs 4:23: "Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life." Understanding this truth encourages us to seek inner cleansing and to allow God to transform our desires, thoughts, and intentions, leading to actions that truly honor Him.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • James 3:6

    And the tongue [is] a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.

  • James 4:1

    ¶ From whence [come] wars and fightings among you? [come they] not hence, [even] of your lusts that war in your members?

  • James 1:14

    But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.

  • James 1:15

    Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.

  • Matthew 12:34

    O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.

  • Matthew 12:37

    For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.

  • Mark 7:15

    There is nothing from without a man, that entering into him can defile him: but the things which come out of him, those are they that defile the man.

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