Mark 7:22

KJV

Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness:

KJV (with Strong's)

Thefts {G2829}, covetousness {G4124}, wickedness {G4189}, deceit {G1388}, lasciviousness {G766}, an evil {G4190} eye {G3788}, blasphemy {G988}, pride {G5243}, foolishness {G877}:

Complete Jewish Bible

greed, malice, deceit, indecency, envy, slander, arrogance, foolishness...

Berean Standard Bible

greed, wickedness, deceit, debauchery, envy, slander, arrogance, and foolishness.

American Standard Version

covetings, wickednesses, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, railing, pride, foolishness:

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Mark 7:22 is a pivotal verse within Jesus' teaching on true spiritual defilement. It presents a stark enumeration of nine specific evils—thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, and foolishness—which Jesus identifies as originating from within the human heart. This list serves to underscore His radical assertion that genuine impurity stems not from external contact or ceremonial transgressions, but from the inherent depravity of one's inner being, making a person truly unclean in God's sight.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Mark 7:22 is part of a broader discourse by Jesus, beginning in [Mark 7:1](/mark/7-1 "Mark 7:1 - The Pharisees Question Jesus") and concluding in [Mark 7:23](/mark/7-23 "Mark 7:23 - All These Evil Things Come From Within"), where He directly confronts the religious leaders' emphasis on external purity rituals. The chapter opens with the Pharisees and scribes questioning Jesus' disciples for not observing the tradition of ceremonial handwashing (vv. 1-5). Jesus responds by exposing their hypocrisy, showing how their man-made traditions nullified God's commandments (vv. 6-13). He then calls the crowd to listen, declaring that nothing outside a person can defile them, but what comes from within (vv. 14-16). Privately, He explains this profound truth further to His disciples, clarifying that food does not defile, but evil thoughts and intentions do (vv. 17-20). [Mark 7:21-23](/mark/7-21-23 "Mark 7:21-23 - The Source of Defilement") then provides the comprehensive list of internal evils, with verse 22 detailing nine specific manifestations, solidifying Jesus' teaching on the heart as the true source of sin.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The first-century Jewish society, particularly among the Pharisees, placed immense importance on ritual purity and adherence to both the Mosaic Law and extensive oral traditions (Halakha). These traditions often extended beyond the biblical commands, dictating practices like elaborate handwashing before meals, specific dietary rules, and avoidance of contact with "unclean" things. The Pharisees believed that strict observance of these external rituals was essential for maintaining righteousness and holiness before God. Jesus' teaching in [Mark 7](/mark/7 "Mark 7 - The Heart of the Matter") directly challenged this prevailing mindset, shifting the focus from outward performance to the internal condition of the heart. This was a revolutionary concept that undermined the very foundation of the religious establishment's authority and their understanding of righteousness, highlighting a deep spiritual truth that transcended mere legalistic observance.
* **Key Themes:** The central theme of this passage, and particularly of [Mark 7:22](/mark/7-22 "Mark 7:22 - Evils from the Heart"), is the **source of defilement**. Jesus unequivocally declares that sin originates from the human heart, not from external factors or ceremonial impurity. This directly contrasts with the prevailing Jewish understanding of purity and highlights the **inherent sinfulness of humanity's inner being**. The comprehensive list of vices in this verse (and [Mark 7:21](/mark/7-21 "Mark 7:21 - What Comes From Within")) illustrates the **pervasive nature of sin**, encompassing not just actions but also attitudes, desires, and thoughts. This teaching emphasizes God's focus on **internal transformation** over mere outward conformity, revealing that true righteousness and purity are matters of the heart, requiring a spiritual change that human rituals cannot achieve. This theme resonates with Old Testament prophets who critiqued empty ritualism, such as in [Isaiah 29:13](/isaiah/29-13 "Isaiah 29:13 - Hearts Far From God"), and foreshadows the New Covenant's emphasis on a new heart and spirit, as promised in [Ezekiel 36:26](/ezekiel/36-26 "Ezekiel 36:26 - A New Heart and Spirit").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Deceit (Greek, _dólos'_):** From a word meaning "to decoy" or "bait," this term refers to trickery, wile, craft, or guile. It signifies intentional misleading or dishonesty, often with malicious intent, to manipulate or exploit others. It is the opposite of straightforwardness and truthfulness.
* **Lasciviousness (Greek, _asélgeia'_):** This word describes licentiousness, wantonness, or moral impurity. It denotes a brazen, unbridled indulgence in sensual desires or immoral acts, characterized by a lack of shame or restraint, often with a disregard for public decency or consequences. It's a strong term for flagrant moral depravity.
* **Foolishness (Greek, _aphrosýnē'_):** Meaning "senselessness," this term refers to moral recklessness, spiritual ignorance, or a lack of sound judgment that leads to sinful behavior. It's not merely intellectual deficiency but a moral blindness or thoughtlessness that results in actions contrary to wisdom and God's will.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Thefts":** This refers to the act of stealing or dishonest acquisition of property, indicating a disregard for others' possessions and the commandment against stealing.
* **"Covetousness":** This describes an insatiable desire for more, an avarice or greed that often leads to fraudulent practices or extortion, demonstrating an unhealthy attachment to material wealth or others' possessions.
* **"Wickedness":** A broad term encompassing general malice, depravity, or moral evil. It speaks to an inherent badness or malevolence in character and action.
* **"Deceit":** This signifies dishonesty, trickery, or guile. It is the deliberate use of misleading words or actions to manipulate or betray others.
* **"Lasciviousness":** This points to unbridled lust, sensuality, or moral impurity, often associated with sexual excess but broadly referring to a shameless lack of restraint in pursuing base desires.
* **"An evil eye":** This is an idiom referring to envy, jealousy, or stinginess. It describes an attitude of ill will towards others' prosperity, begrudging their good fortune, or being unwilling to share one's own resources.
* **"Blasphemy":** This denotes slander, abusive speech, or speaking irreverently of God or sacred things. It includes both verbal attacks against God and malicious defamation of others.
* **"Pride":** This refers to arrogance, self-exaltation, or haughtiness. It is an inflated sense of self-importance that leads to disdain for others and defiance of God.
* **"Foolishness":** This signifies moral senselessness, recklessness, or spiritual ignorance. It's a lack of wisdom that results in actions contrary to God's will and true righteousness.

#### Literary Devices
Mark 7:22 primarily employs **Enumeration** or **Catalog** as its key literary device, presenting a list of nine distinct vices. This detailed catalog serves to illustrate the comprehensive and varied nature of the evils that originate from the human heart, demonstrating that sin is not monolithic but manifests in many forms. The inclusion of "an evil eye" is an example of **Idiom**, where a phrase's meaning is not deducible from the literal words, but refers to envy or stinginess. The entire passage, including this verse, also uses **Contrast** implicitly, setting Jesus' teaching on internal defilement against the Pharisees' preoccupation with external ritual purity, thereby highlighting the profound difference between true righteousness and superficial adherence.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Jesus' teaching in Mark 7:22 is profoundly theological, radically redefining the source of human defilement. By identifying the heart as the wellspring of all evil—from tangible acts like thefts to insidious attitudes like covetousness and pride—Jesus exposes the pervasive nature of sin and the utter inadequacy of external rituals or human efforts to achieve true purity. This passage underscores the biblical truth that humanity's problem is not primarily external circumstances or a lack of rules, but an inherent corruption of the inner being. It reveals God's ultimate concern for the condition of the heart, aligning with prophetic critiques of superficial religiosity and laying the groundwork for the New Covenant's emphasis on inner transformation through divine grace. This list of vices serves as a mirror, reflecting the universal human condition and our desperate need for a spiritual remedy beyond self-correction.

* [Mark 7:21-23](/mark/7-21-23 "Mark 7:21-23 - What Defiles a Person") – Provides the full context of Jesus' teaching on the origin of defilement from the heart.
* [Jeremiah 17:9](/jeremiah/17-9 "Jeremiah 17:9 - The Deceitfulness of the Heart") – Declares that "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked," echoing Jesus' assessment of the human heart.
* [Galatians 5:19-21](/galatians/5-19-21 "Galatians 5:19-21 - Works of the Flesh") – Presents a similar catalog of "works of the flesh" that flow from the sinful nature, reinforcing the comprehensive scope of human depravity.

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Mark 7:22 is a profound call to introspective honesty and spiritual humility. It forces us to look beyond outward appearances and religious observances, compelling us to examine the hidden chambers of our hearts where sin truly originates. This verse reminds us that true purity is not about what we consume or what rituals we perform, but about the very core of our being—our thoughts, desires, and intentions. Recognizing that "thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness" can all spring forth from within us should lead to a deep sense of our own sinfulness and a profound dependence on God's grace. We cannot cleanse our own hearts; this passage highlights our desperate need for the transformative work of the Holy Spirit, who alone can replace these vices with the fruit of righteousness. This truth should drive us to constant self-examination, confession, and a fervent prayer for a new heart, aligning our inner desires with God's holy will.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **Which of these "evils from within" do I find most challenging in my own heart, and how do they manifest in my life?**
* **How does Jesus' teaching on the heart's defilement challenge my understanding of true righteousness and what it means to be clean before God?**
* **What practical steps can I take to invite God's transformative power into the hidden areas of my heart, allowing Him to root out these vices?**

### FAQ

**Why does Jesus list so many different sins here?**

Answer: Jesus lists a comprehensive array of sins in [Mark 7:21-22](/mark/7-21-22 "Mark 7:21-22 - Evils from Within") to demonstrate the pervasive and multifaceted nature of human depravity. This is not an exhaustive list, but a representative one designed to show that sin originates from the heart and manifests in various forms—from actions (thefts, murders, adulteries) to attitudes (covetousness, pride, evil eye) and speech (blasphemy). By providing such a broad catalog, Jesus underscores that no aspect of human life is untouched by sin, and that true defilement is an internal condition, not merely an external one. This contrasts sharply with the Pharisees' narrow focus on ceremonial purity, revealing the depth of the human heart's need for cleansing.

**What does "an evil eye" mean in this context?**

Answer: In biblical and ancient Near Eastern contexts, "an evil eye" (Greek: _ophthalmos ponērós_) is an idiom that does not refer to a literal physical look. Instead, it signifies an attitude of envy, jealousy, stinginess, or ill will towards others' prosperity or good fortune. It suggests a begrudging spirit, an unwillingness to share, or a desire for what others possess. For example, in [Proverbs 23:6](/proverbs/23-6 "Proverbs 23:6 - Do Not Eat the Bread of a Stingy Person"), it refers to a stingy or grudging person. Jesus also uses the concept in [Matthew 6:23](/matthew/6-23 "Matthew 6:23 - The Eye as the Lamp of the Body"), where a "bad eye" contrasts with a "good eye," symbolizing a person's inner disposition towards generosity or covetousness. Thus, in [Mark 7:22](/mark/7-22 "Mark 7:22 - An Evil Eye"), it highlights an internal vice of covetousness and malice, rather than a literal physical glance.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Mark 7:22, by exposing the depth and breadth of human sin originating from the heart, powerfully demonstrates the absolute necessity of Christ. This passage reveals the futility of human efforts to achieve righteousness through external rituals or self-improvement, as the problem lies not in outward actions but in the very core of our being. It is precisely because "thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness" flow from within that humanity stands condemned and utterly incapable of cleansing itself. Jesus, however, is the only one who perfectly fulfills the standard of purity He Himself articulated. As the sinless [Lamb of God](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God"), He came not to reform external practices but to provide a radical, internal transformation. His atoning sacrifice on the cross addresses the very heart of the problem, offering forgiveness for these deep-seated evils and providing the means for a new heart, as promised in [Ezekiel 36:26-27](/ezekiel/36-26-27 "Ezekiel 36:26-27 - A New Heart and Spirit"). Through faith in Him, believers receive the Holy Spirit, who begins the work of sanctification, progressively replacing the "works of the flesh" ([Galatians 5:19-21](/galatians/5-19-21 "Galatians 5:19-21 - Works of the Flesh")) with the "fruit of the Spirit" ([Galatians 5:22-23](/galatians/5-22-23 "Galatians 5:22-23 - Fruit of the Spirit")), thus fulfilling the divine desire for true, internal purity that Jesus taught.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Matthew 20:15

Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good?

1 Peter 5:5

¶ Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all [of you] be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.

1 Peter 2:15

For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men:

Obadiah 1:3

The pride of thine heart hath deceived thee, thou that dwellest in the clefts of the rock, whose habitation [is] high; that saith in his heart, Who shall bring me down to the ground?

Obadiah 1:4

Though thou exalt [thyself] as the eagle, and though thou set thy nest among the stars, thence will I bring thee down, saith the LORD.

Ecclesiastes 7:25

I applied mine heart to know, and to search, and to seek out wisdom, and the reason [of things], and to know the wickedness of folly, even of foolishness [and] madness:

Matthew 6:23

But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great [is] that darkness!