Mark 7:23

KJV

All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.

KJV (with Strong's)

All {G3956} these {G5023} evil things {G4190} come {G1607} from within {G2081}, and {G2532} defile {G2840} the man {G444}.

Complete Jewish Bible

All these wicked things come from within, and they make a person unclean."

Berean Standard Bible

All these evils come from within, and these are what defile a man.”

American Standard Version

all these evil things proceed from within, and defile the man.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Mark 7:23 serves as the powerful concluding statement to Jesus' discourse on true defilement, unequivocally declaring that all moral evil originates from the human heart and subsequently corrupts an individual. This verse distills Jesus' revolutionary teaching, challenging the prevailing religious emphasis on external ritual purity by asserting that genuine uncleanness stems from internal sinfulness, not from what enters a person from the outside.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is the climactic summary of Jesus' confrontation with the Pharisees and scribes concerning their rigid adherence to man-made traditions, specifically ceremonial handwashing, which they prioritized over God's commandments. The preceding narrative in [Mark 7:1-13](/mark/7-1-13 "Mark 7:1-13 - Jesus Rebukes the Pharisees") details this conflict, where Jesus exposes their hypocrisy. Following this, Jesus calls the crowd to Him in [Mark 7:14](/mark/7-14 "Mark 7:14 - Jesus Teaches the Crowd") and then explains to His disciples in [Mark 7:17-22](/mark/7-17-22 "Mark 7:17-22 - Jesus Explains Defilement") that nothing entering a person from the outside can defile them. Instead, He provides a comprehensive list of vices—evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, and foolishness—all of which, He states, "come from within." Verse 23 acts as the definitive conclusion to this entire teaching, solidifying the principle that internal corruption is the true source of defilement.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** First-century Jewish society, particularly among the Pharisees, placed immense importance on ritual purity laws derived from the Mosaic Law and expanded by oral traditions (halakha). These traditions often focused on external practices, such as washing hands before meals ([Mark 7:3](/mark/7-3 "Mark 7:3 - The Tradition of the Elders")), dietary restrictions, and avoiding contact with ritually "unclean" things or people. The concern was that external contact could render a person impure and unable to participate in religious life or worship. Jesus' teaching in [Mark 7](/mark/7 "Mark 7 - True Purity") directly challenged this deeply ingrained cultural and religious paradigm, shifting the focus from outward observance to the inner moral and spiritual state of the individual. This was a radical reinterpretation of purity, moving it from the ceremonial to the ethical realm, and it directly confronted the authority of the scribes and Pharisees who upheld these traditions.
* **Key Themes:** Mark 7:23 powerfully contributes to several key themes within the Gospel of Mark and broader biblical theology. Foremost is the theme of **True Purity versus Externalism**, where Jesus distinguishes between superficial adherence to religious rules and genuine moral purity that God desires. This challenges the prevailing legalistic mindset, emphasizing that God looks at the heart, a theme echoed in [1 Samuel 16:7](/1_samuel/16-7 "1 Samuel 16:7 - God Looks at the Heart"). Another crucial theme is the **Heart as the Source of Sin**. Jesus explicitly identifies the inner being as the wellspring of all evil, highlighting the pervasive nature of human sinfulness, a concept foundational to understanding the need for divine intervention and transformation. This aligns with teachings found in [Jeremiah 17:9](/jeremiah/17-9 "Jeremiah 17:9 - The Deceitful Heart") and [Romans 3:23](/romans/3-23 "Romans 3:23 - All Have Sinned"). Finally, the passage underscores the **Authority of Jesus** to reinterpret and fulfill the Law, demonstrating His divine insight into the true nature of God's demands beyond mere ritual.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **evil things (Greek, _ponērós'_):** From G4190, meaning "hurtful, i.e., evil (properly, in effect or influence)." This word denotes wickedness that is active, harmful, and morally culpable. It goes beyond mere deficiency (kakos) to describe a destructive, malicious quality, encompassing the wide range of vices listed by Jesus in the preceding verses, such as theft, murder, and deceit.
* **from within (Greek, _ésōthen'_):** From G2081, meaning "from inside." This adverb emphatically points to the internal origin of the evil. It highlights that the source of defilement is not external contact or dietary intake, but rather the deep-seated inclinations and desires of the human heart, the very core of a person's being.
* **defile (Greek, _koinóō'_):** From G2840, meaning "to make (or consider) profane (ceremonially)." In this context, Jesus uses the term to signify moral and spiritual impurity, contrasting it with the ritual impurity that the Pharisees were concerned with. To be "defiled" by these internal evils means to be rendered unclean in God's sight, separating one from true communion and righteousness.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"All these evil things come from within":** This clause directly refutes the Pharisaical understanding of defilement. Jesus asserts that the catalogue of sins He just listed (Mark 7:21-22)—including thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, and foolishness—do not originate from external sources or actions, but from the inner disposition and desires of the human heart. The emphasis on "all these" (G3956 pas, G5023 tauta) underscores the comprehensive nature of this internal corruption, encompassing every form of moral transgression. The verb "come" (G1607 ekporeúomai) signifies a natural outflow or emanation from this internal source.
* **"and defile the man.":** This second clause states the consequence of these inwardly generated evils. They do not merely exist within but actively "defile" (G2840 koinóō) the entire person. This defilement is not ceremonial but moral and spiritual, rendering the individual impure in the eyes of God. It highlights that true uncleanness is a matter of the heart's condition, impacting one's relationship with God and others, rather than adherence to external rituals. The "man" (G444 anthrōpos) refers to humanity in general, indicating the universal applicability of this truth.

#### Literary Devices
Mark 7:23 functions primarily as a **Summary Statement** or **Conclusion**, encapsulating the profound theological truth Jesus has been expounding throughout the preceding verses. It serves as the definitive pronouncement that clarifies the true nature of defilement. There is a strong element of **Contrast** at play, as Jesus explicitly juxtaposes the external, ritualistic understanding of purity held by the Pharisees with His own teaching on internal, moral purity. The verse also employs **Emphasis** through the phrase "from within," highlighting the critical shift in perspective from outward appearance to inward reality. By concluding with this concise declaration, Jesus provides a memorable and authoritative pronouncement that challenges the core of the religious establishment's understanding of righteousness.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Mark 7:23 is a pivotal verse that profoundly redefines purity, shifting the focus from external ritual to internal moral condition. It underscores the biblical truth of humanity's inherent sinfulness, asserting that the heart is the wellspring of all evil. This teaching is not merely a critique of Pharisaical legalism but a foundational statement about the human predicament, revealing that true defilement is a spiritual and ethical matter, not a ceremonial one. It sets the stage for understanding the radical transformation required for genuine righteousness, which cannot be achieved through outward conformity but only through an inward renewal initiated by God. This verse highlights the need for a new heart, as the old one is fundamentally corrupted.

* [Jeremiah 17:9](/jeremiah/17-9 "Jeremiah 17:9 - The Deceitful Heart")
* [Matthew 15:18-20](/matthew/15-18-20 "Matthew 15:18-20 - What Defiles a Person")
* [Romans 3:10-12](/romans/3-10-12 "Romans 3:10-12 - No One Is Righteous")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Mark 7:23 offers a profound challenge and a liberating truth for believers today. It compels us to move beyond superficial religious practices and external appearances, urging us to engage in deep, honest self-examination. If all evil originates from within, then true spiritual growth begins not with outward conformity but with confronting the hidden motives, desires, and thoughts of our hearts. This verse calls us to acknowledge our inherent sinfulness and the persistent struggle against the "evil things" that well up from within. It reminds us that genuine purity is a matter of the heart's condition before God, necessitating a continuous process of repentance, confession, and reliance on the Holy Spirit for transformation. Our outward actions are merely symptoms of our inner state, and therefore, our pursuit of holiness must begin at the source—the heart—seeking God's grace to cleanse and renew us from the inside out.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What "evil things" from within do I most often struggle with, and how might I invite God's Spirit to cleanse those areas?**
* **In what ways might I be tempted to focus on external religious practices or appearances rather than the true condition of my heart?**
* **How does understanding that defilement comes from within change my perspective on sin and the need for God's grace?**
* **What steps can I take to cultivate a heart that is increasingly pure and pleasing to God, rather than merely managing outward behavior?**

### FAQ

**What is the primary message of Mark 7:23?**

Answer: The primary message of [Mark 7:23](/mark/7-23 "Mark 7:23 - The Source of Defilement") is that true moral and spiritual defilement originates not from external factors like food or ceremonial rituals, but from the evil thoughts and desires that well up from within the human heart. Jesus definitively states that these internal corruptions are what truly make a person unclean in God's sight.

**How does this verse challenge the religious understanding of Jesus' time?**

Answer: This verse directly challenges the prevailing religious understanding, particularly among the Pharisees, who emphasized adherence to elaborate external purity laws and traditions, such as ceremonial handwashing and dietary restrictions. Jesus redefines purity, shifting the focus from outward observance to the inward moral state, thereby dismantling the legalistic framework that often obscured the true demands of God's law. His teaching implies that no amount of external cleansing can purify a heart corrupted by sin, a revolutionary concept for His audience as seen in [Mark 7:1-5](/mark/7-1-5 "Mark 7:1-5 - The Pharisees Question Jesus").

**What are the "evil things" Jesus refers to in this verse?**

Answer: Jesus explicitly lists these "evil things" in the preceding verses, [Mark 7:21-22](/mark/7-21-22 "Mark 7:21-22 - Jesus Lists Evils from the Heart"). They include: evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, and foolishness. This comprehensive list covers a wide range of moral transgressions, all stemming from the corrupted human heart.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Mark 7:23, in its stark declaration of the heart's inherent corruption, profoundly illuminates the necessity of Christ. If all evil originates from within and defiles humanity, then no external ritual or human effort can truly cleanse or justify. This verse underscores the pervasive nature of sin, establishing the universal need for a Savior who can address the root problem—the fallen human heart. Jesus, by identifying Himself as the one who speaks with divine authority on the true nature of defilement, implicitly positions Himself as the solution to this deep-seated issue. His coming is not to reform external practices but to transform the inner person. The fulfillment of this truth is found in the New Covenant, where God promises to replace the stony heart with a heart of flesh ([Ezekiel 36:26](/ezekiel/36-26 "Ezekiel 36:26 - A New Heart and Spirit")), and to write His laws not on tablets of stone but on human hearts ([Jeremiah 31:33](/jeremiah/31-33 "Jeremiah 31:33 - The New Covenant")). Through His atoning sacrifice on the cross, Jesus provides the ultimate cleansing for sin, purifying us not just outwardly but inwardly, by His blood ([Hebrews 9:14](/hebrews/9-14 "Hebrews 9:14 - Christ's Cleansing Blood")). The Holy Spirit, sent by Christ, then empowers believers to live lives of true purity, enabling them to walk according to God's will and progressively overcome the "evil things" that once dominated their inner being ([Romans 8:1-4](/romans/8-1-4 "Romans 8:1-4 - Life in the Spirit")). Thus, Mark 7:23 is a powerful testament to the indispensable work of Christ in providing radical, heart-level redemption.

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

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.

1 Corinthians 3:17

If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which [temple] ye are.

Titus 1:15

Unto the pure all things [are] pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving [is] nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled.

Mark 7:18

And he saith unto them, Are ye so without understanding also? Do ye not perceive, that whatsoever thing from without entereth into the man, [it] cannot defile him;

Jude 1:8

¶ Likewise also these [filthy] dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities.