Matthew 15:17

Do not ye yet understand, that whatsoever entereth in at the mouth goeth into the belly, and is cast out into the draught?

Do {G3539} not {G3768} ye {G3539} yet {G3768} understand {G3539}, that {G3754} whatsoever {G3956} entereth in {G1531} at {G1519} the mouth {G4750} goeth {G5562} into {G1519} the belly {G2836}, and {G2532} is cast out {G1544} into {G1519} the draught {G856}?

Don't you see that anything that enters the mouth goes into the stomach and passes out into the latrine?

“Do you not yet realize that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and then is eliminated?

Perceive ye not, that whatsoever goeth into the mouth passeth into the belly, and is cast out into the draught?

In Matthew 15:17, Jesus continues to challenge the traditional religious understanding of purity held by the Pharisees. This verse is part of a broader discourse where He redefines what truly defiles a person, shifting the focus from external rituals to the internal condition of the heart.

Context

This statement comes after a confrontation between Jesus and the Pharisees concerning the disciples' failure to observe the tradition of washing hands before eating (Matthew 15:2). Jesus rebukes the Pharisees for prioritizing human traditions over God's commandments (Matthew 15:6). He then calls the crowd and delivers the profound truth that "Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man" (Matthew 15:11). The disciples, confused by this "parable," ask for an explanation (Matthew 15:15). Jesus' rhetorical question in Matthew 15:16, "Are ye also yet without understanding?", sets the stage for this verse, where He begins to clarify the physical process of digestion versus spiritual defilement. This teaching fundamentally shifts the understanding of purity from ceremonial external acts to the moral purity of the inner person.

Key Themes

  • True Source of Defilement: Jesus explicitly states that what enters the body physically does not spiritually defile a person. Food, regardless of its ceremonial status or how it's handled, is processed and expelled from the body. This challenges the prevailing Jewish legalistic interpretations of purity.
  • Internal Purity vs. External Rituals: The verse highlights the radical shift in Jesus' teaching from the outward observance of ceremonial laws to the inward state of the heart. He challenges the prevailing religious thought that focused on external cleanliness, emphasizing that God is concerned with the condition of our hearts.
  • Understanding and Discernment: Jesus expresses frustration with His disciples' slow understanding, emphasizing the importance of grasping spiritual truths beyond mere physical or traditional interpretations. This points to the need for spiritual discernment and a deeper comprehension of God's true law.

Linguistic Insights

The King James Version's term "draught" refers to a latrine, privy, or sewer system where bodily waste is expelled. This graphic detail serves to emphasize the purely physical, non-spiritual nature of the digestive process. Jesus' point is that what goes into the mouth and is naturally eliminated cannot make a person morally or spiritually unclean in God's eyes. The Greek word for "defile" here is koinoō (κοινόω), meaning to make common or unclean, often in a ritualistic sense. Jesus redefines this concept, moving it from the realm of ritual impurity to moral impurity, which is further explained in Matthew 15:18-20.

Practical Application

This verse, along with the subsequent explanation, calls believers to examine their hearts and motives. It teaches that true defilement stems from within – from evil thoughts, intentions, and desires – not from external factors like food, social status, or non-compliance with human traditions. For Christians today, this emphasizes the importance of cultivating a pure heart and righteous character, rather than focusing solely on outward religious observances. It reminds us that God looks at the heart, as highlighted in 1 Samuel 16:7, and that genuine spirituality flows from an transformed inner being. This teaching also finds parallels in Mark 7:19, where Mark explicitly states that Jesus declared all foods clean.

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.

  • Luke 6:45

    A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.

  • 1 Corinthians 6:13

    Meats for the belly, and the belly for meats: but God shall destroy both it and them. Now the body [is] not for fornication, but for the Lord; and the Lord for the body.

  • Matthew 7:19

    Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

  • Matthew 7:20

    Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

  • 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.

  • Colossians 2:21

    (Touch not; taste not; handle not;

  • Colossians 2:22

    Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men?

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