Matthew 15:18

But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man.

But {G1161} those things which {G3588} proceed {G1607} out of {G1537} the mouth {G4750} come forth {G1831} from {G1537} the heart {G2588}; and they {G2548} defile {G2840} the man {G444}.

But what comes out of your mouth is actually coming from your heart, and that is what makes a person unclean.

But the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, and these things defile a man.

But the things which proceed out of the mouth come forth out of the heart; and they defile the man.

Commentary

Commentary on Matthew 15:18 (KJV)

The verse Matthew 15:18, "But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man," is a pivotal statement by Jesus that redefines the nature of true purity and defilement. It emphasizes that a person's spiritual and moral condition is determined by their inner being, not by external observances.

Context

This verse is part of Jesus' response to the Pharisees and scribes who questioned why His disciples did not follow the tradition of the elders concerning ceremonial handwashing before eating (Matthew 15:1-2). The religious leaders were focused on outward compliance with man-made rules. Jesus challenged their legalistic interpretation, arguing that their traditions often nullified God's commandments (Matthew 15:3-6). He then taught the crowds and His disciples that it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of it (Matthew 15:11). Matthew 15:18, along with Matthew 15:19, serves as Jesus' detailed explanation of this profound truth, clarifying that the source of defilement is the human heart.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Internal Purity vs. External Rituals: Jesus shifts the focus from external, ceremonial cleanliness to the internal state of the heart. He teaches that true defilement comes from within, contrasting with the Pharisees' emphasis on outward traditions and physical contact with "unclean" things.
  • The Heart as the Source: The verse powerfully asserts that words and actions (the "things which proceed out of the mouth") are mere manifestations of the heart's true condition. The "heart" (Greek: kardia) in biblical thought refers not just to emotions, but to the very core of one's beingโ€”the seat of intellect, will, motives, and moral character. This is echoed in Luke 6:45, which states that "out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh."
  • The Nature of Defilement: Jesus defines defilement as moral and spiritual corruption originating from evil thoughts and intentions within the heart, which then manifest as sinful words and deeds. These are the things that truly separate a person from God and corrupt their character, as further elaborated in Matthew 15:19 (evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies).

Linguistic Insights

The Greek word for "heart" is kardia, which in the biblical worldview encompasses not only emotions but also one's intellect, will, and moral center. It is the very core of a person's identity and motivations. The term "defile" (Greek: koinล) means to make common, unclean, or profane. This is a spiritual and moral defilement, contrasting sharply with the ceremonial uncleanness the Pharisees were concerned about. Jesus highlights that inner corruption, not outward ritual impurity, is what truly makes a person spiritually "unclean" in God's eyes.

Practical Application

This verse calls believers to deep self-examination. It reminds us that outward religious practices, while potentially valuable, are meaningless if the heart is not aligned with God. True transformation begins internally. We are encouraged to guard our hearts (Proverbs 4:23), recognizing that our words and actions are direct reflections of our inner state. If we desire to speak good things and live righteously, we must allow God to work within our hearts, cleansing them and filling them with His Spirit. This teaching underscores the importance of internal spiritual health over mere external conformity.

Note: If the commentary doesnโ€™t appear instantly, please allow 2โ€“5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated โ€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Proverbs 15:28 (20 votes)

    ยถ The heart of the righteous studieth to answer: but the mouth of the wicked poureth out evil things.

  • Matthew 12:34 (18 votes)

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

  • Matthew 15:11 (14 votes)

    Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man.

  • James 3:6 (14 votes)

    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 3:10 (14 votes)

    Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.

  • Proverbs 10:32 (8 votes)

    The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable: but the mouth of the wicked [speaketh] frowardness.

  • Proverbs 15:2 (8 votes)

    ยถ The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright: but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness.