Matthew 15:17 - Don’t you understand that whatever goes into the mouth passes into the belly, and then out of the body?
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What does "Matthew 15:17" mean?
Matthew 15:17, "Don’t you understand that whatever goes into the mouth passes into the belly, and then out of the body?" is part of a larger discussion Jesus is having with the Pharisees about ritual purity. To understand it, we need to look at the context.
Context:
Pharisees' Concern: The Pharisees were concerned about Jesus' disciples not washing their hands before eating (Matthew 15:1-2). They believed in a strict interpretation of the oral law, which included detailed rituals for cleanliness and purity.
Jesus' Rebuke: Jesus criticizes the Pharisees for focusing on these external rituals while neglecting the more important matters of the heart (Matthew 15:3-9). He accuses them of hypocrisy, focusing on tradition while disobeying God's commandments.
The Explanation to the Disciples: After speaking to the crowd, Jesus explains to his disciples (Matthew 15:15-20) the true meaning of defilement.
Meaning of Matthew 15:17:
Physical Process: The verse itself is a simple statement of a biological fact. Food enters the mouth, is digested in the stomach, and then expelled from the body as waste.
Spiritual Application: However, the point isn't about digestion, but about what truly defiles a person. Jesus is saying that what enters the mouth doesn't make a person unclean spiritually. Why? Because it simply passes through the body and is eliminated. It doesn't affect the heart or spirit.
The Real Source of Defilement: In contrast, Jesus emphasizes that what comes out of the mouth (words, thoughts, actions) reveals the true state of a person's heart. He continues in verses 18-20: "But the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, and these defile a person. For out of the heart come evil thoughts—murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander. These are what defile a person; but eating with unwashed hands does not defile them.”
In Summary:
Matthew 15:17 is a foundational statement in Jesus' argument that spiritual purity is not about external rituals like hand-washing, but about the internal condition of the heart. The physical process of eating and elimination does not defile a person; it is the evil thoughts, words, and actions that proceed from the heart that truly defile.
Matthew 15:17 - Don’t you understand that whatever goes into the mouth passes into the belly, and then out of the body?
What does "Matthew 15:17" mean?
Matthew 15:17, "Don’t you understand that whatever goes into the mouth passes into the belly, and then out of the body?" is part of a larger discussion Jesus is having with the Pharisees about ritual purity. To understand it, we need to look at the context.
Context:
Pharisees' Concern: The Pharisees were concerned about Jesus' disciples not washing their hands before eating (Matthew 15:1-2). They believed in a strict interpretation of the oral law, which included detailed rituals for cleanliness and purity.
Jesus' Rebuke: Jesus criticizes the Pharisees for focusing on these external rituals while neglecting the more important matters of the heart (Matthew 15:3-9). He accuses them of hypocrisy, focusing on tradition while disobeying God's commandments.
The Explanation to the Disciples: After speaking to the crowd, Jesus explains to his disciples (Matthew 15:15-20) the true meaning of defilement.
Meaning of Matthew 15:17:
Physical Process: The verse itself is a simple statement of a biological fact. Food enters the mouth, is digested in the stomach, and then expelled from the body as waste.
Spiritual Application: However, the point isn't about digestion, but about what truly defiles a person. Jesus is saying that what enters the mouth doesn't make a person unclean spiritually. Why? Because it simply passes through the body and is eliminated. It doesn't affect the heart or spirit.
The Real Source of Defilement: In contrast, Jesus emphasizes that what comes out of the mouth (words, thoughts, actions) reveals the true state of a person's heart. He continues in verses 18-20: "But the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, and these defile a person. For out of the heart come evil thoughts—murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander. These are what defile a person; but eating with unwashed hands does not defile them.”
In Summary:
Matthew 15:17 is a foundational statement in Jesus' argument that spiritual purity is not about external rituals like hand-washing, but about the internal condition of the heart. The physical process of eating and elimination does not defile a person; it is the evil thoughts, words, and actions that proceed from the heart that truly defile.