For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies. These are the things which defile a man, but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile a man

 

 Then the scribes and Pharisees who were from Jerusalem came to Jesus, saying, "Why do Your disciples transgress the tradition of the elders?  For they do not wash their hands when they eat bread."  He answered and said to them, "Why do you also transgress the commandment of God because of your tradition?  For God commanded, saying, 'Honor your father and your mother'; and 'He who curses father or mother, let him be put to death;'  But you say, 'Whoever says to his father or mother, "Whatever profit you might have received from me is a gift to God" -- 'then he need not honor his father or mother.'  Thus you have made the commandment of God of no effect by your tradition.  Hypocrites!  Well did Isaiah prophesy about you, saying:

'These people draw near to Me with their mouth,

And honor Me with their lips,

But their heart is far from Me.

And in vain they worship Me, 

Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men."

When He had called the multitude to Himself, He said to them, "Hear and understand:  Not what goes into the mouth defiles a man; but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man."  Then His disciples came and said to Him, "Do You know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this saying?"  But He answered and said, "Every plant which My heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted.  Let them alone.  They are blind leaders of the blind.  And if the blind leads the blind, both will fall into a ditch."  Then Peter answered and said to Him, "Explain this parable to us."  So Jesus said, "Are you also still without understanding?  Do you not yet understand that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and is eliminated?  But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man.  For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies.  These are the things which defile a man, but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile a man."

 

- Matthew 15:1–20 

 

On Saturday, we read that immediately following the feeding of the five thousand in the wilderness, Jesus made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, while He sent the multitudes away.  And when He had sent the multitudes away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray.  Now when evening came, He was alone there.  But the boat was now in the middle of the sea, tossed by the waves, for the wind was contrary.  Now in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went to them, walking on the sea.  And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, "It is a ghost!"  And they cried out for fear.  But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, "Be of good cheer!  It is I; do not be afraid."  And Peter answered Him and said, "Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water."  So He said, "Come."  And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus.  But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, "Lord, save me!"  And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, "O you of little faith, why did you doubt?"  And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased.  Then those who were in the boat came and worshiped Him, saying, "Truly You are the Son of God."  When they had crossed over, they came to the land of Gennesaret.  And when the men of that place recognized Him, they sent out into all that surrounding region, brought to Him all who were sick, and begged Him that they might only touch the hem of His garment.  And as many as touched it were made perfectly well.

 

 Then the scribes and Pharisees who were from Jerusalem came to Jesus, saying, "Why do Your disciples transgress the tradition of the elders?  For they do not wash their hands when they eat bread."  He answered and said to them, "Why do you also transgress the commandment of God because of your tradition?  For God commanded, saying, 'Honor your father and your mother'; and 'He who curses father or mother, let him be put to death;'  But you say, 'Whoever says to his father or mother, "Whatever profit you might have received from me is a gift to God" -- 'then he need not honor his father or mother.'  Thus you have made the commandment of God of no effect by your tradition.  Hypocrites!  Well did Isaiah prophesy about you, saying:  'These people draw near to Me with their mouth, and honor Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me.  And in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men."   The tradition of the elders is a reference to the interpretations of the Law by Jewish teachers.  My study Bible comments that Christ shows the commandment of God cannot be superseded by man's religious traditions.  Devotion to God includes both obedience to His commandments and service to others -- these two cannot be separated (see also James 2:14-18; 1 John 4:7-21).   Jesus quotes from Isaiah 29:13.   The example Jesus gives was a way in which one could declare worldly goods the product of the temple, destined for donation upon one's death.  But in His scenario, this was used as an excuse not to share with dependent parents during one's lifetime.

When He had called the multitude to Himself, He said to them, "Hear and understand:  Not what goes into the mouth defiles a man; but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man."  Then His disciples came and said to Him, "Do You know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this saying?"  But He answered and said, "Every plant which My heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted.  Let them alone.  They are blind leaders of the blind.  And if the blind leads the blind, both will fall into a ditch."  Then Peter answered and said to Him, "Explain this parable to us."  So Jesus said, "Are you also still without understanding?  Do you not yet understand that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and is eliminated?  But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man.  For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies.  These are the things which defile a man, but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile a man."  Jesus refutes the viewpoint of the scribes and Pharisees that ritual purity depends on outward actions (in the specific cases discussed, the following of the tradition of the elders regarding ritual washing before eating).  Rather it is the state of the heart that determines a person's purity.  

In the reading for Friday last week, we read about the feeding of the five thousand, and in our commentary remarked on the choice we have for what we consume, what we take in, what we dwell upon.  Ironically, in today's reading which concerns the specific violation of tradition regarding washing before eating, Jesus contrasts the things we eat with the state of the heart; that is, He contrasts whatever enters the mouth with the things that proceed out of the mouth which come from the heart.  But in this case as well, we are prompted to remark upon the case in today's reading, that the things which proceed out of the heart actually seem to be things over which we have some degree of control, more so even than that which enters the mouth.  We don't always know that every morsel of food we take in agrees with us, or doesn't have some germ or microbe or virus that might disturb us (moreover, our digestive system is capable of change, developing digestive problems, allergies, etc.).  These things that define purity according to the tradition are outward in their emphasis.  But that which comes out of the heart is something over which we actually have a greater degree of control.  Once again, there are choices to make over that which we will nurture in ourselves.  Christ asks us repeatedly to consider -- as do the traditions of the Church -- how we will respond to our passions, desires, emotions.  Are we simply led by them, or do we discern our own behavior in responding to them first?  The fasting traditions of the Church are not meant to declare foods pure or impure.  Rather, the whole point is to learn discipline:  that we have the power to choose what we will do regardless of impulse or emotion or passion or temptation.  Whether that temptation is to eat something we've decided we'll fast from for a period of time, or to indulge in our extreme rage or envy or contempt or covetousness, the point is the same.  Christ's discipline asks us to choose how we will express ourselves, what we nurture in the heart, the things we cherish and treasure, and the things we will decide that we would be better off without.  There seem to be many people who simply wish to declare that they are incapable of change; they are either too set in their ways, or "too old," or perhaps they feel they are simply "hard-wired" for certain behaviors.  But neither Christ's teachings, nor the tradition of the Church, seem to indicate this at all.  The whole point of Christ's teaching here is to get us to take note of our own behaviors and the things which we collect, nurture, develop, and treasure in the heart -- for it is some of these things, such as "evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies" which defile us.  And they are therefore, things which we're expected to do something about, to notice, to try to change, and to supplant with good treasure instead (see Matthew 12:34-35).  Christ asks us for discipline over the things we have the capacity to change; indeed, the Greek word for repentance literally means "change of mind."  Depending on our circumstances we might not always have control or a choice over precisely what we eat, or even how our body responds.  But when it comes to thinking about developing an awareness and discipline about the things we entertain, and the ways we will choose to act in the world -- even, as Jesus points out, the things that "proceed out of the mouth from the heart" -- these things we can begin to develop and exercise choice about.  We can make an effort to be aware of what we do and our habitual patterns of thinking and response.  Let us consider Jesus' focus and His teaching, and take it seriously when He speaks about what defiles a person.  For that is truly where a capacity for choice and control must be given to discipleship.

Out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies

 Then the scribes and Pharisees who were from Jerusalem came to Jesus, saying, "Why do Your disciples transgress the tradition of the elders?  For they do not wash their hands when they eat bread."  He answered and said to them, "Why do you also transgress the commandment of God because of your tradition?  For God commanded, saying, 'Honor your father and your mother'; and, 'He who curses father or mother, let him be put to death.'  But you say, 'Whoever says to his father or mother, "Whatever profit you might have received from me is a gift to God" -- then he need not honor his father or mother.'  Thus you have made the commandment of God of no effect by your tradition.  Hypocrites!  Well did Isaiah prophesy about you, saying:

'These people draw near to Me with their mouth,
And honor Me with their lips,
But their heart is far from Me.
And in vain they worship Me,
Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.'"

When He had called the multitude to Himself, He said to them, "Hear and understand:  Not what goes into the mouth defiles a man; but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man."  Then His disciples came and said to Him, "Do You know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this saying?"  But He answered, "Every plant which My heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted.  Let them alone.  They are blind leaders of the blind.  And if the blind leads the blind, both will fall into a ditch."  Then Peter answered and said to Him, "Explain this parable to us."  So Jesus said, "Are you also still without understanding?  Do you not yet understand that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and is eliminated?  But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man.  For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies.  These are the things which defile a man, but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile a man."

- Matthew 15:1-20

 Yesterday we read that after feeding the five thousand in the wilderness, immediately Jesus made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, while He sent the multitudes away.  And when He had sent the multitudes away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray.  Now when evening came, He was alone there.  But the boat was now in the middle of the sea, tossed by the waves, for the wind was contrary.  Now in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went to them, walking on the sea.  And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, "It is a ghost!"  And they cried out for fear.  But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, "Be of good cheer!  It is I; do not be afraid."  And Peter answered Him and said, "Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water."  So He said, "Come."  And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus.  But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, "Lord, save me!"   And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, "O you of little faith, why did you doubt?"  And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased.  Then those who were in the boat came and worshiped Him, saying, "Truly You are the Son of God."  When they had crossed over, they came to the land of Gennesaret.  And when the men of that place recognized Him, they sent out into all that surrounding region, brought to Him all who were sick, and begged Him that they might only touch the hem of His garment.  And as many as touched it were made perfectly well.

 Then the scribes and Pharisees who were from Jerusalem came to Jesus, saying, "Why do Your disciples transgress the tradition of the elders?  For they do not wash their hands when they eat bread."  He answered and said to them, "Why do you also transgress the commandment of God because of your tradition?"  The tradition of the elders, my study bible tells us, refers to the interpretations of the Law by Jewish teachers.  Jesus refutes their views that ritual purity depends on outward actions.  Rather it is the state of the heart that determines a person's purity (verse 8).

He answered and said to them, "Why do you also transgress the commandment of God because of your tradition?  For God commanded, saying, 'Honor your father and your mother'; and, 'He who curses father or mother, let him be put to death.'  But you say, 'Whoever says to his father or mother, "Whatever profit you might have received from me is a gift to God" -- then he need not honor his father or mother.'  Thus you have made the commandment of God of no effect by your tradition."   What Christ is expressing here is that the commandment of God can't be overridden by the religious traditions of human beings.  A devotion to God, my study bible tells us, includes both obedience to God's commandments, and service to others.  They cannot be separated (see also James 2:14-18; 1 John 4:7-21).  Jesus here is specifically criticizing the practice of allowing someone that declare their wealth a gift to the temple.  Thereby this would allow them to continue to use their wealth during their lifetime for themselves, but effectively enabled dereliction of care for needy or dependent elderly parents. 

"Hypocrites!  Well did Isaiah prophesy about you, saying:  'These people draw near to Me with their mouth, and honor Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me.  And in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.' "  Jesus quotes from the prophesy of Isaiah (Isaiah 29:13) to illustrate His criticism of the hypocrites.

When He had called the multitude to Himself, He said to them, "Hear and understand:  Not what goes into the mouth defiles a man; but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man."  Then His disciples came and said to Him, "Do You know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this saying?"  But He answered, "Every plant which My heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted.  Let them alone.  They are blind leaders of the blind.  And if the blind leads the blind, both will fall into a ditch."  Here is an indication of the open rift Jesus will have with the Pharisees, who will later plot to kill Him.  He calls them blind leaders of the blind -- and prophesies their eventual downfall stemming from their misguided priorities. 

Then Peter answered and said to Him, "Explain this parable to us."  So Jesus said, "Are you also still without understanding?  Do you not yet understand that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and is eliminated?  But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man.  For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies.  These are the things which defile a man, but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile a man."  Jesus explains His teaching to the multitude earlier in the text ("Hear and understand:  Not what goes into the mouth defiles a man; but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man," verse 11).  This is the basis for the Christian emphasis on the care of the heart, the monastic discipline of awareness of our interior life and thoughts.  Jesus also taught in the Sermon on the Mount, "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God" (5:8).

How do you or I think about hypocrisy?  In context of today, that would mean making a show of one's righteousness -- possibly in a political sense -- but in truth fostering practices that really don't help anyone, or are in fact quite harmful.  Jesus doesn't just go on the defensive when His disciples are criticized.  He goes on offense -- He tells the Pharisees exactly what He thinks of their practices.  They conspicuously observe fasting rules and criticize His disciples, but in their own practices through their traditions allow the commandments to be effectively broken.  Jesus takes this criticism a step further when He speaks in front of the multitude, and expands on teaching regarding fasting.  Like many good practices meant for worthy effects, this can be abused for outward show and enable hypocrisy without a correct perspective.   (Thus the blind may lead the blind.)  A correct understanding of the purpose of fasting places a real emphasis on the heart.  Jesus says, "For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies."  Once again, as in the Sermon on the Mount, He is teaching us that all of these bad and unrighteous acts begin in the heart, and if we don't put emphasis there, we risk our lives becoming hypocritical as well, with our hearts far from God, and our worship being in vain.  So how do we translate this into modern understanding?  We have a culture, especially via social media, of what is called "virtue signalling."  That is, we are able to post things through social platforms on the internet that declare our support for one way of thinking or another.  It is a time in which slogans pass frequently through our awareness, and especially that of our children.  We can easily allow such "sloganeering" to substitute for a true commitment to God's righteousness in our hearts.  We can say to ourselves that we don't have to watch our own hearts for thoughts of violence or envy, covetousness or manipulative lies, false gossip, even blasphemy.  In modern terms we might justify violent revenge, or the harm of innocents, as if they correct an injustice.  Especially in a time when we are beset by current events that take up our time, lives, and attention, where we cannot separate fact from fiction, and where our perceptions are so easily manipulated through media of all kinds, let us take the time to sit back and listen to Christ talk about how important it is that we stop placing so much emphasis on the outside -- and pull back to the inside to see where and how we are aligned with God in what we do and in what we see.  And that means especially how we see, what lens we're using.  We need the lens of the perspective of Christ, the one He offers to us and helps us to acquire and understand.  We need to remember where our first loyalty is, and who our true guide is.  That is the one way we can stay away from the blind guides who may be, like apparently many of the leadership of His time were, out for themselves and even their own wealth.  Let us remember we have a good guide, and call on Him and His allies -- the saints and the angels and our living fellow faithful, the good shepherds we know -- for help in keeping our hearts in the right place.  For our own righteousness in the end is all we really have, and worth the price of awareness.

A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things

Christ dividing the sheep from the goats. Mosaic. Sant’Apollinare Nuovo, Ravenna, 6th century

"Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or else make the tree bad and its fruit bad; for a tree is known by its fruit.  Brood of vipers!  How can you, being evil, speak good things?  For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.  A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things.  But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment.  For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned."

Then some of the scribes and Pharisees answered, saying, "Teacher, we want to see a sign from You."  But He answered and said to them, "An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah.  For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.  The men of Nineveh will rise up in the judgment with this generation and condemn it, because they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and indeed a greater than Jonah is here.  The queen of the South will rise up in the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and indeed a greater than Solomon is here."

- Matthew 12:33-42

Yesterday we read that one was brought to Christ who was demon-possessed, blind and mute; and He healed him, so that the blind and mute man both spoke and saw.  And all the multitudes were amazed and said, "Could this be the Son of David?"  Now when the Pharisees heard it they said, "This fellow does not cast out demons except by Beelzebub, the ruler of the demons."  But Jesus knew their thoughts, and said to them:  "Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand.  If Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself.  How then will his kingdom stand?  And if I cast out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your sons cast them out?  Therefore they shall be your judges.  But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you.  Or how can one enter a strong man's house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man?  And then he will plunder his house.  He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters abroad.  Therefore I say to you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven men.  Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the age to come."

"Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or else make the tree bad and its fruit bad; for a tree is known by its fruit.  Brood of vipers!  How can you, being evil, speak good things?  For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.  A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things.  But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment.  For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned."   Jesus returns to the image of a tree, which He has used before in Matthew's Gospel (see 7:16-20).  It was also used by John the Baptist (3:10).  This metaphor or image encourages us to develop an internal integrity, so that the fruits we bear outwardly reflect that consistency of character.  Brood of vipers is also an image we've been given earlier, as it was John the Baptist's expression for the Pharisees and Sadducees who came to his baptism (see 3:7).  Brood means offspring; it is an expression, as used by both John and Jesus, indicating practices of deception and malice.  A viper, as a venomous snake, is an image of evil influence, and as used here, begetting poison and pain for human beings.  Jesus speaks of the heart to teach about human life, how our own depth of character and psychology works, linked to the soul.  My study bible explains that the heart in Scripture refers to the center of consciousness, the seat of the intellect and the will, the place from which spiritual life proceeds.  It says that when God's grace permeates the heart, it masters the body and guides all actions and thoughts.  But on the other hand, if malice and evil capture a person's heart, they become full of darkness and spiritual confusion.  Again, as with yesterday's reading, Jesus' teaching here ends with an affirmation of the importance of words and the true weight they carry, watching how we speak.  Even idle words measure and "say" something about us, and the warning about judgment is clear.  We should recall that this discussion follows the leadership's accusation that Christ casts out demons by the power of demons, and they therefore blaspheme the Holy Spirit.

Then some of the scribes and Pharisees answered, saying, "Teacher, we want to see a sign from You."  But He answered and said to them, "An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah.  For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.  The men of Nineveh will rise up in the judgment with this generation and condemn it, because they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and indeed a greater than Jonah is here.  The queen of the South will rise up in the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and indeed a greater than Solomon is here."  My study bible comments that after so many signs, the Pharisees show their wickedness by demanding yet another.  It points out that Jesus does not cater to anyone who demands a sign out of wicked intent.  His only sign for them will be His Passion and Resurrection.  And adulterous generation is the image used by the prophets when Israel was unfaithful to God (Jeremiah 2; Hosea 2:2-13).  The Gentiles of Ninevah repented at the preaching of Jonah (Jonah 3).  The queen of the South is the Queen of Sheba who came to Israel to hear the wisdom of Solomon and deeply honored that wisdom, a grace of God (1 Kings 10:1-13). 

Jesus has been speaking about the power of God at work in the world through His ministry, specifically the power of the Holy Spirit.  He compares Himself to Solomon, whose wisdom was honored by the Queen of Sheba.  Solomon's wisdom was a gift of God (1 Kings 3:6-14).  It was an answer to a prayer, when Solomon asked for the gift of discernment.  But Jesus says that a greater than Solomon is here, referring to Himself.  Even the Queen of the South revered the wisdom of Solomon, but the leadership treats Christ with disparaging words, claiming that the work of the Holy Spirit through His ministry is the work of demons (see yesterday's reading, above).  Even the Gentiles of Nineveh repented at the preaching of Jonah, when God sent Jonah to them.  But Christ's presence yields no repentance on the part of the Pharisees.  Once again, Jesus speaks of Himself and His ministry on no uncertain terms, even as the Pharisees have begun to plot to destroy Him.  He rebukes their demand for a sign, saying, in effect, that with or without a sign their rejection of Him and His ministry only speaks volumes about them.   As they reject Christ and the signs He has already done, so they reject the presence of God in their midst.  Jesus reminds us that all the choices that we make, whatever we do or say, it all begins in the heart.  The heart is the place where we choose what we will love, what we put first, and the rest follows.  Even our own idle words will be subject to judgment, so we must pay attention, take care what we are about and what we do.  Today we have at our fingertips the easy and potentially great impact of social media.  How simple is it to disparage someone, to speak hasty words in anger?  How much do we care for our own heart, to guard what is there, what we discern, what wisdom we ask for from God?    Do we take seriously our own practice and exercise of judgment, knowing that as we judge, so will we be judged (Matthew 7:1-2)?  How carefully do we choose our words?  Or do we let "idle words" mean nothing to us, even as we may be impacting others?  What is important in Christ's teaching is that He asks us to cultivate a kind of self-awareness that keeps us responsible.  What do we value and put first in our lives?  What is wisdom and where does it come from?  If we take our own internal state of being seriously, He seems to say, then our own words will also become more valued and measured.  Ultimately, it is the truth of Christ -- the truth of God -- that matters, as we seek to put that first.  It is the one standard by which we can measure all, but especially by which we should measure our own internal lives, our truth, our ways of reaching out to the world and to the ones we touch with our words, no matter who they are.  Above is a mosaic depicting judgment, in Christ's image found in Matthew 25:31-46. As Jesus warns of judgment -- and that even our idle words will require an accounting -- we should remember that this is a warning and not a final edict.  Even these men to whom He speaks have an option for repentance, as do we all.  Will we be like goats who are still known for their stubbornness, or will we choose the role of sheep who can willingly follow where the wisdom of the Shepherd would take us?  Let us remember that we always have these options alive and well within our hearts.  

These people draw near to Me with their mouth, and honor Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me. And in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men

 Then the scribes and Pharisees who were from Jerusalem came to Jesus, saying, "Why do Your disciples transgress the tradition of the elders?  For they do not wash their hands when they eat bread."  He answered and said to them, "Why do you also transgress the commandment of God because of your tradition?  For God commanded, saying, 'Honor your father and your mother'; and, 'He who curses father or mother, let him be put to death.'  But you say, 'Whoever says to his father or mother, "Whatever profit you might have received from me is a gift to God" -- then he need not honor his father or mother.  Thus you have made the commandment of God of no effect by your tradition.  Hypocrites!  Well did Isaiah prophesy about you, saying:

'These people draw near to Me with their mouth,
And honor Me with their lips,
But their heart is far from Me.
And in vain they worship Me,
Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.'"

When He had called the multitude to Himself, He said to them, "Hear and understand:  Not what goes into the mouth defiles a man; but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man."  Then His disciples came and said to Him, "Do You know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this saying?"  But He answered and said, "Every plant which My heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted.  Let them alone.  They are blind leaders of the blind.  And if the blind leads the blind, both will fall into a ditch."  Then Peter answered and said to Him, "Explain this parable to us."  So Jesus said, "Are you also still without understanding?  Do you not yet understand that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and is eliminated?  But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man.  For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies.  These are the things which defile a man, but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile a man."

- Matthew 15:1-20

 Yesterday, we read that after feeding the multitude in the wilderness, Jesus made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, while He sent the multitudes away.  And when He had sent the multitudes away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray.  Now when evening came, He was alone there.  But the boat was now in the middle of the sea, tossed by the waves, for the wind was contrary.  Now in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went to them, walking on the sea.  And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, "It is a ghost!"  And they cried out for fear.  But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, "Be of good cheer!  It is I; do not be afraid."  And Peter answered Him and said, "Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water."  So He said, "Come."  And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus.  But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, "Lord, save me!"  And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, "O you of little faith, why did you doubt?"  And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased.  Then those who were in the boat came and worshiped Him, saying, "Truly You are the Son of God."  When they had crossed over, they came to the land of Gennesaret.  And when the men of that place recognized Him, they sent out into all that surrounding region, brought to Him all who were sick, and begged Him that they might only touch the hem of His garment.  And as many as touched it were made perfectly well.

Then the scribes and Pharisees who were from Jerusalem came to Jesus, saying, "Why do Your disciples transgress the tradition of the elders?  For they do not wash their hands when they eat bread."  He answered and said to them, "Why do you also transgress the commandment of God because of your tradition?  For God commanded, saying, 'Honor your father and your mother'; and, 'He who curses father or mother, let him be put to death.'  But you say, 'Whoever says to his father or mother, "Whatever profit you might have received from me is a gift to God" -- then he need not honor his father or mother.  Thus you have made the commandment of God of no effect by your tradition.  Hypocrites!  Well did Isaiah prophesy about you, saying:  'These people draw near to Me with their mouth, and honor Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me.  And in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.'"   The tradition of the elders is the interpretation of the Law by Jewish teachers.  Jesus refutes the view here that ritual purity depends on outward actions, and turns His focus to the state of the heart in today's reading.  Here in these verses, He compares the religious traditions that have been built up around the Law, and contrasts them to the commandments of God given to Moses.  My study bible says, "Devotion to God includes both obedience to His commandments and service to others -- these two cannot be separated" (see also James 2:14-18, 1 John 4:7-21).  Jesus compares the commandments to honor father and mother with the tradition built over time that one could devote worldly goods to the temple as a gift, and thereby continue to use them in one's lifetime -- but not give to others, such as a dependent parent.  Jesus quotes from Isaiah 29:13.

 When He had called the multitude to Himself, He said to them, "Hear and understand:  Not what goes into the mouth defiles a man; but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man."  Then His disciples came and said to Him, "Do You know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this saying?"  But He answered and said, "Every plant which My heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted.  Let them alone.  They are blind leaders of the blind.  And if the blind leads the blind, both will fall into a ditch."  Then Peter answered and said to Him, "Explain this parable to us."  So Jesus said, "Are you also still without understanding?  Do you not yet understand that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and is eliminated?  But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man.  For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies.  These are the things which defile a man, but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile a man."  The Pharisees' criticism of Christ and His disciples was over ritual washing.  But here Jesus shifts the focus to the purity of the heart; most specifically, watching over one's own words and communication ("what comes out of the mouth").  He names "evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, and blasphemies" as things which defile a person, rather than to eat with unwashed hands.  Those who are blind to these truths are also leading the blind; their focus is in the wrong place.

Jesus focuses attention on the heart:  on what's called "the guarding of the heart," and on self-knowledge.  It's similar to His teaching that one should "first remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye" (7:5).  A focus on our words is a good way to know ourselves better, to keep watch over what is going on within us.  But the focus on the heart expands to more than words in Jesus' teaching; what He tells us is that everything begins in the heart.  It gives us something to notice that this teaching comes shortly after the miracle of the feeding in the wilderness.  Not only might we stop to wonder if there was time for ritual washing in the setting of the miracle, but we might also pause to think more about what feeding and nurturing really mean.  We might ask what feeds the heart.  We might start to think particularly about what can nurture our own strength of self-awareness.  Surely all that He offers helps us to grow in the capacity for our own growth in such capacity; the grace of His life at work within us (especially in the context of the Eucharist) is meant to assist us in following what He teaches here.  A good way to focus on our own heart is to nurture ourselves on what He offers us, and to focus on what participation in His life really means.  Ultimately, He calls us to love -- to a kind of participation in union in which the love of God nurtures our capacity for understanding and for change in His image.  To truly nurture the heart is to help it to grow and to cast out the things that defile, such as what He will call "the leaven of the Pharisees."  What really nurtures our faith, and our capacity for it?  How do we grow in God's love?  Clearly He indicates the first focus:  right in our own hearts.  We just start right there.  And we remember that where your treasure is, there your heart will be also (6:21).  Unfortunately, today we still have all kinds of social pressures to focus solely on the outside.  It's far too easy to place emphasis on image and impression.  Many chafe at what is often called "political correctness."  It's true that any kind of fully external focus or a sheer exercise in finger-pointing take us away from the heart and the understanding and knowledge of the heart, especially our own.  That would give us a modern day version of criticism for violation of "ritual purity" rules, and a means of ignoring the truth of the heart (our own or someone else's).  A truly loving heart will see into the heart of another, a kind of communication reserved for the pure in heart.  Let us remember the focus He teaches, and the blindness He warns against!

Whatever proceeds out of the mouth comes from the heart

Then the scribes and Pharisees who were from Jerusalem came to Jesus, saying, "Why do your disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat bread. He answered and said to them, "Why do you also transgress the commandment of God because of your tradition? For God commanded, saying, 'Honor your father and your mother'; and, 'He who curses father or mother, let him be put to death.' But you say, 'Whoever says to his father or mother, "Whatever profit you might have received from me is a gift to God" -- then he need not honor his father or mother.' Thus you have made the commandment of God of no effect by your tradition. Hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy about you, saying:

'These people draw near to Me with their mouth,

And honor Me with their lips,

But their heart is far from Me,

And in vain they worship Me,

Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.' "

When he had called the multitude to himself, he said to them, "Hear and understand: Not what goes into the mouth defiles a man; but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man." Then his disciples came and said to him, "Do you know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this saying?" But he answered and said, "Every plant which my heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted. Let them alone. They are blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind leads the blind, both will fall into a ditch." Then Peter answered and said to him, "Explain this parable to us." So Jesus said, "Are you also still without understanding? Do you not yet understand that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and is eliminated? But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies. These are the things which defile a man, but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile a man."

- Matthew 15:1-20

In the past couple of readings, Jesus has manifested miracles that are of messianic status and import: he has fed the five thousand, and walked on water to his disciples. His apostles, in yesterday's reading, recognized him as "Son of God" for the first time. In today's reading, he begins to tangle with the scribes and Pharisees, engaging in confrontation over their hypocrisy.

Then the scribes and Pharisees who were from Jerusalem came to Jesus, saying, "Why do your disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat bread. My study bible has a note on the entire passage: "The tradition of the elders (v. 2) refers to the interpretations of the Mosaic Law by Jewish teachers, here regarding ritual purity. Jesus sharply refutes their views that ritual purity depends on what a person does or doesn't do. Rather, he points to the heart (v.8) as the source of evils which defile a person. We guard our hearts from evil to keep ourselves from error, to overcome unchastity, and to protect ourselves from any other sinful passion." To "guard our hearts" is to be aware of what is going on within ourselves, what choices we are making. This awareness is designed to keep us protected from falling into errors, going down roads we know are problematic to us.

He answered and said to them, "Why do you also transgress the commandment of God because of your tradition? For God commanded, saying, 'Honor your father and your mother'; and, 'He who curses father or mother, let him be put to death.' But you say, 'Whoever says to his father or mother, "Whatever profit you might have received from me is a gift to God" -- then he need not honor his father or mother.' Thus you have made the commandment of God of no effect by your tradition. My study bible notes here: "The commandment to honor one's father and mother is the first of the Ten Commandments which deals with human relations. A work of service or devotion to God is of no value if in carrying it out one ignores personal responsibility to others. Right human relationships are a necessary element of Christian devotion." As always, Jesus' criticism is based on the difficulties encountered when laws, commands or traditions that are negated by other practice are those designed to help the poor, to maintain the social fabric of relations with those who are needy and would be destitute without help. In this case, elderly parents who must rely on children. The practice he criticizes is that which disobeys, in effect, the law through the imposition of a tradition that enriches the religious class - at the expense of the dependent parents, father and mother.

Hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy about you, saying: 'These people draw near to Me with their mouth, and honor Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me, and in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.' " See Isaiah 29:13 for the passage Jesus is quoting here. "Hypocrites" in its original meaning in Greek is "actor." Jesus is defining those who parody devotion, but their hearts are elsewhere.

"When he had called the multitude to himself, he said to them, "Hear and understand: Not what goes into the mouth defiles a man; but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man." As has been the case through the past several chapters of Matthew's gospel, Jesus calls the crowds together and preaches in parables before the multitude. As before, we get his explanation in private to his disciples in the next verses. We remember that "parable" can also mean "riddle" or "allegory" or "proverb."

Then his disciples came and said to him, "Do you know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this saying?" But he answered and said, "Every plant which my heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted. Let them alone. They are blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind leads the blind, both will fall into a ditch." Then Peter answered and said to him, "Explain this parable to us." The Pharisees understand Jesus' criticism. Repeatedly, they are portrayed as the religious experts (along with the scribes and other leadership in the temple) who know better. Jesus harshest criticism is reserved for those who have the capacity to grasp and know his teachings, and yet remain hypocrites for personal gain. The blind leaders of the blind, in this case, remain blind by their choices. In other parts of the gospels, we hear Jesus' criticism of those who choose their blindness. Here the emphasis is on their lack of credibility because "their hearts are far from God" (as in the quotation from Isaiah). Everything must be rooted in that reality as authentic spiritual teaching. This is a conflict of the reality of the heart, authenticity of spiritual grounding: from whence comes a Teacher's authority?

So Jesus said, "Are you also still without understanding? Do you not yet understand that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and is eliminated? But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies. These are the things which defile a man, but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile a man." We return again to themes of the heart, and what we practice and guard and keep within ourselves. The most important passage we reflect upon is the one from the Sermon on the Mount, in which Jesus taught that "where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." It is up to us to choose what we will love, what we keep in our hearts, and this defines who we are. That passage from the Sermon on the Mount came when Jesus taught about choosing between God and mammon. And here, the emphasis is similar. He is criticizing those who fail to worship with the heart, but only with the outward form, so that they may maintain the hypocrisy that gathers wealth to themselves. What we guard in our heart is our choice: all forms of vice - cruelty, avarice, envy, etc. and the myriad forms they take in our lives are those things we can either guard against or keep within our hearts. It is our choice. If we are blind then our awareness is dimmed, if we are awake to these spiritual choices, we keep our spiritual eyes and ears open, we guard our hearts against what we know is not good for us spiritually. But to eat with unwashed hands, to fail to follow form only, is not personally defiling. This is Jesus' greatest teaching on the power of the inner life, and one we must "take to heart." (See here and here for more commentary on this subject.) It is not the outside practice, but the inner life, the life of the heart, that is judged - after all, another name for our judge is the "knower of hearts."

How do you discern the reality of the heart? Where do you put your love, your passion in life? What do you guard against when it comes up for you? We are asked to practice awareness, to give conscious emphasis to the reality of what is within our center, to protect our hearts and to be aware of what it is that makes us who we are as human beings. Is it the outside, the image we cultivate before others? or is it something deeper, that dwells in the place where we decide that which we love and in which we participate? This is what defines us and places us where we belong in this method of discernment. To stay awake, to be spiritually aware is to have spiritual sight, and not to be a blind follower of the blind. Jesus teaches us also to "Watch!" when he warns his disciples of the time that he will be away, the time period we are in now, as we await his coming. Until that day of plain discernment and obvious choice, we are to remain awake, to watch and to understand that we not be deceived. We must do so in order not to deceive ourselves, as well.