Matthew 15:(10-20), 21-28 (NRSV)
Read Matthew 15:(10-20), 21-28 on biblegateway.com
Verse 10Then he called the crowd to him and said to them, "Listen and understand: Verse 11it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but it is what comes out of the mouth that defiles." Verse 12Then the disciples approached and said to him, "Do you know that the Pharisees took offense when they heard what you said?" Verse 13He answered, "Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted. Verse 14Let them alone; they are blind guides of the blind. And if one blind person guides another, both will fall into a pit." Verse 15But Peter said to him, "Explain this parable to us." Verse 16Then he said, "Are you also still without understanding? Verse 17Do you not see that whatever goes into the mouth enters the stomach, and goes out into the sewer? Verse 18But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this is what defiles. Verse 19For out of the heart come evil intentions, murder, adultery, fornication, theft, false witness, slander. Verse 20These are what defile a person, but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile."
Verse 21Jesus left that place and went away to the district of Tyre and Sidon. Verse 22Just then a Canaanite woman from that region came out and started shouting, "Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David; my daughter is tormented by a demon." Verse 23But he did not answer her at all. And his disciples came and urged him, saying, "Send her away, for she keeps shouting after us." Verse 24He answered, "I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel." Verse 25But she came and knelt before him, saying, "Lord, help me." Verse 26He answered, "It is not fair to take the children's food and throw it to the dogs." Verse 27She said, "Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters' table." Verse 28Then Jesus answered her, "Woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish." And her daughter was healed instantly.
Devotion
We watch someone walk by, hear a story about someone, read a news article about another country, and we immediately have opinions, sometimes, very strong negative ones. In a split second, we’ve decided what’s bad or wrong or sinful about them, based on surface impressions: Do they have tattoos? What kind of outfit is that? Their skin color is not the same as mine. What strange foods they eat! They don’t even speak my language.
Jesus is clear! This external stuff isn’t what defiles (makes someone common or unholy). Just as the Pharisees searched for ways to make the disciples appear to be unholy (Matthew 15:1-9), we can all too often find ourselves expressing thoughts that make the other person less than, unholy, or common. It’s the hatred that comes out of our heart and out of our mouths that makes us unholy, common, or defiled.
Thankfully, it is God’s mercy for all people that makes each one of us holy and uncommon.
Prayer
For our evil intentions, slander, false witness, and more, forgive us, Lord Jesus. Help us to see the holy in the other person. Let what comes out of our hearts and mouths be holy and undefiled. Amen.
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