Matthew 15:10-20

What Defiles a Man

10 Jesus called the crowd to Him and said, “Listen and understand. ¹

11 A man is not defiled by what enters his mouth, but by what comes out of it.”

12 Then the disciples came to Him and said, “Are You aware that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this?”

13 But Jesus replied, “Every plant that My heavenly Father has not planted will be pulled up by its roots.

14 Disregard them! They are blind guides. ^[a] If a blind man leads a blind man, both will fall into a pit.”

15 Peter said to Him, “Explain this parable to us.”

16 “Do you still not understand?” Jesus asked.

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

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

19 For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, and slander.

20 These are what defile a man, but eating with unwashed hands does not defile him.”

Cross References

• 1. (Mark 7:14–23)

Footnotes

• [a] Or blind guides of the blind