The Deadly Lures of Legalism

Mark 7:14-23

Every human heart has the root of every human sin in it. It is entirely possible to look nice on the outside while being dead on the inside. The most deadly contamination is not what I touch. The most deadly contamination is what is in my heart.

Jesus charges all who are listening in on the theological debate to pay attention and understand. He then delivers a little parable. When His disciples155 ask the meaning of this parable, Jesus once again (cf. 6:52; 8:17-18) chides them for their lack of understanding. This is one of the most critically important spiritual lessons in the whole Word of God. Jesus explains that corruption is not external but internal. Impurity is not a matter of the stomach but of the heart. Defilement is not what goes in but what comes out.

Jesus’ words are spiritually revolutionary! He is saying that the real issues of religious and spiritual faith are internal not external. Sin always proceeds from within. Food ends up in the stomach, but sin begins in the heart. Food is eaten, digested in the stomach, and expelled. Sin, however, remains in the heart and then produces all manner of defilement and death. The basic problem of fallen humanity is not what we do but who we are! Real filth, impurity, and defilement are inside and unseen, but eventually they will show themselves, as verses 21-23 make clear.

By the way, note Mark’s editorial comment in verse 19: “As a result, He made all foods clean.” I believe the study note in the ESV Study Bible (emphasis in original) captures the meaning succinctly:

Mark notes that Jesus’ teaching, in essence, declared all foods clean. The Mosaic ceremonial laws distinguished between “clean” and “unclean” foods (see Lev. 11:1-47). Their purpose was to instill an awareness of God’s holiness and of the reality of sin as a barrier to fellowship with God. But once defilement of the heart is thoroughly removed and full fellowship with God becomes a reality (through the atoning death of Jesus; see Mark 10:45; Rom. 14:14; Heb. 8:6-13; 9:10, 14), the ceremonial laws have fulfilled their purpose and are no longer required.

The point is quite simple: it was always about the heart.

Mark Dever calls verses 21-23 “the fingers of sin” (“Jesus and Filth”). They are evidence of a corrupt heart. Inevitably, sin’s root will produce sin’s fruit. And it is an ugly, destructive crop to behold. Jesus provides a selective list of sin’s fruit. He highlights no less than 13 characteristics of the evil actions that flow naturally from a sinful heart—actions that always result in sorrow, harmful behavior, and death. The list has a strong Old Testament grounding.

156Evil Thoughts

Evil devising and schemes. They set the stage for what follows.

Sexual Immorality (porneia)

General word identifying any and all sexual sins contrary to God’s will. It includes premarital, extramarital, and unnatural sexual behavior.

Theft

Stealing. Taking from another what is not yours. The eighth commandment (Exod 20:15; Deut 5:19).

Murder

Taking an innocent life. The sixth commandment (Exod 20:13; Deut 5:17).

Adultery

Violating the marriage covenant by engaging in sexual behavior mentally (Matt 5:28) or physically with someone you are not married to. The seventh commandment (Exod 20:14; Deut 5:18).

Greed

Coveting, a desire for more at the expense or exploitation of another. The tenth commandment (Exod 20:17; Deut 5:21).

Evil Actions

Behavior that is bad, wicked; deliberate malice.

Deceit

Deception, dishonesty, cunning treachery.

Promiscuity

Unbridled, shameless living that is lacking in moral discernment or restraint.

Stinginess (lit. “an evil eye”)

Figure of speech for envy, jealousy, rooted in unbelief. It believes God is withholding His best from you. A heart ailment that has the seeds of its own destruction sown within. It is never satisfied! It always wants more.

Blasphemy

Slander; defaming; speaking evil of man or God.

Pride

Arrogance, haughtiness.

Foolishness

Senselessness; spiritual insensitivity.

157These evil actions arise from one’s heart, which is the source of sin that condemns.

There are basically only two approaches to religion, each of which can be summed up in a single word: do or done. The world says the problem is out there, and the solution is to answer the question, What can I do? The Bible says the problem is inside of us, and the answer is what Christ has done! You see, in legalism we think better of ourselves than Jesus does. But in salvation we think the same of ourselves as Jesus does: we are hopeless, helpless sinners in desperate need of a Savior.

First Samuel 16:7 says, “Man does not see what the Lord sees, for man sees what is visible, but the Lord sees the heart.” When the Lord examines your heart, what does He see? Does He see a self-righteous legalist trusting in what “I do” or a humble sinner trusting only in what Jesus has done? The difference is of eternal significance.