Mark 7:20

20 And He was saying, "¹That which proceeds out of the man, that is what defiles the man.

Mark 7:20 Meaning and Commentary

Mark 7:20

And he said
Continued to say in his discourse; though this is left but in the Syriac version;

that which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man;
meaning, not his excrements, which were unclean by the law, ( Deuteronomy 23:13 ) but what comes out of his heart, by his mouth; or is expressed in action, as appears by what follows; (See Gill on Matthew 15:18).

Mark 7:20 In-Context

18 And He said to them, "Are you so lacking in understanding also? Do you not understand that whatever goes into the man from outside cannot defile him,

19 because it does not go into his heart, but into his stomach, and is eliminated ?" (Thus He declared all foods clean.)

20 And He was saying, "That which proceeds out of the man, that is what defiles the man.

21 "For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed the evil thoughts, fornications, thefts, murders, adulteries,

22 deeds of coveting and wickedness, as well as deceit, sensuality, envy , slander, pride and foolishness.

Cross References

• 1. Matthew 15:18; Mark 7:23