Mark 7:14-23

The Heart of Man

14 After He called the crowd to Him again, He began saying to them, "Listen to Me, all of you, and understand:

15 there is nothing outside the man which can defile him if it goes into him; but the things which proceed out of the man are what defile the man.

16 [ "If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear."]

17 When he had left the crowd and entered ¹the house, ²His disciples questioned Him about the parable.

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 ³all foods ⁴clean.)

20 And He was saying, "⁵That 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, ⁶envy *, slander, pride and foolishness.

23 "All these evil things proceed from within and defile the man."

Cross References

• 1. Mark 2:1; Mark 3:20; Mark 9:28
• 2. Matthew 15:15
• 3. Romans 14:1-12; Colossians 2:16
• 4. Luke 11:41; Acts 10:15; Acts 11:9
• 5. Matthew 15:18; Mark 7:23
• 6. Matthew 6:23; Matthew 20:15

Footnotes

• [a]. Early mss do not contain this verse
• [b]. Lit "goes out into the latrine"
• [c]. I.e. acts of sexual immorality
• [d]. Lit "an evil eye"
• [e]. Or "arrogance"