Matthew 15:15-20

The Heart of Man

15 Peter said to Him, "¹Explain the parable to us."

16 Jesus said, "Are you still lacking in understanding also?

17 "Do you not understand that everything that goes into the mouth passes into the stomach, and is eliminated *?

18 "But ²the things that proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and those defile the man.

19 "³For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, slanders.

20 "These are the things which defile the man; but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile the man."

Cross References

• 1. Matthew 13:36
• 2. Matthew 12:34; Mark 7:20
• 3. Galatians 5:19f

Footnotes

• [a]. Lit "answered and said"
• [b]. Lit "and He"
• [c]. Lit "thrown out into the latrine"
• [d]. I.e. sexual immorality