He summoned the crowd and said to them, “Hear and understand.
It is not what enters one’s mouth that defiles the man;
but what comes out of the mouth is what defiles one.”
The Pharisees and scribes judge the disciples based on external observations. Because their view is external it is the whole story.
For the LORD sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart (see First Samuel 16:7).
The Pharisees don't have access to see what is going on in the hearts of the disciples. Neither do we have access to the interior lives of others whom we judge. Yet what is going on inside the disciples, the Pharisees and scribes, and ourselves does have consequences. The LORD sees what is happening within and insists that even our intentions by rightly directed toward him. We are not to even commit adultery in our hearts, let alone our deeds (see Matthew 5:28).
Our hearts do reveal themselves in our deeds. There is not one subjective, religious sphere and a separate objective secular one. Jesus is not saying that the disciples get a pass no matter what their behavior is as long as some inner subjective space is rightly ordered. He is saying instead that our view of others is too limited to understand everything that is going on in their hearts. This is why, while we can judge actions objectively, we can never judge the souls of those who perform them.
Jesus does point to a sign of what is going on inside of us that is often makes the connection more evident. He tells us that it is "what comes out of the mouth is what defiles one." This is not to say that we can read the soul of another based on their speech, though the restraint or lack thereof shown there is as good an indication as anything we have to work with. But this close proximity between the intentions of the heart and what the lips speak can still be of use to us. It can help us to gauge our own progress.
And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body. If we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we guide their whole bodies as well. Look at the ships also: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things (see James 3:2-5).
Do our lips speak harmful gossip, rumors, and negativity? Do we unintentionally use speech to prophesy worst case scenarios? This shows that our faith is not yet as connected with our intentions as it ought to be.
Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear (see Ephesians 4:29)
Using our lips to agree with the word of God will purify us and keep us planted and established in the Father's grace. His words are a tether to his very heart, light to light the path before us.
The LORD promises to restore the tents of Jacob and pity his dwellings. He desires to and will in fact rebuild the City upon the hill which cannot be hidden. He does this with the end in view that his people will themselves become the temples that will "resound songs of praise". Let us use our words, above all, to praise him.
That the name of the LORD may be declared on Zion;
and his praise, in Jerusalem,
When the peoples gather together
and the kingdoms, to serve the LORD.
Matt Redman - Let My Words Be Few
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