The Bottom Line

Published on Mar 1, 2024
Category: Behold!

Read Matthew 15:1-20

Jesus called the crowd to him and said, Listen and understand.  What goes into someone’s mouth does not defile them, but what comes out of their mouth, that is what defiles them.

Matthew 15:10-11

God is holy and calls us to be holy.

The Pharisees and scribes raise objection to Jesus’ disciples not following traditions of external cleansing. Jesus counters their accusation with the accusation that they were not obeying the commandments of God because of their tradition. Jesus teaches that holiness comes from what comes out the heart rather than what goes into the mouth, thus giving traditions much lower priority than God’s commandments.

As people of God we are called to be holy (1 Peter 1:16). Holiness comes from our hearts. The Bible reminds us that out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks (Matthew 12:34). Murders begin not with the dagger, but with the malice of the soul. Adulteries and fornications are first gloated over in the heart before they are enacted by the body. The heart is the cage from whence these unclean birds fly forth. (Spurgeon).

Would you ask God to help you to take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ? (1 Corinthians 10:5) As the words of this beautiful hymn reminds may we take time to be holy, speak oft with thy Lord

Scripture Writing: 1 Samuel 2:2

Topic-Wise Bible Verse: Holy

Song: Take Time to be holy

Author

Preethi Alice Jacob

Preethi Jacob is the author of the yearlong devotional At the Potter’s Wheel, Day by Day. Her journey includes teaching a Bible Study Fellowship class, teaching and leading the Sunday School ministry in her church, leading Bible studies, besides counselling young women. She serves on the Global Mission Team of the United Bible Societies and lives in Bangalore, India with her husband and two young adult children.

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