Matthew 15 Selected Verses
10 When He had called the multitude to Himself, He said to them, “Hear and understand: 11 Not what goes into the mouth defiles a man; but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man.”
16 So Jesus said, “Are you also still without understanding? 17 Do you not yet understand that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and is eliminated? 18 But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man. 19 For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies. 20 These are the things which defile a man, but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile a man.”
In the Old Testament, there were the dietary or Kosher laws which had a lot of restrictions about what you could and could not eat (Leviticus 11). There was a great deal of information about what to do and how to do it. People were so concerned about what they ate. They were concerned that something could make them unclean. Jesus spoke to us about the purpose of the Law which was to bring us to love God. He spoke about the Spirit rather than the letter of the Law.
In Acts 10, Peter had a vision. It was about what you could eat.
Acts 10:11-15New International Version (NIV)
11 He saw heaven opened and something like a large sheet being let down to earth by its four corners. 12 It contained all kinds of four-footed animals, as well as reptiles and birds. 13 Then a voice told him, “Get up, Peter. Kill and eat.”
14 “Surely not, Lord!” Peter replied. “I have never eaten anything impure or unclean.” 15 The voice spoke to him a second time, “Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.”
God was telling Peter that anything that God created was clean. God had just overwritten the ceremonial law or had He? You see, Jesus sacrifice of Himself was the final sacrifice needed under the ceremonial laws. So it was not important what you ate.
The real thing is not what goes in your mouth but what comes out. Leviticus 19:14 says “‘Do not curse the deaf….” Why not, they can’t hear you anyway. Your curse will fall on you because you heard it. Words have power. What do you say about yourself? What do you say about or to others? Do you criticize or praise? Do you look for good or find fault? Do you lift up or tear down? Do you use your words to bless your family, friends and others? Your words can bless others! Go out and bless someone today!
Lord, thank You for Your grace by which we all live. And it is Your grace that points us to Your love rather than ceremonial laws. Remind us of Your love and that it is more important than rules. Your grace is sufficient for all our needs. Help us to accept and live within that grace. In Jesus name we pray!