“What Comes Out of a Person is What Defiles Him."

“And he said, “What comes out of a person is what defiles him. For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person.” (Mark 7:20-23 ESV)

In these verses from Mark, Jesus is telling the apostles that what comes out of the mouth is what defiles a person. It reveals their true wickedness, and it is both frustrating and saddening. All these things Jesus speaks of are the evil that lies inside all of us, but for those not in Christ, it freely spews from their mouths.

It is especially difficult to witness when it comes from family or those we know well. We may have repeatedly given them the gospel, but it fell on deaf ears, silenced by a heart of stone, cold and hardened. It is embarrassing to watch their displays, but it can also be anger-inducing when their wrath is spewed at undeserving others.

If you have witnessed this behavior, you have to deal with it and accept that you can do nothing about it. For me, it is to simply leave. I remove myself from this display of evil. You may have felt like it is hopeless, knowing that you have often tried to help this person understand the gospel and the love, peace, and joy that come through salvation by faith in Christ alone. Please remember that we cannot change one's heart, not our own, much less someone else's heart.

In Matthew 19:23, “Jesus said to his disciples, 'Truly, I say to you, only with difficulty will a rich person enter the kingdom of heaven.’” The rich may have difficulty, but the hardened heart may never enter heaven. What we must understand is that we cannot change the heart. As Jesus told the apostles, “it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.”(v. 24). We ask just as the apostles did, “Who then can be saved?” (v. 25).  Jesus explains it for us, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” (v. 26)

All things are possible through God. So, we must pray for these people who, in our hearts, we may believe are unreachable, but for God, they can be reached. We cannot know who the elect are and who is not. Therefore, we must continue to give the gospel when we can, live a life that exemplifies Christ, and pray brothers, and sisters, pray for them. Pray that the filth that spews from their mouth will be shut off. That the hardened heart would be exchanged for flesh, and that the gospel would be recognized, understood, and accepted through God’s grace.

Do not give up hope because hope is found in Christ in all things. Pray they are the elect, and that God’s will is the same as yours, for them to come to Christ. Remember where you stood, as an unrepentant sinner, and remember the day He called you and you went, leaving behind all you were for who you are now as a child of God, and an heir with Christ.

Christ has the power to change, and that my friends will never change.

Grace and Peace.