The Heart of the matter
In Mark 7:1–23, Jesus confronts the religious leaders who criticize His disciples for not following their traditional ceremonial washings. Jesus boldly declares that it is not what goes into a person that defiles them, but what comes out from within — from the heart. He exposes the danger of elevating human traditions above God’s commands and reveals that sin originates in the heart, not in external practices.
This passage calls us to move beyond outward appearances and religious rituals to true inner transformation. God desires purity of heart, not just external conformity. Real holiness flows from a heart surrendered to Him, not from rule-keeping or self-righteousness.
This message challenges us to examine our hearts honestly, repent of hypocrisy, and invite Jesus to cleanse and renew us from the inside out.
Hear More from the Gospel of Mark Series
“Mark’s Incipit” — Mark 1:1 · February 14, 2021
“Deity & Humanity, with Authority” — Mark 1:1-34 · February 21, 2021
“The Gospel of the Kingdom” — Mark 1:14-15 · February 28, 2021
“Human Enough for Prayer & Limits” — Mark 1:32-39 · March 14, 2021
“Answering Gods Original Question” — Mark 1:32-39 · March 21, 2021
“Jesus & the Walking Dead” — Mark 1:40-45 · March 28, 2021
“Cary or Bury” — Mark 2:1-12 · April 11, 2021
“The Son of Man” — Mark 2:10 · April 18, 2021
“Follow with me” — Mark 2:13-17 · April 25, 2021
“Jesus, my Sabbath Rest” — Mark 2:23-28 · May 2, 2021
“Moralism & Liberalism vs. Jesus” — Mark 2:18-3:6 · May 9, 2021
“When He’s ‘Just Jesus’” — Mark 3 · May 16, 2021
“The Savior & Some Soil” — Mark 4:1-20 · May 23, 2021
“Jesus’ Kingdom Stories” — Mark 4:21-34 · June 6, 2021
“Jesus’ Authority over the Sea” — Mark 4:35-41 · June 13, 2021
“Jesus & My Graveyard” — Mark 5:1-20 · June 13, 2021
“When God makes you wait” — Mark 5:21-43 · July 11, 2021
“When Jesus offends you” — Mark 6:1-6 · July 18, 2021
“What God wants from you” — Mark 6:7-13 · July 25, 2021
“Present in the Storm” — Mark 6:45-56 · August 22, 2021
“A Seat at the Table” — Mark 7:24-30 · September 5, 2021
“He does all things well” — Mark 7:31-37 · September 12, 2021
“Unmerited Favor for Unexpected People” — Mark 8:1-10 · September 26, 2021
“A Little Leaven” — Mark 8:11-21 · October 3, 2021
“Who do you say that I am?” — Mark 8:22-28 · October 10, 2021
“From the Mountain to the Valley” — Mark 9:14-32 · October 24, 2021
“Kingdom Culture” — Mark 9:30-50 · October 31, 2021
“A Marriage Talk, p1” — Mark 10:1-12 · November 7, 2021
“A Marriage Talk, p2” — Mark 10:1-12 · November 7, 2021
“Jesus, our Kings Ransom” — Mark 10:32-45 · January 23, 2022
“The Son Stood Still” — Mark 10:46-52 · January 30, 2022
“Jesus, the Unexpected King” — Mark 11:1-11 · February 13, 2022
“The Temple & The Tree” — Mark 11:12-26 · February 20, 2022
“The Inspection of the Lamb” — Mark 11:27-12:40 · February 27, 2022
“The Essence of Christianity” — Mark 12:28-34 · March 6, 2022
“Gospel Transformation” — Mark 12:38-44 · March 13, 2022
“Jesus & the Temple” — Mark 13:1-23 · March 27, 2022
“Jesus & the Restoration of the World” — Mark 13 · April 3, 2022
“Jesus in the Passover” — Mark 14:12-26 · April 10, 2022
“Responding to Jesus” — Mark 14:1-11 · April 24, 2022
“The God who was Crushed” — Mark 14:27-52 · May 1, 2022
“Humanity on Trial” — Mark 14:53-15:15 · May 8, 2022
“The Kings Coronation” — Mark 15:12-32 · May 29, 2022
“Caring for the Body of Christ” — Mark 15:42-47 · August 7, 2022
“Why Trust the Resurrection” — Mark 16:1-8 · August 14, 2022
“The Cutting Room Floor” — Mark 16:9-20 · August 21, 2022
“Mark, a recap” — Mark 1:1 · August 28, 2022
