“…but the things that come out of a man, these are what defile him.” – Mark 7:15

The Pharisees were meticulous about external cleanliness—washing hands, utensils, and avoiding certain foods to remain ceremonially pure. But Jesus exposed a deeper truth: defilement does not come from outside, but from within. It is not unclean hands or food that make us impure, but the thoughts, desires, and actions that flow from our hearts. 

Jesus listed the true sources of defilement—evil thoughts, immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, deceit, envy, pride, and more. These are not external stains but internal conditions. No amount of tradition or ritual can cleanse the heart. But we cannot transform our hearts on our own. It is only through coming to God—humbly, honestly, and fully surrendered to Christ—that true cleansing begins. And as we walk with Him, we must vigilantly guard our hearts, lest we drift back into old ways. True holiness begins inside, where only God can work.