Matthew 15:11 - Printer Friendly

ESV: it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth; this defiles a person."

NIV: What goes into someone’s mouth does not defile them, but what comes out of their mouth, that is what defiles them."

NASB: It is not what enters the mouth that defiles the person, but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles the person.'

CSB: It’s not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth—this defiles a person."

NLT: It’s not what goes into your mouth that defiles you; you are defiled by the words that come out of your mouth.'

KJV: Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man.

NKJV: Not what goes into the mouth defiles a man; but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man.”

After a heated exchange and condemnation of the Pharisees, Jesus turns to the crowd to address what the Pharisees have said. They asked Jesus why His disciples break the tradition of the elders by not ritually washing their hands when they eat (Matthew 15:1–9).

The Pharisees believed they were demonstrating religious faithfulness by following the traditions of leaders who had come before them. One tradition which had become a requirement was ritual hand-washing—probably including utensils—before eating. This was not a command of Scripture, however. God did not demand those specific steps, and Jesus did not require His disciples to wash their hands in that exact way.

It's important not to miss the point of the disagreement. Jesus is not condemning all washing of hands before eating. Nor is He implying that there is no reason, at all, to do so. What Christ denounces is condemning the false idea that a ritualized tradition could make someone spiritually clean. That's why He says in this verse that what goes into a person's mouth isn't what defiles them. It's what comes out of a person's mouth that causes that person to be spiritually unclean.

This would have sounded radical to most Israelites. Not only was Jesus teaching that following the hand-washing tradition did not make a person clean, Jewish people absolutely believed they could be made unclean by eating specific foods, like pork. It's no surprise the disciples ask Him to explain (Matthew 15:15).

Jesus will explain exactly what He means in the following verses. The main idea is that nobody can be made spiritually clean or unclean by the mere presence of some material object. For that reason, spiritual uncleanliness doesn't come simply by unknowingly contacting a speck of some unclean food. What matters when it comes to spiritual uncleanness is intent, such as what's revealed by our words (Matthew 15:17–20).

Matthew 15:10–20 describes Jesus' expanded answer to a challenge from the Pharisees. Their concern is not about washing hands for health, but to follow religious rituals. He says these Pharisees will be uprooted and that they are blind guides. When asked, Jesus tells the disciples it's not what goes into a person's mouth that defiles him; it's the words that come out that reveal the sin in his heart. The defilement is already there, including all kinds of sin. He tells them flatly that eating with unwashed hands does not spiritually defile anyone.

Pharisees and scribes come from Jerusalem to challenge Jesus. They are offended that His disciples break the religious leaders' tradition about ritual handwashing before meals. Jesus turns that attack upside down, pointing out that His critics honor tradition above God's actual commands! He insists that nobody is defiled by what goes in the mouth—by the literal matter itself—but by the overflow of the spirit, such as the words that come out of the mouth. He and the disciples travel out of the country. Jesus casts a demon out of the daughter of a persistent Canaanite woman. They travel to the southeast side of the Sea of Galilee where Jesus feeds thousands of people from a few loaves and fishes. These last two events set up the eventual spread of the gospel beyond the people of Israel.

Matthew 15 begins with a confrontation between some Pharisees and Jesus. They ask why His disciples break the traditional practice of ritual handwashing. Pointedly, Jesus asks why they allow the obvious intent of God's commandments to be broken through their traditions. Jesus and the disciples travel out of Israel, encountering a Canaanite woman. He praises her faith and casts a demon from her daughter. They travel to the southeast side of the Sea of Galilee where Jesus heals more people and feeds thousands more from another few loaves and fishes. This sets up another confrontation with religious leaders, warnings about their teachings, and predictions of Jesus' death in the next chapter.

The Gospel of Matthew clearly shows the influence of its writer's background, and his effort to reach a specific audience. Matthew was one of Jesus' twelve disciples, a Jewish man, and a former tax collector. This profession would have required literacy, and Matthew may have transcribed some of Jesus' words as they were spoken. This book is filled with references to the Old Testament, demonstrating to Israel that Jesus is the Promised One. Matthew also includes many references to coins, likely due to his former profession. Matthew records extensive accounts of Jesus' teaching, more than the other three Gospels.