We continue in Mark for our Summer Reading Challenge of 2022. Today’s reflections from Mark chapter 7 address the grave description of the brokenness of our hearts and then what hope we have.
- Mark chapter 7 has 4 main sections – 2 teaching sections, and 2 miracle sections: (1) Jesus addresses the Pharisees’ traditions (7:1-13); (2) Jesus teaches about what defiles a person (7:14-23); (3) Jesus heals a Syrophoenician woman’s daughter (7:24-30); and (4) Jesus heals a deaf man (7:31-37).
- Today’s episode focuses on a few verses where Jesus addresses the condition of the human heart. Certainly there is much more that could be discussed from Mark 7, but today I would like to focus this reflection on these verses.
THE CONTEXT – WHAT MAKES US CLEAN OR DEFILED?
- Prior to examining Mark 7:20-23, it is necessary to understand the broader context. In Mark 7:1-23, Jesus addresses the issue of moral defilement or genuine moral purity. The Scribes and the Pharisees begin by calling out Jesus’ disciples for not keeping the “traditions of the elders” regarding ritual washing of their hands, utensils, and furniture. These actions of the disciples simply broke their traditions BUT were not breaking the Mosaic law.
- By failing to keep these traditions, in view of the Scribes and Pharisees, whatever the disciples touched with these unclean heads, could result then in defiling their food. As these defiled things entered the disciples — by necessity — they too became defiled.
- Within the Old Testament, the concepts of clean and unclean, or pure and defiled are things which created degrees of separation from God.
- Jesus, however, confronts their reasoning with the Scriptures: “This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men” (Mark 7:6-7; citing Isaiah 29:13).
- As pointed out in the ESV Study Bible notes[1], by quoting this Scripture, Jesus points out the folly in the Pharisees’ as “(1) their actions are merely external and do not come from their hearts, which are far from God; and (2) their teachings are not from God but reflect the tradition of men.”
- The real problem of “defilement” – as we will soon see – is not a matter of the external things; rather it is a problem of the heart. These human traditions are utterly ineffective for cleansing their heart.
- Paul will address this in Colossians 2:21-23: ““Do not handle, Do not taste, Do not touch” (referring to things that all perish as they are used)—according to human precepts and teachings? These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion and asceticism and severity to the body, but they are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh.”
- So that leaves us with the question: What makes a person clean or defiled? Or to put it another way, what separates us from God? This leads us to our verses today.
THE PREDICAMENT – WHAT COMES FROM OUR HEART
- The Answer of what makes us clean or defiled is “what comes from our heart.” So the next logical question is: “What does comes from our heart?” Here we read Jesus’ words in Mark 7:20-23:
- “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.”’
- That is a rough picture! Consider again what we read in 7:23 – “All of these things come from within, and they defile a person.” If we consider the list which Jesus just gave us in verses 21 and 22, each one of those items, when acted upon, lead to a life of brokenness.
- So, when we consider the gravity of what Jesus is saying — the brokenness in our lives comes from the brokenness of our hearts.
- Now, not all brokenness in our lives is a direct result of our own brokenness, sometimes it is the brokenness of others who hurt us, or the brokenness of this world which is fallen — BUT think through that list and ask yourself if any of your brokenness comes from these: “evil thoughts… sexual immorality… theft… murder…. adultery… coveting… wickedness… deceit… sensuality… envy… slander… pride… foolishness.”
- Not only do these things, which issue from a broken heart, not only do they cause brokenness in our lives — according to the Lord, they cause us to be “defiled” (7:23) before God!
- And this is not a new concept – consider from the time of the flood. Prior to the flood in Genesis 6:5 we read, “The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.” And after the flood the truth remains, even among that remanent of people that “the intention of man’s heart is evil from his youth” (Gen. 8:21).
- Furthermore, Jeremiah spoke to this: “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it? “I the Lord search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds'” (Jer 17:9–10).
- If we were to examine our hearts right now, and if we are honest – we can walk through that list which Jesus mentions and find those things still hiding in our hearts.
- So, when we consider the gravity of what Jesus is saying — the brokenness in our lives comes from the brokenness of our hearts.
- I think that this is why many of us prefer to point to those things outside of ourselves as the things which “make us defiled.” That way we can do something externally to “cleanse” it — or if we avoid our own list of “taboo” things, we are not as bad “those people” who do them.
- We DO NOT like the idea that what defiles us comes from inside of us – originating in our hearts – because that would mean that we need our hearts transformed and cleansed.
- So, that leads us to part three. If the Predicament is what comes from our hearts, what is the hope, the answer?
THE HOPE – A NEW HEART
- What I need is not mere ritual but regeneration. I need a new heart, what Paul describes as “a new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator” (Col. 3:10). Our brokenness brings us to the Lord!
- Consider the answer which God gives to our brokenness in the Old Testament: “I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statues and be careful to obey my rules.” (Ezekiel 36:26-27).
- What hope is there for the brokenness of our hearts? We need — by the sin atoning, guilt removing, work of Jesus on the cross — the transformation of our hearts by that wonderful work of the Holy Spirit!
- Perhaps you are a believer and wrestling with the evidence of that broken heart. What do you and I need? We need to daily cling to the grace of God, offered in Jesus Christ, and to daily walk in the transformation which is made available by the power of the Holy Spirit that He powerfully works within you! I highly encourage you to read through some of following passages on the topic:
- 2 Corinthians 5:14-21
- Romans 12:1-2
- Galatians 2:20
- Colossians 3:1-17
Conclusion:
- So my friend, what hope do you and I have for the brokenness in our hearts and our lives? We must (1) turn to the Lord, (2) confess our sins to Him, (3) trust in His promise that He will forgive, (4) call upon Him to work out that transformation He promises in His Word, and (5) labor to make it a reality in our lives.
- I highly recommend a book regarding the “heart” in our daily lives. It is very practical and helpful in thinking through biblical transformation. It is called “The Dynamic Heart in Daily Life: Connecting Christ to the Human Experience” by Jeremy Pierre.[2] Check the link in the description
- Well, have you read through Mark chapter 7 yet? What did you make of this discussion regarding the traditions of man verses the commandments of God? Do you have any other questions or thoughts about this chapter? Let me know in the comments below!
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[2] “The Dynamic Heart in Daily Life: Connecting Christ to the Human Experience” by Jeremy Pierre
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