Matthew 15 11

Matthew 15:11 kjv

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

Matthew 15:11 nkjv

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

Matthew 15:11 niv

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

Matthew 15:11 esv

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

Matthew 15:11 nlt

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

Matthew 15 verses

Matthew 15 11 Meaning

Matthew 15:11 reveals a profound truth concerning spiritual purity. Jesus teaches that true defilement does not originate from external substances entering the body, such as food, but rather from the corrupted moral and spiritual outflow from a person's inner being. It is the intentions, thoughts, and words that emanate from the heart, expressed through the mouth, that truly render a person impure in the sight of God. This challenges the prevailing understanding of ritualistic purity common in His time, redirecting focus from outward observances to inward character.

Matthew 15 11 Context

Matthew 15:11 is Jesus' core statement in response to a challenge from the Pharisees and scribes from Jerusalem. They criticized His disciples for not observing the traditional handwashing rituals before meals, which was an elaborate set of rules added by the elders, not a direct commandment from the Torah. Jesus turns their criticism back on them, exposing their hypocrisy and misdirection. He argues that by upholding human traditions over God's commands (citing the Corban practice as an example), they prioritize external show over genuine spiritual devotion. This verse serves as the central axiom in His argument, fundamentally redefining "defilement" and setting the stage for a paradigm shift from ritualistic observance to the condition of the heart.

Matthew 15 11 Word analysis

• Not: Οὐ (Ou) - A direct and strong negation, setting a firm contrast with what follows. It emphasizes a complete denial of the preceding idea regarding defilement.

• what goes into the mouth: τὸ εἰσερχόμενον εἰς τὸ στόμα (to eiserchomenon eis to stoma) - Refers specifically to food or drink. This was the focus of many purity laws in Judaism (e.g., Lev 11, Deut 14), and also the traditions of handwashing (ablution). Jesus directly challenges the notion that external, ingestible elements inherently make one unclean.

• defiles: κοινοῖ (koinoi) - From koinos meaning "common" or "unclean." In Jewish thought, this referred to ceremonial or ritual defilement, making one ineligible for participation in sacred acts or interactions within the community of purity. Jesus recontextualizes this, shifting the meaning from ritual uncleanness to moral and spiritual impurity before God. It implies contamination of the inner person.

• a person: τὸν ἄνθρωπον (ton anthropon) - Refers to any human being, universalizing the principle beyond just the Jewish context. It emphasizes the holistic defilement of an individual's character and standing before God.

• but: ἀλλὰ (alla) - A strong adversative conjunction, indicating a sharp contrast and redirection of focus from the previous statement. It emphasizes that the true source of defilement is not what was just mentioned, but what follows.

• what comes out of the mouth: τὸ ἐκπορευόμενον ἐκ τοῦ στόματος (to ekporeuomenon ek tou stomatos) - This refers to words, speech, and by extension, the intentions and attitudes of the heart from which those words arise. The mouth here is the physical expression of the inner being. It includes curses, lies, blasphemies, evil intentions, evil thoughts, lust, deceit, arrogance, and foolishness that emerge into concrete expression.

• this: τοῦτο (touto) - An emphatic demonstrative pronoun, reiterating and strongly asserting the true source of defilement. It directly points to the "what comes out of the mouth" as the decisive factor.

• defiles a person: κοινοῖ τὸν ἄνθρωπον (koinoi ton anthropon) - A repetition of the phrase for strong emphasis, underscoring that moral defilement, not ritual defilement, is what truly separates a person from God and spiritual purity. This rhetorical repetition seals Jesus' radical new understanding of purity.

• "Not what goes into the mouth defiles a person": This phrase directly confronts the ceremonial purity laws concerning food and ritual handwashing (tradition of the elders). Jesus challenges the popular religious belief that holiness is maintained through meticulous external observances related to eating. He argues that material substances, by their nature, cannot corrupt the inner spirit of a human being.

• "but what comes out of the mouth; this defiles a person": This phrase asserts that true defilement is an internal issue, originating from the heart and manifesting outwardly through speech and actions. The mouth becomes a metaphor for the heart's intentions and character. It signifies that moral corruption, born from within, pollutes a person's relationship with God and others far more profoundly than any external food or unwashed hands ever could.

Matthew 15 11 Bonus section

Jesus' declaration in Matthew 15:11 was a direct assault on the authority and validity of the oral law (Halakha) that the Pharisees elevated to the level of God's written law (Torah). By stating that "what goes into the mouth" does not defile, Jesus effectively invalidated a significant portion of their intricate system of dietary regulations and purification rituals that consumed much of their religious life and legal discussions. This teaching laid the groundwork for Peter's vision in Acts 10, which officially declared all foods clean and facilitated the inclusion of Gentiles into the Christian faith without requiring them to adhere to Jewish ceremonial laws. It clarified that God's people are to be marked not by external rules, but by an internal transformation that yields pure thoughts and wholesome words, flowing from a heart made clean by faith.

Matthew 15 11 Commentary

Matthew 15:11 represents a pivotal theological declaration by Jesus, marking a definitive shift in the understanding of purity. Prior to this, especially within the elaborate system of the Pharisees, defilement was largely understood in terms of ritual impurity stemming from external contact with unclean things, certain foods, or neglect of traditional washings. Jesus dismantled this superficial paradigm, declaring that genuine defilement is an internal spiritual and moral condition, not an external, physical one.

The "mouth" here functions as a gateway, not merely for physical intake, but more significantly, for the outflow of the heart's condition. What comes out of the mouth—words—are not arbitrary but are expressions of underlying thoughts, desires, motives, and character (as supported by Matthew 12:34). Evil words such as slander, lies, curses, profanity, and malice directly reflect a heart that is not in alignment with God. These are not merely social breaches but deep spiritual corruptions that stain a person's soul and distance them from divine purity.

This verse therefore dismisses the Old Covenant dietary laws and the rabbinic traditions concerning cleanliness as means to spiritual purity. While the Old Testament laws served a pedagogical purpose to distinguish Israel and reveal the pervasive nature of sin, Jesus fulfilled and transcended them. He reveals that true righteousness and defilement stem from the heart's condition and its resultant expressions. This teaching has profound implications:

• For Salvation: It underscores that salvation is not attained through outward observance but through inward transformation.
• For Christian Conduct: It emphasizes that what truly matters to God is our inner moral integrity and the words we speak, which are a reflection of that integrity. Our speech should edify, encourage, and bring glory to God, not defile.
• For Worship: True worship becomes a matter of the heart, not just external rituals.

For practical usage, this verse calls believers to:

• Guard their hearts (Prov 4:23), as it is the wellspring of their actions and words.
• Exercise careful control over their tongues (Jas 3:8), recognizing the power of words to build up or tear down, to honor God or to defile.
• Prioritize cultivating inner purity, focusing on prayer, repentance, and renewal by the Holy Spirit over mere external religious practices.