Commemoration of the Dedication of the Holy Church of the Resurrection of Christ Our God (335); Forefeast of the Exaltation of the Precious and Life-Giving Cross; the Holy Priest-Martyr Cornelius the Centurion.
Galatians 6:2-10; Mark 7:14-24.
Read Mark 7:14-24
Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory forever!
Jesus teaches that it is not what one eats that defiles someone but rather what comes out from one’s heart. The Jews have strict dietary laws governing which foods can and cannot be eaten and how food must be prepared. In His authority, Jesus teaches that food cannot defile one’s heart. Food passes through one’s stomach and then is expelled from the body, never coming into contact with one’s heart. However, Jesus does list those things which come out of the heart of men that defile them: “evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness” (Mk. 7:21-22).
It may seem like Jesus sought to destroy Jewish laws, but instead He was fulfilling them. He tells us Himself: “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill” (Mt. 5:17). In what way was Jesus fulfilling the Jewish dietary laws? Elsewhere He explains,
You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.’ But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, ‘Raca!’ shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, ‘You fool!’ shall be in danger of hell fire. Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. … You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart” (Mt. 5:21-24; 27-28).
In these examples, Jesus is fulfilling the laws that were taught to those of old. Murder is still forbidden, but Jesus teaches us that murder begins as anger in one’s heart. Adultery is still forbidden, but it begins as lust in one’s heart. In these examples, we can see how anger and lust emerging from one’s heart can truly defile a man and lead him to sin. It is not what one eats that defiles him, but rather what flows from his heart. Our decision to sin begins as a thought, and so it is important that we learn how to control our thoughts.