Dave's Diary

Daily Readings: Matthew 15 and Psalm 15

But the words you speak come from the heart—that’s what defiles you. (Matthew 15:18 NLT)

The religious people of Jesus’ day were extremely intent on creating and then observing highly complex outward rules for religious purity. When they kept these rules, they felt they were proving their commitment and their purity and they were pleasing God. They also felt superior to those who failed to keep the rules.

Jesus confronted their wrong conclusion. He insisted that God’s great concern is not with the outward observance of religious rules, but with a person’s heart – their deepest, innermost individual personhood. That is where they relate to God, and that is what needs to be pure.

Jesus went on to teach that God cares very deeply about the behaviour that reveals what’s going on in our hearts. And the clearest revelation of our hearts comes from the words we speak. In fact, our words are often the early warning signs that something in our hearts needs healing. And we need to seek that healing before the unclean attitudes of our heart start to convert themselves into lying about others, speaking negatively about others behind their backs (slander); taking what belongs to others; indulging our sexual desires outside the covenant of marriage; committing adultery or murdering.

Life Application: Pay very close attention to your words and actions today. What do they reveal about the state of your heart? Is your heart overflowing with love for God, a desire to please Him in all things, respect and honour for others and for their bodies, compassion and care for those who are suffering, and a desire to see others flourishing in life? In those moments you recognise an impurity of heart within yourself, ask the Lord ro forgive you and to purify your heart by His Holy Spirit who dwells in you. Don’t expect to be able to change your heart of your own volition, but seek the Lord’s help and healing.

¹ Lord, who may dwell in your sacred tent?
    Who may live on your holy mountain?

² The one whose way of life is blameless,
    who does what is righteous,
    who speaks the truth from their heart;
³ whose tongue utters no slander,
    who does no wrong to a neighbour,
    and casts no slur on others …

(Psalm 15:1-3 NIVUK)