Matthew 15:1-20
These verses express the importance of carefully watching our thoughts and words in addition to our actions while reminding us of God’s all powerful and all saving love.
At the start of the passage, Jesus is judged by onlooking Pharisees who take issue with His disciples for breaking Jewish tradition in order to eat. Hearing their criticisms, Jesus rebukes them, explaining that true defilement comes not from external forces, but from within – “What goes into someone’s mouth does not defile them, but what comes out of their mouth, that is what defiles them.”
As we remain diligent in our Lenten commitments, this passage reminds us to be equally diligent in examining the words that come out of our mouth, and most importantly, our thoughts. Others see only our actions, but God in his omniscience sees us all in all – our wants, our desires, and what lies in our hearts.
CLOSING PRAYER
O Gracious Lord and Heavenly Father, We come to You imperfect and sinful, but in Your love and mercy You forgive us. You know our innermost desires; You see us in our flawed entirety and love us the same.
We pray that You may use this season to cleanse and renew our hearts so that our thoughts, words, and actions may reflect Your love and truth. Help us to guard our hearts from sin, and guide our words so that they may honor You. May the words of our mouths and actions of our hearts be acceptable to You, o Lord.
We ask all these in Your most Holy and Precious name, Amen.