The Heart of Man

¹⁴ After He called the crowd to Him again, He began saying to them, “Listen to Me, all of you, and understand: ¹⁵ there is nothing outside the man which can defile him if it goes into him; but the things which proceed out of the man are what defile the man. ¹⁶ [^[a]If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.”]

¹⁷ When he had left the crowd and entered ^(A)the house, ^(B)His disciples questioned Him about the parable. ¹⁸ And He *said to them, “Are you so lacking in understanding also? Do you not understand that whatever goes into the man from outside cannot defile him, ¹⁹ because it does not go into his heart, but into his stomach, and ^[b]is eliminated?” (Thus He declared ^(C)all foods ^(D)clean.) ²⁰ And He was saying, “^(E)That which proceeds out of the man, that is what defiles the man. ²¹ For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed the evil thoughts, ^[c]fornications, thefts, murders, adulteries, ²² deeds of coveting and wickedness, as well as deceit, sensuality, ^[d](F)envy, slander, ^[e]pride and foolishness. ²³ All these evil things proceed from within and defile the man.”