What Defiles A Man?

I'm now at that age when I must be very careful what I eat. The three C's - Calories, Carbs, and Cholesterol, are now on my radar, and I try to keep much of them from entering into my stomach. Why? For very real physical reasons. Do you know that's hard to do as a pastor? There are so many great cooks in this church. And most of them specialize in deserts. UG! But even though our physical bodies will become physically defiled, I'm excited about what Jesus said.

Mark 7:18-23
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 is eliminated?" (Thus He declared all foods clean.)

Food is physical. I'm glad eating food, (though the 3 C's may hurt the body), does not defile the heart, which is spiritual. But keep reading. Then I have a question.

20 And He was saying, "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, fornications, thefts, murders, adulteries,
22 deeds of coveting and wickedness, as well as deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride and foolishness.
23 "All these evil things proceed from within and defile the man."


According to verse 20 and 23 the works, deeds (sins) that come from within defile the man. This then raises the following question: Which of the following statements is more accurate?
1. A person is sinful because he sins. Or
2. A person sins because he is sinful.

Or stated another way:
1. A person’s heart is defiled because he sins. (v. 20, 23) Or
2. A person sins because his heart is defiled.

Number 2 is the more accurate statement. So here's a multiple choice question.

What then will God judge mankind by on judgment day?
a. Whether he believed in Jesus from his heart, or not.
b. Whether he accepted Jesus into his heart, or not.
c. Whether his works, deeds were good, or not.
d. Whether he was baptized, or not.


Correct answer: Read the following verses.
2 Corinthians 5:10
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.

John 5:28-29
“do not marvel at this; for an hour is coming, in which all who are in the tombs shall hear His voice, and shall come forth; those who did the good deeds, to a resurrection of life, those who committed the evil deeds to a resurrection of judgment.”

Matthew 16:23
“For the Son of Man is going to come in the glory of his Father with His angels; and will then recompense every man according to his deeds.”

Romans 2:5-8.
“But because of your stubbornness and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath for yourself in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, who will render to every man according to his deeds: to those who by perseverance in doing good seek for glory and honor and immortality, eternal life; but to those who are selfishly ambitious and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, wrath and indignation”


Q. What will God look at on judgment day?
Yes, our deeds, our works, actions. It reveals the spiritual condition of our hearts.

In that courtroom, standing before the Judge, your heart will be on trial.

Prov 27:19
As water reflects a face,
so a man's heart reflects the man. (NIV)

And deeds reveal the heart.
answer (C)