Living in the World

Rather than avoiding it.

Jesus continues to shape and clarify the Law in today’s passage, especially by challenging some deeply embedded traditions.

One key distinction he makes is this: sin doesn’t originate from the outside and work its way in. Instead, sinfulness begins in the heart. It proceeds from within and expresses itself outwardly. Jesus says it plainly: What goes out of the mouth comes from the heart. And that’s what contaminates a person.

Many Christians are taught to avoid certain scenarios, environments, and influences. Jesus doesn’t necessarily say that’s wrong. But he does warn against relying on external avoidance as a strategy for holiness. Our separation from particular things does not, in and of itself, make us clean.

Withdrawal from the world is no guarantee against sin. In fact, Jesus implies that true defilement is something we carry with us—not something we catch.

Instead, the call is to examine the heart. To be honest about what lives inside of us: the impulses, desires, resentments, or fears that give rise to harmful words and actions. This kind of soul-work is more difficult than simply setting boundaries. But it’s also the kind of work Jesus honors. It is part of what most Christians call the sanctification process.

Mature discipleship doesn’t mean cloistering ourselves away. Rather, mature Christians can, and even should, be found in the world: not shaped by it, but present within it. Like light in the darkness. Like yeast in dough. Like salt in a bland and broken world.

Matthew 15:1-20

Then Pharisees and legal experts came to Jesus from Jerusalem and said, “Why are your disciples breaking the elders’ rules handed down to us? They don’t ritually purify their hands by washing before they eat.”

Jesus replied, “Why do you break the command of God by keeping the rules handed down to you? For God said, Honor your father and your mother, and The person who speaks against father or mother will certainly be put to death. But you say, ‘If you tell your father or mother, “Everything I’m expected to contribute to you I’m giving to God as a gift,”then you don’t have to honor your father.’ So you do away with God’s Law for the sake of the rules that have been handed down to you. Hypocrites! Isaiah really knew what he was talking about when he prophesied about you, This people honors me with their lips, but their hearts are far away from me. Their worship of me is empty since they teach instructions that are human rules.”

Jesus called the crowd near and said to them, “Listen and understand. It’s not what goes into the mouth that contaminates a person in God’s sight. It’s what comes out of the mouth that contaminates the person.”

Then the disciples came and said to him, “Do you know that the Pharisees were offended by what you just said?”

Jesus replied, “Every plant that my heavenly Father didn’t plant will be pulled up. Leave the Pharisees alone. They are blind people who are guides to blind people. But if a blind person leads another blind person, they will both fall into a ditch.”

Then Peter spoke up, “Explain this riddle to us.”

Jesus said, “Don’t you understand yet? Don’t you know that everything that goes into the mouth enters the stomach and goes out into the sewer? But what goes out of the mouth comes from the heart. And that’s what contaminates a person in God’s sight. Out of the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adultery, sexual sins, thefts, false testimonies, and insults. These contaminate a person in God’s sight. But eating without washing hands doesn’t contaminate in God’s sight.”

Psalm 19:12-14

But can anyone know what they’ve accidentally done wrong? Clear me of any unknown sin and save your servant from willful sins. Don’t let them rule me.
Then I’ll be completely blameless; I’ll be innocent of great wrongdoing.

Let the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be pleasing to you, Lord, my rock and my redeemer.

Prayer (of St. Augustine)

God,

Let me know You, who know me;
Let me recognize You, who created me.

Do not desert me when I desert You.
Do not forget me when I forget You.

Enter into my soul and shape it for Yourself,
so that You may have and hold it without stain or wrinkle.
This is my hope, this is my prayer—
that my joy may be in You.

Guard me from the dangers of this world,
not by removing me from it,
but by entering into me with Your strength.

I do not ask to be set apart from struggle,
but to be made holy through it.

Through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.