Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man

Matthew 15:11   Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man. 

A preacher recently used this verse to justify that smoking and drinking were not sins. This was done in a conversation we were having about this topic.  It was and is my position that when one does this they are leading others astray.  

Many people today try to justify unhealthy and sinful habits by using this verse. They are in fact relegating themselves as being the ones Jesus was referring to in this very same chapter, chapter 15, when He said in verse 8, “This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me”.  

To take this one verse alone is not contextually correct. One can use this verse, by itself, to justify just about anything that may pass through ones lips. Again, this is not correct. Even common sense says that something is wrong in using what Jesus said in this manner. Smoking hemlock is not at good thing for a person let alone drinking it. If Socrates was around we could ask him for his take on this. It could be stated that this example is not a good example as it is a matter of spiritual defiling and sin and not about whether it is physically good or bad for someone. They would say it is a spiritual matter versus physical. The hemlock example is still valid as suicide is a physical whether over a long period of time or a short period of time is still the physical acting out of an inward sin. Drinking hemlock falls into this category easily. Doing marijuana, cigarettes or alcohol for self-gratification falls into this same category as well because serving one’s self is sin. We are not to make an occasion for the flesh but to server others instead (see Galatians 5:13). You cannot serve two masters (Matthew 6:24). You cannot have yourself and God both on the throne at the same time. God shares his glory with no one. (Isaiah 42:8 and 48:11)

The exact context of this one verse, verse 11, is about not washing the hands before eating but more importantly it is about what comes out of a man’s heart can defile him. It has nothing to do with excusing any particular substance to be allowed to pass through one’s lips. It has nothing to do with marijuana, cigarettes, alcohol or hemlock. It’s about man’s motives. It’s about following man’s laws versus following God’s.

Here is Matthew 15 verses 1 through 20 for the correct context. Verses 2 and 20 show that Jesus was talking about eating food with unwashed hands and that it had nothing to do with what kind of food they were eating. Notice it says nothing about smoking or shooting substances into the body through the skin or any other method of intake. It was about eating food with unwashed hands and nothing more. When Jesus talks about what comes out of the heart He gives some examples but the context allows for a broader range of what can defile a man. He said evil thoughts can defile a man and that encompasses a broad range of possibilities in this dark and perverse world that we live in.

Matthew 15:1-20 (See also Mark 7) Then came to Jesus scribes and Pharisees, which were of Jerusalem, saying, 

2   Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread. 

3   But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition? 

4   For God commanded, saying, Honour thy father and mother: and, He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death. 

5   But ye say, Whosoever shall say to his father or his mother, It is a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; 

6   And honour not his father or his mother, he shall be free. Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition. 

7   Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying, 

8   This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. 

9   But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. 

10   And he called the multitude, and said unto them, Hear, and understand : 

11   Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man. 

12   Then came his disciples, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the Pharisees were offended, after they heard this saying? 

13   But he answered and said, Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up. 

14   Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch. 

15   Then answered Peter and said unto him, Declare unto us this parable. 

16   And Jesus said, Are ye also yet without understanding? 

17   Do not ye yet understand, that whatsoever entereth in at the mouth goeth into the belly, and is cast out into the draught? 

18   But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man. 

19   For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: 

20   These are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man. 

Here are the first mentions of washing hands in the Bible in regards to God’s law. This was a specific temple ritual and did not include washing one’s hands before eating. As Jesus stated, Man stretched it to include that.

And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 

18   Thou shalt also make a laver of brass, and his foot also of brass, to wash withal: and thou shalt put it between the tabernacle of the congregation and the altar, and thou shalt put water therein. 

19   For Aaron and his sons shall wash their hands and their feet thereat: 

20   When they go into the tabernacle of the congregation, they shall wash with water, that they die not; or when they come near to the altar to minister, to burn offering made by fire unto the LORD: 

21   So they shall wash their hands and their feet, that they die not: and it shall be a statute for ever to them, even to him and to his seed throughout their generations.  Exodus 30:17-21 

And whomsoever he toucheth that hath the issue, and hath not rinsed his hands in water, he shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even.  Leviticus 15:11  

Verses mentioned in the writing about provided here for reference.

For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.  Galatians 5:13

No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.  Matthew 6:24

I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images.  Isaiah 42:8

For mine own sake, even for mine own sake, will I do it: for how should my name be polluted? and I will not give my glory unto another. Isaiah 48:11