Mark 7:14–16: When He had called all the multitude to Himself, He said to them, “Hear Me, everyone, and understand: There is nothing that enters a man from outside which can defile him; but the things which come out of him, those are the things that defile a man. If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear!”


In every period of history, true holiness has always been a matter of the heart, a right relationship with God by faith. Ceremonial purity was a matter of external obedience to a law as evidence of that faith. Moses made it clear in Deuteronomy that God wanted love and obedience to come from the heart, and not be merely outward obedience to rules. 1

Your Word is Truth

If you could take an x-ray of your heart that would expose any sinful impurities that may have set up a campground in your heart, how crowed would that campground be? What would you have to do to evict all those campers? How long would it take you to serve that eviction notice?

Behold, You desire truth in the inward parts, And in the hidden part You will make me to know wisdom. –Psalm 51:6

You Alone are God

Purity begins on the inside of one, and is observed on the outside by everyone. – TWEET IT

Your Will be Done

Lord, forgive me for pointing to the outside circumstance while ignoring the inside corruption of my own heart.


1. Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary. Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.

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Tommy Blumberg

Tommy Blumberg

Tommy Blumberg was ordained as a Calvary Chapel pastor in 1985, where he served as an assistant pastor at Calvary Fellowship, in Seattle. In 1992, Pastor Tom, his wife Pam, and their three daughters moved to Bellingham and began a Bible study, which led to the founding of Calvary Chapel Northwest. Tom blogs regularly at TommyBlumberg.com.