Devotional: The Mouth Reveals the Heart Matthew 15:1-20

Recently, I read an article that talked about tennis great John McEnroe. He is calling for Tennis Australia to change the name of the court named after Margaret Court. Margaret Court won twenty-three grand slam titles in her career. Recently, Serena Williams tied the record and she is hoping to win twenty-four titles, setting a new record.

McEnroe wants to change the name of the court because of Court’s statements about women tennis players being lesbians. McEnroe wants does not want Court’s name to be recognized and honored by naming a tennis court after her. Of course some people will agree with McEnroe and others will disagree with him. What is the true motive of McEnroe? Can we change the fact that Court won twenty three titles? How do we respond to the things that Margaret Court has said?

The Pharisees believe in a strict interpretation of the Law. They notice that the disciples of Jesus do not wash their hands before eating, a violation of the Law. Jesus responds by showing them that they too violate the Law. They find a way to disobey the commandment to honor their father and mother. They find appropriate words to say, but their words do not honor God. Jesus says to the crowd, “‘It is not what enters into the mouth that defiles the man, but what proceeds out of the mouth, this defiles the man (15:11).

Later Jesus explains what he means to Peter that what goes into the mouth goes through the stomach and is eliminated (v.17). “‘But the things that proceed out of the mouth come from the things that are in our heart, and these things defile the man. For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, slanders’” (vv. 18-19).

Do we really want to eliminate the words that people say? Are we trying to deny the truth about the hearts of people including our own hearts? When we demand that people use politically correct language are we really encouraging people to hide the truth about them? Jesus wants us to deal with the truth about what is in our heart. The words that come out of our mouth reveals what is in the heart?

Prayer: Father, we are thankful that you know our hearts before we say any words.