Matthew 15:20

Monday, 29 December 2025

 

These are the things which defile a man, but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile a man.” Matthew 15:20

 

“These, they are, the ‘defiling the man,’ but to eat with unwashed hands, not it defiles the man” (CG).

 

In the previous verse, Jesus gave a list of things that stem from the heart and which defile a person. He confirms this now with the words, “These, they are, the ‘defiling the man.’”

 

The list from Jesus, as recorded in Matthew, is not all-inclusive. In Mark, rather than seven items, Jesus gives a list of thirteen. It is certain that the list could go on all day as the human heart thinks up new ways of sinning. That is a thought stated by Paul in Romans 1:30, where he notes those who are “inventors of evil things.” In fact, the Lord, through Jeremiah, says –

 

“The heart is deceitful above all things,
And desperately wicked;
Who can know it?
10 I, the Lord, search the heart,
I test the mind,
Even to give every man according to his ways,
According to the fruit of his doings.” Jeremiah 17:9, 10

 

It is the heart where the source of true defilement of a man comes. Jesus continues, saying, “but to eat with unwashed hands, not it defiles the man.”

 

Here is a new word, aniptos. It is derived from the negative particle a, and the word niptó, to wash or cleanse. Therefore, it signifies unwashed. Jesus explicitly says what He was referring to concerning foods entering the mouth. He was not speaking of the foods themselves, but of the fact that they are unwashed.

 

Without considering these words, scholars have run ahead of the dispensation’s completion and said that Jesus was claiming that all foods are acceptable to be eaten. However, that would be a violation of the Law of Moses, something not yet fulfilled by Him. Having said that, the parallel account in Mark says concerning food –

 

“...because not it enters him into the heart, but into the stomach and into the john it ejects, cleansing all the foods.” Mark 7:19

 

Taking this to a wholly unintended extreme, the NIV et al, which is based on the offset of the NU text, thus implying it is the wording of Mark, says, “(In saying this, Jesus declared all foods clean)”. This is not at all what Jesus is saying. He is saying that the food is purified through the process of going through the body. As in Matthew, the context is that of ceremonial washing of foods, not the types of foods.

 

It is true that during this dispensation, all foods are acceptable –

 

“For every creature of God is good, and nothing is to be refused if it is received with thanksgiving.” 1 Timothy 4:4

 

This sentiment is taught by Paul in several ways in Romans 14, 1 Corinthians 8, Colossians 2, etc. But this is not what Jesus is referring to while under the Law of Moses. The distinction must be made and kept separate. Until the law was fulfilled, it had to be obeyed.

 

Life application: Those who have come to Christ “are not under law but under grace” Romans 6:14. If there is no law, then there can be no imputation of sin (Romans 5:13, 2 Corinthians 5:19, etc.). As this is so, believers cannot lose their salvation.

 

However, Jesus states moral truths in the verses we have been looking at. The things that we do, which stem from a wicked heart, are wicked. No, we will not be imputed sin and lose our salvation for doing those things. However, we are not blameless either.

 

In doing such things, we harm our relationship with the Lord, we set a very poor example for the world to see, and we will lose rewards at the Bema seat of Christ. We may also lose our lives, health, savings, etc., in the process of doing such things. These are truths that the Bible proclaims.

 

We are not given license to do wrong, something those who say the doctrine of eternal salvation necessarily must teach. That is a false dichotomy that is unsupportable from Scripture. Scripture teaches eternal salvation, while it also teaches holiness and consequences for wrongdoing.

 

Be sure not to get bullied by those who claim you can lose your salvation. They have poor doctrine and nothing biblical to stand on. At the same time, never take your eternal salvation as a license to sin. That is the surest way of making your life miserable. Actions have consequences. Be holy to the Lord and honor Him with your lives.

 

Lord God, help us to be ready to defend sound doctrine at all times. But may we not be arrogant as we do. Also, Lord, help us to be holy in our thoughts, words, and deeds for the sake of Jesus’ name. We can so easily get distracted from these things. So help us in this, O God. Amen.