Matthew 15:18
But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man.
Matthew 15:18 in other translations
| BSB | But the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, and these things defile a man. |
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| WEB | But the things which proceed out of the mouth come out of the heart, and they defile the man. |
| ASV | But the things which proceed out of the mouth come forth out of the heart; and they defile the man. |
| YLT | but the things coming forth from the mouth from the heart do come forth, and these defile the man; |
| DARBY | but the things which go forth out of the mouth come out of the heart, and those defile man. |
| BBE | But the things which come out of the mouth come from the heart; and they make a man unclean. |
| Webster | But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man. |
What does Matthew 15:18 mean?
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Matthew 15:17-18
17-18. Do not ye yet understand that whatsoever entereth in at the mouth, &c.--Familiar though these sayings have now become, what freedom from bondage to outward things do they proclaim, on the one hand; and on the other, how searching is the truth which they express--that nothing which enters from without can really defile us; and that only the evil that is in the heart, that is allowed to stir there, to rise up…
Barnes' Notes
(1.) Evil thoughts. These are the first things. These are the fountains of all others. Thought precedes action. Thought, or purpose, or motive, gives its character to conduct. All evil thoughts are here intended. Though we labour to suppress them, yet they defile us. They leave pollution behind them.
(2.) Murders. Taking the life of others with malice. The malice has its seat in the heart, and the murder therefore proceeds from the heart, 1Jn 3:15.
(3.) Adulteries, fornications. See Mt 5:28.
(4.) Thefts. Theft is the taking and carrying away the goods of others without their knowledge or consent. They are produced by coveting the property of others. They proceed, therefore, from the heart, and violate at the same time two commandments--the tenth in thought, and the eighth in act.
(5.) False witness. Giving wrong testimony. Concealing the truth, or stating what we know to be false, contrary to the ninth commandment. It proceeds from a desire to injure others, to take away their character or property, or to do them injustice. It proceeds thus from the heart.
(6.) Blasphemies. Mt 9:3. Blasphemy proceeds from opposition to God, hatred of his character, Rom 8:7 and from a desire that there should be no God. It proceeds from the heart. See Ps 14:1. Mark adds,
(7.) Covetousness, always proceeding from the heart--the unlawful desire of what others possess.
(8.) Wickedness. The original here means malice, or a desire of injuring others, Rom 1:29.
(9.) Deceit; i.e. fraud, concealment, cheating, in trade. This proceeds from a desire to benefit ourselves by doing injustice to others, and thus proceeds from the heart.
(10.) Lasciviousness. Lust, obscenity, unbridled passion--a strong, evil desire of the heart.
(11.) An evil eye. That is, an eye sour, malignant, proud, devising or purposing evil. See Mt 5:28, 20:15, 2Pet 2:14, "Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin."
(12.) Pride. An improper estimate of our own importance--thinking that we are of much more consequence than we really are--always the work of an evil heart.
(13.) Foolishness. Not want of intellect. Man is not to blame for that. But moral folly, consisting in choosing bad ends, and bad means of gaining them; or, in other words, sin and wickedness. All sin is folly. It is foolish for a man to disobey God; and foolish for any one to go to hell.
These are the things which defile a man. What an array of crimes to proceed from the heart of man! What a proof of guilt! What strictness is there in the law of God! How universal is depravity!
Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain
Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Matthew 15:10-20
Christ shows that the defilement they ought to fear, was not from what entered their mouths as food, but from what came out of their mouths, which showed the wickedness of their hearts. Nothing will last in the soul but the regenerating graces of the Holy Spirit; and nothing should be admitted into the church but what is from above; therefore, whoever is offended by a plain, seasonable declaration of the truth, we…
Matthew 15:18 in the original Greek
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Cross references for Matthew 15:18
- Proverbs 15:28
The heart of the righteous studieth to answer: but the mouth of the wicked poureth out evil things.
- Matthew 12:34
O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.
- James 3:6-10
And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell. For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind: But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God. …
- 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.
- Proverbs 15:2
The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright: but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness.
- Proverbs 10:32
The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable: but the mouth of the wicked speaketh frowardness.
- Proverbs 6:12
A naughty person, a wicked man, walketh with a froward mouth.
- 1 Samuel 24:13
As saith the proverb of the ancients, Wickedness proceedeth from the wicked: but mine hand shall not be upon thee.
- Luke 19:22
And he saith unto him, Out of thine own mouth will I judge thee, thou wicked servant. Thou knewest that I was an austere man, taking up that I laid not down, and reaping that I did not sow:
- Psalms 36:3
The words of his mouth are iniquity and deceit: he hath left off to be wise, and to do good.
- Revelation 13:5-6
And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months. And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.
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Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Context
- Matthew 15:17
Do not ye yet understand, that whatsoever entereth in at the mouth goeth into the belly, and is cast out into the draught?
- Matthew 15:18
But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man.
- Matthew 15:19
For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:
Matthew 15:18 in other languages
| Spanish Reina-Valera 1909 | Mas lo que sale de la boca, del corazón sale; y esto contamina al hombre. |
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| French Bible J.N. Darby 1885 | Mais les choses qui sortent de la bouche viennent du cœur, et ces choses-là souillent l’homme. |
| German Elberfelder 1871 | Was aber aus dem Munde ausgeht, kommt aus dem Herzen hervor, und das verunreinigt den Menschen. |
| Latin Clementine Vulgate | Quæ autem procedunt de ore, de corde exeunt, et ea coinquinant hominem: |