Mark 7:21
For from within,
out of the heart of men,
proceed evil thoughts,
adulteries, fornications, murders,
Other translations:
For from within, [that is] out of the hearts of men, come base and wicked thoughts, sexual immorality, stealing, murder, adultery, [AMP] For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, [ESV] For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, [KJV] For from within, out of men's hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, [NIV] For from within, out of a person's heart, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, [NLT] For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, [NKJV]
Some further information:
Divers particulars are specified, like it is in Matthew.
In Matthew is one which is not mentioned here, and that is, false witness-bearing; but seven are mentioned here.
First, Covetousnesses, for it is plural; (Greek: pleonexiai) immoderate desires of more of the wealth of the world, and the gratifications of sense, and still more, still crying, Give, give. Hence we read of a heart exercised with covetous practices (2 Peter 2:14).
Secondly, Wickedness (Greek: poneriai); malice, hatred, and ill-will, a desire to do mischief, and a delight in mischief done.
Thirdly, Deceit; which is wickedness covered and disguised, that it may be the more securely and effectually committed.
Fourthly, Lasciviousness; that filthiness and foolish talking which the apostle condemns; the eye full of adultery, and all wanton dalliances.
Fifthly, The evil eye; the envious eye, and the covetous eye, grudging others the good we give them, or do for them (Proverbs 23:6), or grieving at the good they do or enjoy.
Sixthly, Pride (Greek: hyperephania); exalting ourselves in our own conceit above others, and looking down with scorn and contempt upon others.
Seventhly, Foolishness (Greek: aphrosyne); imprudence, inconsideration; some understand it especially of vainglorious boasting, which St. Paul calls foolishness (2 Corinthians 11:1, 19 ), because it is here joined with pride; I rather take it for that rashness in speaking and acting, which is the cause of so much evil.
Ill-thinking is put first, as that is from which springs of all our commissions, and un-thinking (foolishness) is put last, as that is from which springs all of our omissions.
24 examples of evil-thought sins:
- General wickedness (Genesis 6:5; Psalms 64:5-6; Isaiah 59:7; 65:2)
- Jealousy-hatred (Genesis 50:20)
- Evading responsibility (Deuteronomy 15:9)
- False witnessing(Deuteronomy 19:15-21)
- Factless decisions (Judges 15:2)
- Murder and rape (judges 20:5)
- Surmising-judging (1 Samuel 1:13)
- Plotting to kill (1 Sam, 18:25; Nehemiah 6:2; Esther 3:6)
- Covetousness (2 Chronicles 32:1; Ezekiel 38:10-12; Luke 12:15-21)
- Pride (Esther 6:6; Psalms 10:4)
- Evil imaginadons (Job 21:27; 2 Corinthians 10:4-7)
- False security (Psalms 49:11)
- Vanity (Psalms. 94:11; 119:113; Jeremiah 4:14)
- Foolishness (Proverbs 24:9)
- Cursing rulers (Ecclesiastes 10:20)
- Worry (Matthew 6:25-34; Luke 12:11-26)
- False accusation (Matthew 9:3-4; 12:24-25; Luke 5:21-23; 11:17)
- Pride in outward religion (Matthew 15:1-20; Mark 7:1-22; Luke 6:7-8)
- Self-exaltation (Luke 9:46-48)
- Wanting God’s power for gain and outward show (Acts 8:18-24)
- Religious zeal without knowledge (Acts 26:9-18)
- Pride over human wisdom (1 Corinthians 3:18-21)
- Partiality (James 2:1-4)
- Unbelief – doubt (Luke 24:38)
Now let us reflect on this
From within the hearts of men proceed evil thoughts, and evil deeds.
How else could it be? For since mankind rebelled against God, we are evil!
Sometimes a person can read things that makes him to rub his eyes. For example, I once read in a theological journal that it was not man’s need to be changed, but the structures in which that man lived.
This line of thought looks like something propagated at the beginning of last century.
It was then argued: build schools, then you can close the prisons.
Now, that idea that prisons could be closed if schools were being built everywhere, was soon overtaken by the reality.
It is not the schools that change a person, and also the structures in which a person lives don’t change a person, but only the Lord changes a person.
If I may summarize the text for reflection, then I say: from the heart of a man comes up everything that God does not want.
All the sins mentioned live in our hearts and it is a miracle if they do not come out of our hearts, but they are there.
How do we ever get rid of it? We are delivered from it when an act of the almighty God takes place in our life, the true conversion by Him to Him.
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Twitter: @SchoemakerHarry
Website: https://devotionals.harryschoemaker.nl
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