A SERIES OF DEVOTIONS BASED ON THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MATTHEW 

WHAT COMES OUT OF THE MOUTH . . .       

Matthew 15:10-11 “Jesus called the crowd to Him and said, “Listen and understand. What goes into someone’s mouth does not defile them, but what comes out of their mouth, that is what defiles them.”    Normally, what goes into the mouth is either beneficial, neutral, or damaging to your body. If you eat good, nutritious food, your body will be nourished and remain healthy. If you ingest something that is spoiled or even poisonous, your body will be damaged or could even die.    

Jesus told the crowd in today’s devotional verses what comes out of your mouth defiles, that is makes you impure, dirty, or less beautiful. A mouth that spews forth cursing, vulgarity, and demeaning words causes people around such a person to not want to be around them. Family members are embarrassed. Companies may even fire such a person because of the damage such talk does to its reputation.    

The defilement to which Jesus refers is not physical. It is moral and spiritual. The food that the disciples ate with unwashed hands (previous devotion) did not contaminate their souls. The words that came out of the Pharisees, on the other hand, harmed many as they hypocritically taught the Law.  Moral and spiritual uncleanness is what defiles you. To know God’s commandments and willfully disobey them is what makes you spiritually impure, dirty, or less beautiful in God’s sight as well as before your fellow believers. To live your life with total disregard for the discipleship to which you have been called by Jesus is to defile yourself.   

Solomon wrote in Proverbs 4:23, “Guard your heart with all diligence, for from it flow springs of life.” St. Paul warned, “Do not be deceived: ‘Bad company corrupts good character.” (1 Corinthians 15:33 ) St. Paul encourages, “ Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you. (Philippians 4:8-9)   

Prayer: Fill my heart, O Lord, with Your good word and guide me by it to think and speak wholesome and good words for Jesus’ sake. In His holy name. Amen. 

Rise, my soul, to watch and pray; From your sleep awaken!  
Be not by the evil day Unawares o’ertaken;  
For the foe, Well we know, Is a harvest reaping  
While the saints are sleeping. 

Watch against the devil’s snares Lest asleep he find you;  
For indeed no pains he spares To deceive and blind you.  
Satan’s pry Oft are they Who secure are sleeping  
And no watch are keeping. 

Watch! Let not the wicked world With its lies defeat you  
Lest with bold deceptions hurled It betray and cheat you.  
Watch and see Lest there be Faithless friends to charm you,  
Who but seek to harm you. 

Watch against yourself, my soul, Lest with grace you trifle;  
Let not self your thoughts control Nor God’s mercy stifle.  
Pride and sin Lurk within, All your hopes to shatter;  
Heed not when they flatter. 

But while watching, also pray To the Lord unceasing  
God protects you day by day, Strength and faith increasing.  
So that still Mind and will Shall unite to serve Him  
And forever love Him.  

Rise, My Soul, to Watch and Pray // LSB 663