Mark 7:21
“For from within, out of the hearts of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, sexual sins, murders, thefts,”
What does Mark 7:21 mean?
Jesus is teaching his disciples that what makes us unclean isn't following external rules about food or rituals, but what comes from inside us. He's saying that evil doesn't come from the world around us or from accidentally breaking laws, but from what's already in our hearts and minds. The list he gives—lustful thoughts, betrayals in relationships, violence, stealing—shows how our inner condition shapes our choices and actions. This was radical for his audience, who focused heavily on outward obedience and cleanliness laws, but Jesus points us to something deeper: the transformation of our hearts matters more than perfect behavior.