And he saith unto them, Are ye so without understanding also? Do ye not perceive, that whatsoever thing from without entereth into the man, it cannot defile him;
MARK 7:18KJVWhat does Mark 7:18 mean?
Mark 7:18 records Jesus asking his disciples why they do not understand that nothing entering a person from outside—like food—can make them spiritually unclean. Jesus is challenging the idea that ritual defilement comes from what is eaten, rather than from within a person.
In this scene, Jesus is speaking to his disciples after the Pharisees criticized them for eating with “unclean” hands. He points out that external things, such as food, do not have the power to defile a person in God’s eyes. Instead, Jesus is preparing to explain that what truly matters is what comes from a person’s heart and actions.
The Greek behind Mark 7:18
- The word ἀσύνετοι (G801, asynetoi) translated “without understanding” means lacking insight or not grasping the real meaning. Jesus is expressing surprise or disappointment that even his closest followers are missing his point.
- The verb νοεῖτε (G3539, noeite) translated “perceive” means to think, understand, or consider. Jesus is urging his disciples to think more deeply about the spiritual meaning behind the traditions.
- The word κοινοῦν (G2840, koinoun) translated “defile” refers to making something common or ritually impure. In this context, it challenges the traditional Jewish concern with ritual purity tied to external things.
Why Mark 7:18 matters
- Mark 7:18 clarifies that Jesus is shifting the focus from external religious rituals to the internal state of a person’s heart and mind.
- This verse helps clear up the misunderstanding that following food laws or rituals alone can make someone right with God.
- The question Jesus asks sets up his later teaching in the passage, where he explains that evil comes from within, not from what a person eats or touches.