Peter said, "Explain the parable to us." "Are you still so dull?" Jesus asked them. "Don't you see that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and then out of the body? But the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, and these make a man 'unclean.' For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander. These are what make a man 'unclean'; but eating with unwashed hands does not make him 'unclean.'"
-Matthew 15:15-22
Did you know that washing your hands is the single best way, in the known universe, to prevent the spread of food borne illness? It’s true. This enduring truth has been at the forefront of public health policy and methodology ever since people made a connection between dirty hands and getting sick. Well, the religious leaders in the first century knew how important it was. In fact, it was so important to them, that it became a religious rite never to be cast aside, forgotten or ignored. How convenient.
I, myself, have been tied in one way or another, to public health for my entire career. I’ve worked in epidemiology (communicable disease investigation), been a health inspector, food safety trainer, chef…you name it. It seems like the common thread in all of these areas is hand washing. I have seen, first hand, the horrible consequences of poor hand washing all over the world. The importance of hand washing has been pounded into my brain for many years. The mantra is engrained permanently: “ wash your hands before and after tasks, with plenty of soap and water”. I instinctively look for it, wherever I go: restaurants, other people’s houses and barbecues. I am constantly hounding my thirteen year old son to wash his hands. His magnificent brooding over the issue tells me that I have become a bit of a stick in the mud.
Well, when the religious leaders reprimanded Jesus for allowing his disciples to eat without washing their hands, I guess I understood where they were coming from. But you know Jesus; he just couldn’t pass up the opportunity to make an example of the situation. Jesus verbally smacked down these particular religious leaders alluding to their propensity for hypocrisy. Then, in typical Jesus style, he turns to the crowd and belts out a wonderfully crafted parable.
The funny thing is, Peter decides to ask Jesus to break it down in a way he can understand. Jesus, obviously frustrated at this, asks him if he is still so dull…basically he might as well have said, “Peter, dude…seriously…are you really that stupid?” Jesus clarifies his position—bad stuff comes from the heart of a man; his intentions, his desires, his secrets and his true disposition. You can wash your hands all day long if you want, and while that may prevent hepatitis A, it won’t cleanse the state of your heart...or your mind, nor will it get you any closer to, or any further from the one who really can make you clean.
No, we need to wash our hearts...wash our hearts before and after tasks, with plenty of repentance and humility. This is the single best way, in the known universe, to prevent the spread of heart-borne illness.
-T. Michael Cart
T.R.U.T.H. in Ministry.org
-Matthew 15:15-22
Did you know that washing your hands is the single best way, in the known universe, to prevent the spread of food borne illness? It’s true. This enduring truth has been at the forefront of public health policy and methodology ever since people made a connection between dirty hands and getting sick. Well, the religious leaders in the first century knew how important it was. In fact, it was so important to them, that it became a religious rite never to be cast aside, forgotten or ignored. How convenient.
I, myself, have been tied in one way or another, to public health for my entire career. I’ve worked in epidemiology (communicable disease investigation), been a health inspector, food safety trainer, chef…you name it. It seems like the common thread in all of these areas is hand washing. I have seen, first hand, the horrible consequences of poor hand washing all over the world. The importance of hand washing has been pounded into my brain for many years. The mantra is engrained permanently: “ wash your hands before and after tasks, with plenty of soap and water”. I instinctively look for it, wherever I go: restaurants, other people’s houses and barbecues. I am constantly hounding my thirteen year old son to wash his hands. His magnificent brooding over the issue tells me that I have become a bit of a stick in the mud.
Well, when the religious leaders reprimanded Jesus for allowing his disciples to eat without washing their hands, I guess I understood where they were coming from. But you know Jesus; he just couldn’t pass up the opportunity to make an example of the situation. Jesus verbally smacked down these particular religious leaders alluding to their propensity for hypocrisy. Then, in typical Jesus style, he turns to the crowd and belts out a wonderfully crafted parable.
The funny thing is, Peter decides to ask Jesus to break it down in a way he can understand. Jesus, obviously frustrated at this, asks him if he is still so dull…basically he might as well have said, “Peter, dude…seriously…are you really that stupid?” Jesus clarifies his position—bad stuff comes from the heart of a man; his intentions, his desires, his secrets and his true disposition. You can wash your hands all day long if you want, and while that may prevent hepatitis A, it won’t cleanse the state of your heart...or your mind, nor will it get you any closer to, or any further from the one who really can make you clean.
No, we need to wash our hearts...wash our hearts before and after tasks, with plenty of repentance and humility. This is the single best way, in the known universe, to prevent the spread of heart-borne illness.
-T. Michael Cart
T.R.U.T.H. in Ministry.org
