Watchman’s Daily Devotional: The Jews Held That a Person’s Mouth May Be the Entryway for Evil. They Were Terrified to Eat From a Plate or Drink From a Container That a Gentile Had Touched

The belief among the Jews was that evil could find its way into a person through their mouth. They held a deep reverence, feeling apprehensive about consuming food from a plate or sipping from a vessel that had been handled by someone outside their community. Dishes acquired from someone from another land would be treated with utmost care, meticulously washed, or, if feasible, purified through the cleansing power of fire. They engaged in a sacred practice of cleansing their hands before partaking in their meal. They held the conviction that consuming non-kosher foods would render an individual impure. Though these practices are commendable for health and cleanliness, there exists a deeper source of evil.

Jesus revealed that the source of sin lies deep within the heart of an individual. It was against the sacred teachings to consume non-kosher food (Leviticus 11), yet the true matter lies not in the act of disobedience, but in the devotion to God’s Law, which begins within the heart. The dietary regulations served to promote the well-being of the community, yet for an individual of the Jewish faith, consuming even a small portion of pork or crab would not render them impure. The seeds of defiance take root within the soul.

It is easy for us to look beyond ourselves and attribute responsibility for our actions to external factors or others. Eve cast her gaze upon the serpent, holding it responsible for her plight. Adam pointed fingers at Eve and, in the end, at God Himself (Genesis 3:12). In moments of transgression, we are encouraged to turn our focus inward, reflecting on our actions and seeking understanding. Within our hearts lies a yearning that strays from the path of righteousness. We have not yet surrendered that longing to the altar. We may find countless reasons to validate our choices, yet the true source has been revealed to us through the teachings of Jesus. Turn your attention inward and reflect on your heart, rather than casting blame on the world around you.

Prayer: Divine Creator, guide me to release the urge to blame others and to confront the shortcomings within my own heart. Guide me in recognizing the wrongdoing and help me comprehend the reasons behind my acceptance of a falsehood. Guide me in surrendering my misguided desires to the cross.

Mark 7:15

¹⁵ “There is nothing outside a person that by going into him can defile him, but the things that come out of a person are what defile him.”