June 20, 2026 -- Matthew 15:10, 18-20 -- Gross sinners, washed, sanctified (that includes you)
/People loved by the Father, in the Spirit's power: Sh'ma ~ hear and obey Jesus!
And he [Jesus] called the people to him and said to them, “Hear and understand: it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth; this defiles a person”…"But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person. For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander. These are what defile a person. But to eat with unwashed hands does not defile anyone.”
Matthew 15:10, 18-20 ESV
On Wednesday, while teaching this material, and then in a prison while teaching Bible, this passage was in focus. I am speaking to men who are in the study who have committed murder. They are dangerous men; there is no doubt of that. Notice how evil thoughts is the root of the problem, because evil thoughts flow from a heart that is iniquitous. That is a heart which is out of alignment with God and His laws. Murder, according to Jesus, includes cursing your brother, hating your sister, or calling someone you fool! Ah, on that scale, which one of us is innocent? Not one of us!
What is the roadmap forward? Interestingly, Paul, formerly called Saul when he was a murderer and hater of Christians, inspired by the Holy Spirit, wrote: “Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you” (I Corinthians 6:9-11a) stop. When a man looks lustfully at a woman, he has committed adultery. Revilers—ouch. Those are people who slander others, who mock at what is holy, whose evil thoughts and opinions are not anchored to the Truth of the Word of God. It is a broad category. It applies to so many of us, dear readers!
Who among us should have any hope? We will easily find ourselves on that list, unless we are completely blinded by our own sin, unable to smell the putrefaction spilling over into our speeches and dogging our steps. Remember, a murderer is writing this. Paul was a profoundly uncomfortable character in that early church. Think of it, many people in those early churches would have had family members arrested by him, or know people he, by the power of the religious authorities, had put to death. How could anyone on that list of I Corinthians 6:9-11a hope to find peace with God? They’d be reviling Paul, who wrote this material (yes, the Spirit led him to write it, but humanly speaking, they’d want to hate him). Read on. “And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God (I Corinthians 6:11).
Why is it Christians welcome others? It is the work of Jesus Christ. He has washed us. Unless you know the full extent of your wickedness and your need for cleansing, you will always seek the close the door of God’s great grace behind you. You’d constantly try to shut people out of the kingdom, in your pride, you are on the wrong side of that door. Pride is an abomination to the LORD of Glory. Read on:
"To fear the Lord is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech." Proverbs 8:13
"God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble." James 4:6
These are just two examples of approximately thirty you can find in the Bible.
Why is it Christians welcome others, who they know were horrendous sinners? Because we know the washing of Jesus and the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit. In reverent awe we declare, “welcome you, who like us, know the depths of God’s love and Jesus’ reconciling work”. On Wednesday, and at that in-prison Bible Study, there were times of holy silence. As the glorious work of God, His matchless mercy and great compassion, and saving grace touched hearts. Today’s prayer is from a song, popular just over a decade ago, by Casting Crowns.
Jesus, friend of sinners, we have strayed so far away
We cut down people in Your name
But the sword was never ours to swing
Jesus, friend of sinners
The truth's become so hard to see
The world is on their way to You
But they're trippin' over me
Always lookin' around, but never lookin' up
I'm so double minded
A plank eyed saint with dirty hands
And a heart divided
Oh, Jesus, friend of sinners
Open our eyes to the world
At the end of our pointing fingers
Let our hearts be led by mercy
Help us reach with open hearts and open doors
Oh, Jesus, friend of sinners
Break our hearts for what breaks Yours
Casting Crowns: Jesus, Friend of Sinners
https://youtu.be/BY6VAy9y_iQ?si=R7c4QRE75Pauq8_H Jesus, Friend of Sinners
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