Mark 7:14-23 // The Heart of the Matter (Preached on August 31, 2025)

Jesus moves from addressing the Pharisees, to the crowds, to His disciples. Whereas our tendency is to always focus on the outside, Jesus makes clear that it is the heart we must recognize as the source of uncleanness. Because what to eat and who to eat with will become such a major point of conflict in the early church, Mark addresses the issue through the teaching of Jesus. If we neglect to allow God to change our hearts, our efforts to please God are futile.