Albert Barnes Commentary Matthew 15:18-20

"But the things which proceed out of the mouth come forth out of the heart; and they defile the man. For out of the heart come forth evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, railings: these are the things which defile the man; but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not the man." — Matthew 15:18-20 (ASV)

Christ proceeds to state what does defile the man, or make him a sinner:

1. Evil thoughts. These are the first things and the source of all others. Thought precedes action. Thought, purpose, or motive gives character to conduct. All evil thoughts are intended here. Though we labor to suppress them, they still defile us; they leave pollution behind them.

2. Murders. This means taking the life of others with malice. Malice resides in the heart, and murder therefore proceeds from the heart (1 John 3:15).

3. Adulteries, fornications. See Matthew 5:28.

4. Thefts. Theft is taking and carrying away the goods of others without their knowledge or consent. Thefts are produced by coveting the property of others. They proceed, therefore, from the heart and violate two commandments at the same time—the tenth in thought, and the eighth in act.

5. False witness. This means giving wrong testimony, concealing the truth, or stating what we know to be false, contrary to the ninth commandment. It proceeds from a desire to injure others, to take away their character or property, or to do them injustice. Thus, it proceeds from the heart.

6. Blasphemies. See Barnes' notes on Matthew 9:3.

Blasphemy proceeds from opposition to God, hatred of His character (Romans 8:7), and from a desire that there should be no God. It proceeds from the heart . Mark adds the following:

7. Covetousness, which always proceeds from the heart—it is the unlawful desire for what others possess.

8. Wickedness. The original word here means malice, or a desire of injuring others (Romans 1:29).

9. Deceit; that is, fraud, concealment, or cheating in trade. This proceeds from a desire to benefit ourselves by doing injustice to others, and thus proceeds from the heart.

10. Lasciviousness. This includes lust, obscenity, unbridled passion—a strong, evil desire of the heart.

11. An evil eye. That is, a sour, malignant, or proud eye, devising or purposing evil (Matthew 20:15; 2 Peter 2:14: Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin).

12. Pride. This is an improper estimate of our own importance—thinking that we are of much more consequence than we really are—always the work of an evil heart.

13. Foolishness. This is not a lack of intellect, for which a man is not to blame. Rather, it is moral folly, consisting in choosing bad ends and bad means of achieving them; in other words, sin and wickedness. All sin is folly. It is foolish for a man to disobey God, and foolish for anyone to go to hell.

These are the things that defile a man. What an array of crimes to proceed from the heart of man! What a proof of guilt! What strictness there is in the law of God! How universal depravity is!