Matthew 15:11

Matthew 15:11 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man.
• New International Version (NIV)What goes into someone’s mouth does not defile them, but what comes out of their mouth, that is what defiles them.”
• English Standard Version (ESV)it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth; this defiles a person."
• New King James Version (NKJV)Not what goes into the mouth defiles a man; but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man.”

Context of Matthew 15:11

9Their worship of me is pointless, because their teachings are rules made by humans.’ ” 10Then he called the crowd and said to them, “Listen and try to understand! What goes into a person’s mouth doesn’t make him unclean. It’s what comes out of the mouth that makes a person unclean.” 12Then the disciples came and said to him, “Do you realize that when the Pharisees heard your statement they were offended?” 13He answered, “Any plant that my heavenly Father did not plant will be uprooted.

Matthew 15:11 word by word

οὐ τὸ εἰσερχόμενον εἰς τὸ στόμα κοινοῖ τὸν ἄνθρωπον, ἀλλὰ τὸ ἐκπορευόμενον ἐκ τοῦ στόματος, τοῦτο κοινοῖ τὸν ἄνθρωπον.¶Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• Notοὐou · noG3756
• that which goethεἰσέρχομαιeiserchomai · to enterG1525
• intoεἰςeis · towardG1519
• the mouthστόμαstoma · mouthG4750
• defilethκοινόωkoinoō · to profaneG2840
• a manἄνθρωποςanthrōpos · a humanG444
• butἀλλάalla · butG235
• that which cometh outἐκπορεύωekporeuomai · to departG1607
• ofἐκek ex · out fromG1537
• thisοὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778

Cross-references for Matthew 15:11

• Mark 7:15Nothing that goes into a person from the outside can make him unclean. It’s what comes out of a person that makes him unclean.
• Luke 11:38The Pharisee was surprised to see that Jesus didn’t wash before the meal.
• Acts 10:14Peter answered, “I can’t do that, Lord! I’ve never eaten anything that is impure or unclean.”
• Acts 11:8“But I answered, ‘I can’t do that, Lord! I’ve never put anything impure or unclean into my mouth.’
• Romans 14:14The Lord Jesus has given me the knowledge and conviction that no food is unacceptable in and of itself. But it is unacceptable to a person who thinks it is.
• 1 Timothy 4:4Everything God created is good. Nothing should be rejected if it is received with prayers of thanks.
• Hebrews 13:9Don’t get carried away by all kinds of unfamiliar teachings. Gaining inner strength from God’s kindness is good for us. This strength does not come from following rules about food, rules that don’t help those who follow them.
• Matthew 15:18But whatever goes out of the mouth comes from within, and that’s what makes a person unclean.
• Matthew 12:34You poisonous snakes! How can you evil people say anything good? Your mouth says what comes from inside you.
• Psalms 10:7His mouth is full of cursing, deception, and oppression. Trouble and wrongdoing are on the tip of his tongue.
• Psalms 12:2All people speak foolishly. They speak with flattering lips. They say one thing but mean another.
• Psalms 52:2Your tongue makes up threats. It’s like a sharp razor, you master of deceit.
• Psalms 58:3⌞Even⌟ inside the womb wicked people are strangers ⌞to God⌟. From their birth liars go astray.
• Isaiah 37:23Whom are you defying and slandering? Against whom are you shouting? Who are you looking at so arrogantly? It is the Holy One of Israel!
• Isaiah 59:3Your hands are stained with blood, and your fingers are stained with sin. You speak lies, and you mutter wicked things.
• Jeremiah 9:3They use their tongues like bows that shoot arrows. Lies and dishonesty rule the land. They go from one evil thing to another, and they don’t know me,” declares the Lord.

Commentaries on Matthew 15:11

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 11Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth - This is an answer to the carping question of the Pharisees, mentioned Matthew 15:2, Why do thy disciples eat with unwashed hands? To which our Lord here replies, That what goes into the mouth defiles not the man; i.e. that if, in eating with unwashed hands, any particles of dust, etc., cleaving to the hands, might happen to be taken into the mouth with the food, this did not defile, did not constitute a man a…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 10-14Verses 10-14 See also Mark 7:15-17. And he called the multitude - In opposition to the doctrines of the Pharisees, the Saviour took occasion to show them that the great source of pollution was the heart. They supposed that external things chiefly defiled a man. On this all their doctrines about purification were founded. This opinion of the Jews it was of great importance to correct. The Saviour took occasion, therefore, to direct the people to the true…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 10-20Verses 10-20 Christ shows that the defilement they ought to fear, was not from what entered their mouths as food, but from what came out of their mouths, which showed the wickedness of their hearts. Nothing will last in the soul but the regenerating graces of the Holy Spirit; and nothing should be admitted into the church but what is from above; therefore, whoever is offended by a plain, seasonable declaration of the truth, we should not be troubled at…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 11What enters his mouth: Jesus may have been speaking about foods that the law did not allow (such as pork or shellfish) or food made unclean by unwashed hands (Matthew 15:20). What makes a person defiled also makes them unfit to be with God. Jesus moved the focus from outward rules of purity to the true purity of the heart (see 15:18–19; 23:25–26; Acts 10:1–48; Romans 14:14). A person’s words show their true character (see Matthew 15:18–20; James 3:1–12).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1111. Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man--This is expressed even more emphatically in Mark (Mr 7:15, 16), and it is there added, "If any man have ears to hear, let him hear." As in Mt 13:9, this so oft-repeated saying seems designed to call attention to the fundamental and universal character of the truth it refers to.Read the comment

Topics related to Matthew 15:11

• Commandments
• Ecclesiasticism
• Jesus, the Christ
• Sin
• Teachers
• Tradition

In the dictionaries

• Capernaum
• Commandment
• Continue
• Draught
• Fill
• Release
• Sin
• Teach
• Tradition
• Truth

Commentaries on Matthew 15

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Catena Aurea
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• John Lightfoot Commentary
• Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• The Fourfold Gospel and Commentary on Acts
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings