But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this is what defiles.
Matthew 15:18
Dear members and friends,
Understanding the mind of a human being is a very hard task, especially when it is your own. A very simple and common mistake most people make is to assume that knowing one’s mind is the same as understanding. The word “to know” is defined as to “be aware of through observation, inquiry, or information,” while “to understand” is defined as to “perceive the intended meaning of (words, a language, or a speaker).” In a nutshell, the difference between knowing and understanding is similar to the difference between being able to read and being able to understand the meaning of what you are reading. Thus, understanding the mind implies that one can perceive the intention rather than mere words or even thoughts. Intention, whether we are conscious of it or not, is the root of our thoughts, therefore the ultimate cause of all actions. This is why Jesus stated, “what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this is what defiles.”
The word “defile” is often used to mean “to desecrate or profane” in the sense that a certain thing is ruined or damaged. However, the Greek word that is translated as “to defile” is koinos, which means to make common or ordinary. This may be puzzling because we think, “what is wrong with making a thing common?” In the biblical context, to make something common is unacceptable to God, because God desires people to be holy, which means different, because God is holy. In other words, there is a very strong message in the Bible that God commands the people who follow God to be different from the ordinary people of the time. God commands them to be righteous, just, and merciful despite the fact that the world in which they live might be the opposite. This was and still is a very important message from the Bible, because the only way to live in the presence of God is by means of a life that is righteous, just and merciful.
My brothers and sisters in God, let us take a moment of prayer this week. While in prayer, let us not say a word, but instead reflect deeply upon what we often pray to God. May this guide us to an understanding of our own minds.
Blessings, Rev. Junchol Lee