Mark 7:15 Cross References

Mark 7:15

15: You are not defiled by what you eat; you are defiled by what you say and do! "

This includes all animals that slither along on their bellies, as well as those with four legs and those with many feet. All such animals are to be considered detestable.
Never defile yourselves by touching such animals.
After all, I, the LORD, am your God. You must be holy because I am holy. So do not defile yourselves by touching any of these animals that scurry along the ground.
I, the LORD, am the one who brought you up from the land of Egypt to be your God. You must therefore be holy because I am holy.
"These are the instructions regarding the land animals, the birds, and all the living things that move through the water or swarm over the earth,

For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of what we eat or drink, but of living a life of goodness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.

So do not be attracted by strange, new ideas. Your spiritual strength comes from God's special favor, not from ceremonial rules about food, which don't help those who follow them.

"Don't you understand either?" he asked. "Can't you see that what you eat won't defile you?
Food doesn't come in contact with your heart, but only passes through the stomach and then comes out again." (By saying this, he showed that every kind of food is acceptable.)
And then he added, "It is the thought-life that defiles you.
For from within, out of a person's heart, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder,
adultery, greed, wickedness, deceit, eagerness for lustful pleasure, envy, slander, pride, and foolishness.

For that old system deals only with food and drink and ritual washing--external regulations that are in effect only until their limitations can be corrected.

Everything is pure to those whose hearts are pure. But nothing is pure to those who are corrupt and unbelieving, because their minds and consciences are defiled.

Peter told them, "You know it is against the Jewish laws for me to come into a Gentile home like this. But God has shown me that I should never think of anyone as impure.

"Never, Lord," Peter declared. "I have never in all my life eaten anything forbidden by our Jewish laws. "
The voice spoke again, "If God says something is acceptable, don't say it isn't."
The same vision was repeated three times. Then the sheet was pulled up again to heaven.

except that we should write to them and tell them to abstain from eating meat sacrificed to idols, from sexual immorality, and from consuming blood or eating the meat of strangled animals.
For these laws of Moses have been preached in Jewish synagogues in every city on every Sabbath for many generations."

They will say it is wrong to be married and wrong to eat certain foods. But God created those foods to be eaten with thanksgiving by people who know and believe the truth.
Since everything God created is good, we should not reject any of it. We may receive it gladly, with thankful hearts.
For we know it is made holy by the word of God and prayer.

You brood of snakes! How could evil men like you speak what is good and right? For whatever is in your heart determines what you say.

Here's what you should do. You may eat any meat that is sold in the marketplace. Don't ask whether or not it was offered to idols, and then your conscience won't be bothered.

"'Never, Lord,' I replied. 'I have never eaten anything forbidden by our Jewish laws. '
"But the voice from heaven came again, 'If God says something is acceptable, don't say it isn't.'
"This happened three times before the sheet and all it contained was pulled back up to heaven.

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