Six ways to encounter God here
A passage is not only to be understood; it is to be lived with. Choose how you want to meet God in Mark 7:21, and Living Bread opens it right there.
The passage in its setting
Meeting God in a verse begins with hearing it where it lives, in the flow of Mark 7. Read it slowly, and let the focal verse settle into its own context.
19 Because it entereth not into his heart, but into the belly, and goeth out into the draught, purging all meats?
20 And he said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man.
21 For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders,
22 Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness:
23 All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.
The web of Scripture around it
Where this passage echoes across the Bible, from the cross-reference graph, 14 connected Scriptures. Each one is a door to meet God there too.
- Jeremiah 17:9
The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?
- James 4:1
From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members?
- Romans 8:7
Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
- Galatians 5:19
Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
- Matthew 15:19
For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:
- Acts 8:22
Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee.
- Ezekiel 38:10
Thus saith the Lord GOD; It shall also come to pass, that at the same time shall things come into thy mind, and thou shalt think an evil thought:
- Matthew 9:4
And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts?
- James 2:4
Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts?
- Jeremiah 4:14
O Jerusalem, wash thine heart from wickedness, that thou mayest be saved. How long shall thy vain thoughts lodge within thee?
- Matthew 23:25
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess.
- Proverbs 4:23
Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.
- Luke 16:15
And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.
- James 1:14
But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.
More to meet God in Mark
How it points to Christ
Every Scripture ultimately leads to Jesus. See how the whole Bible points to Him in Christ in all Scripture, then meet Him for yourself.
