Evil From Within

When God confronted both Adam and Eve for their sin of disobedience to Him in the Garden of Eden, it is telling both of them blamed others rather than taking personal responsibility.  Adam blamed God for the wife He gave him, and Eve blamed the serpent who deceived her.  Adam and Eve presented themselves as unsuspecting pawns in the devil's game, except the devil wasn't the problem:  the situation exposed the sin that was in their own hearts.  Like a warm compress brings a boil to a head, Satan worked to bring mankind's natural corruption into full view.  All the descendants of Adam and Eve share their sinful, fallen condition.

I have heard people quip, "If only Adam and Eve didn't eat that forbidden fruit!" not realising sin had already stirred in their hearts it entered their mouths.  The Law of Moses put great emphasis on commands to do and to avoid what was deemed sinful, and thus people saw physical acts as sinful--which they certainly can be.  What the Law could not address was the sinful condition of the heart.  Jesus taught sin does not begin with the action but takes place in the heart and mind before sin is brought forth in our members.  Eating without washing hands according to the tradition of the elders did not defile the disciples of Jesus, for it is what comes from within that defiles.

The disciples of Jesus asked Him about the meaning of the parable, and Mark 7:18-23 reads:  "So He said to them, "Are you thus without understanding also? Do you not perceive that whatever enters a man from outside cannot defile him,¹⁹ because it does not enter his heart but his stomach, and is eliminated, thus purifying all foods?" ²⁰ And He said, "What comes out of a man, that defiles a man. ²¹ For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, ²² thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness. ²³ All these evil things come from within and defile a man."  Cain did not begin to sin when he killed Abel, but he sinned by pride, hating and being envious of his brother Abel before he struck him.  Before Cain murdered Abel, God warned Cain that sin was at the door.  I have often viewed this as Cain was inside and sin waited outside, but it may be more accurate in light of what Jesus said that sin crouched inside the door of Cain's heart, waiting to be released by angry blows.  When our sins are revealed by our actions, we ought to take personal responsibility to confess our hearts are sinful, the driving force of our own transgression--and we were at the wheel.

God is not sinful for allowing temptation, and the only reason we are tempted is because of our sinful desires.  God is gracious to bring the secret sins of our hearts into full view in the light of His Law so we can see our need to repent and seek cleansing and pardon found in Jesus Christ alone.  James 1:13-15 says, "Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am tempted by God"; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. ¹⁴ But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. ¹⁵ Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death."  God is not willing any should perish, and sin brings forth death.  While our lives continue the merciful God provides opportunity to repent of our sins and receive Jesus by faith.  He gives us new hearts, yet in these bodies of flesh old habits die hard.  It is good we avoid sinning with our bodies, but know we need transformation of the heart, a divine renovation God does within us that we must choose to yield to.  It isn't what goes into your mouth that defiles you, but what comes out of your heart.