^34 (A)Brood^[a] of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things? ^(B)For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. ³⁵ A good man out of the good treasure ^[b]of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things. ³⁶ But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. ³⁷ For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”

^15 (A)Then Peter answered and said to Him, “Explain this parable to us.”

¹⁶ So Jesus said, ^(B)“Are you also still without understanding? ¹⁷ Do you not yet understand that ^(C)whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and is eliminated? ¹⁸ But ^(D)those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man. ^19 (E)For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies. ²⁰ These are the things which defile a man, but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile a man.”

^14 (A)When He had called all the multitude to Himself, He said to them, “Hear Me, everyone, and ^(B)understand: ¹⁵ There is nothing that enters a man from outside which can defile him; but the things which come out of him, those are the things that ^(C)defile a man. ^16 (D)If^[a] anyone has ears to hear, let him hear!”

^17 (E)When He had entered a house away from the crowd, His disciples asked Him concerning the parable. ¹⁸ So He said to them, ^(F)“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, ^[b]thus purifying all foods?” ²⁰ And He said, ^(G)“What comes out of a man, that defiles a man. ^21 (H)For from within, out of the heart of men, ^(I)proceed evil thoughts, ^(J)adulteries, ^(K)fornications, murders, ²² thefts, ^(L)covetousness, wickedness, ^(M)deceit, ^(N)lewdness, an evil eye, ^(O)blasphemy, ^(P)pride, foolishness. ²³ All these evil things come from within and defile a man.”

¹⁴ But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. ¹⁵ Then, ^(A)when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, ^(B)brings forth death.