¹¹ What goes into someone’s mouth does not defile them,^(A) but what comes out of their mouth, that is what defiles them.”^(B)

¹⁸ But the things that come out of a person’s mouth come from the heart,^(A) and these defile them. ¹⁹ For out of the heart come evil thoughts—murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander.^{(B) 20} These are what defile a person;^(C) but eating with unwashed hands does not defile them.”

¹⁵ Nothing outside a person can defile them by going into them. Rather, it is what comes out of a person that defiles them.”

⁴ For everything God created is good,^(A) and nothing is to be rejected^(B) if it is received with thanksgiving, ⁵ because it is consecrated by the word of God^(C) and prayer.

³⁴ You brood of vipers,^(A) how can you who are evil say anything good? For the mouth speaks^(B) what the heart is full of. ³⁵ A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him. ³⁶ But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the day of judgment for every empty word they have spoken. ³⁷ For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.”^(C)

⁵ Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts.^(A) Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. ⁶ The tongue also is a fire,^(B) a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body,^(C) sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.^(D)

⁷ All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and sea creatures are being tamed and have been tamed by mankind, ⁸ but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.^(E)

³⁸ But the Pharisee was surprised when he noticed that Jesus did not first wash before the meal.^(A)

³⁹ Then the Lord^(B) said to him, “Now then, you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness.^{(C) 40} You foolish people!^(D) Did not the one who made the outside make the inside also? ⁴¹ But now as for what is inside you—be generous to the poor,^(E) and everything will be clean for you.^(F)

¹⁴ “Surely not, Lord!”^(A) Peter replied. “I have never eaten anything impure or unclean.”^(B)

¹⁵ The voice spoke to him a second time, “Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.”^(C)

¹⁷ For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking,^(A) but of righteousness, peace^(B) and joy in the Holy Spirit,^(C)