^11 (A)it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth; this defiles a person.”

^15 (A)There is nothing outside a person that by going into him can defile him, but the things that come out of a person are what defile him.”^[a]

¹⁸ But ^(A)what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person. ¹⁹ For out of the heart come ^(B)evil thoughts, ^(C)murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, ^(D)slander. ^20 (E)These are what defile a person. But ^(F)to eat with unwashed hands does not defile anyone.”

⁵ So also the tongue is a small member, yet ^(A)it boasts of great things.

How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! ⁶ And ^(B)the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, ^(C)staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life,^[a] and set on fire by hell.^{[b] 7} For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind, ⁸ but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, ^(D)full of deadly poison.

^34 (A)You brood of vipers! How can you speak good, ^(B)when you are evil? ^(C)For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. ^35 (D)The good person out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure brings forth evil. ³⁶ I tell you, ^(E)on the day of judgment ^(F)people will give account for ^(G)every careless word they speak, ³⁷ for ^(H)by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”

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

¹⁴ But Peter said, “By no means, Lord; ^(A)for I have never eaten anything that is ^(B)common or ^(C)unclean.” ¹⁵ And the voice came to him again a second time, ^(D)“What God has made clean, do not call common.”

³⁸ The Pharisee was astonished to see ^(A)that he did not first wash before dinner. ³⁹ And the Lord said to him, ^(B)“Now you Pharisees cleanse the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside you are full of ^(C)greed and wickedness. ^40 (D)You fools! ^(E)Did not he who made the outside make the inside also? ⁴¹ But ^(F)give as alms those things that are within, and behold, ^(G)everything is clean for you.

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