Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version For out of the heart come evil thoughts—murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander. New Living Translation For from the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, all sexual immorality, theft, lying, and slander. English Standard Version For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander. Berean Standard Bible For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, and slander. Berean Literal Bible For out of the heart come forth evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, sexual immorality, thefts, false testimonies, slanders. King James Bible For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: New King James Version For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies. New American Standard Bible For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murders, acts of adultery, other immoral sexual acts, thefts, false testimonies, and slanderous statements. NASB 1995 “For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, slanders. NASB 1977 “For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, slanders. Legacy Standard Bible For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, sexual immoralities, thefts, false witness, slanders. Amplified Bible For out of the heart come evil thoughts and plans, murders, adulteries, sexual immoralities, thefts, false testimonies, slanders (verbal abuse, irreverent speech, blaspheming). Berean Annotated Bible For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality {porneiai}, theft, false testimony, and slander (blaspheme). Christian Standard Bible For from the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, sexual immoralities, thefts, false testimonies, slander. Holman Christian Standard Bible For from the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, sexual immoralities, thefts, false testimonies, blasphemies. American Standard Version For out of the heart come forth evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, railings: Contemporary English Version Out of your heart come evil thoughts, murder, unfaithfulness in marriage, vulgar deeds, stealing, telling lies, and insulting others. English Revised Version For out of the heart come forth evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, railings: GOD'S WORD® Translation Evil thoughts, murder, adultery, [other] sexual sins, stealing, lying, and cursing come from within. Good News Translation For from your heart come the evil ideas which lead you to kill, commit adultery, and do other immoral things; to rob, lie, and slander others. International Standard Version It is out of the heart that evil thoughts come, as well as murder, adultery, sexual immorality, stealing, false testimony, and slander. NET Bible For out of the heart come evil ideas, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander. New Heart English Bible For out of the heart come forth evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, sexual sins, thefts, false testimony, and blasphemies. Webster's Bible Translation For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: Weymouth New Testament For out of the heart proceed wicked thoughts, murder, adultery, fornication, theft, perjury, impiety of speech. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleFor out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, and slander. World English Bible For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, sexual sins, thefts, false testimony, and blasphemies. Literal Translations Literal Standard Versionfor out of the heart come forth evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, whoredoms, thefts, false witnessings, slanders: Berean Literal Bible For out of the heart come forth evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, sexual immorality, thefts, false testimonies, slanders. Young's Literal Translation for out of the heart come forth evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, whoredoms, thefts, false witnessings, evil speakings: Smith's Literal Translation For from the heart come forth evil reflections, slaughters, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false testimonies, defamations: Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleFor from the heart come forth evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false testimonies, blasphemies. Catholic Public Domain Version For from the heart go out evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false testimonies, blasphemies. New American Bible For from the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, unchastity, theft, false witness, blasphemy. New Revised Standard Version For out of the heart come evil intentions, murder, adultery, fornication, theft, false witness, slander. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleFor from the heart come out evil thoughts, such as fornication, murder, adultery, theft, false witness, blasphemy. Aramaic Bible in Plain English “For from the heart proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, murders, fornications, thefts, lying testimonies, blasphemies.” NT Translations Anderson New TestamentFor from the heart come evil reasonings, murders, adulteries, lewd actions, thefts, false testimonies, impious words. Godbey New Testament Haweis New Testament for out of the heart proceed wicked reasonings, murders, adulteries, whoredoms, thefts, false testimonies, blasphemies: Mace New Testament out of the heart proceed evil designs, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false testimony, slanders. Weymouth New Testament For out of the heart proceed wicked thoughts, murder, adultery, fornication, theft, perjury, impiety of speech. Worrell New Testament Worsley New Testament Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context What Defiles a Man…18But the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, and these things defile a man. 19For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, and slander. 20These are what defile a man, but eating with unwashed hands does not defile him.”… Cross References For out of the heart come evil thoughts, Mark 7:21-23 For from within the hearts of men come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, / greed, wickedness, deceit, debauchery, envy, slander, arrogance, and foolishness. / All these evils come from within, and these are what defile a man.” Genesis 6:5 Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great upon the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was altogether evil all the time. Jeremiah 17:9 The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it? murder, Exodus 20:13 You shall not murder. Genesis 4:8 Then Cain said to his brother Abel, “Let us go out to the field.” And while they were in the field, Cain rose up against his brother Abel and killed him. 1 John 3:15 Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that eternal life does not reside in a murderer. adultery, Matthew 5:27-28 You have heard that it was said, ‘Do not commit adultery.’ / But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman to lust after her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. Exodus 20:14 You shall not commit adultery. Proverbs 6:32-33 He who commits adultery lacks judgment; whoever does so destroys himself. / Wounds and dishonor will befall him, and his reproach will never be wiped away. sexual immorality, 1 Corinthians 6:18-20 Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a man can commit is outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body. / Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; / you were bought at a price. Therefore glorify God with your body. 1 Thessalonians 4:3-5 For it is God’s will that you should be holy: You must abstain from sexual immorality; / each of you must know how to control his own body in holiness and honor, / not in lustful passion like the Gentiles who do not know God; Ephesians 5:3 But among you, as is proper among the saints, there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed. theft, Exodus 20:15 You shall not steal. Ephesians 4:28 He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing good with his own hands, that he may have something to share with the one in need. Leviticus 19:11 You must not steal. You must not lie or deceive one another. false testimony, Exodus 20:16 You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. Treasury of Scripture For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: out. Genesis 6:5 And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. Genesis 8:21 And the LORD smelled a sweet savour; and the LORD said in his heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man's sake; for the imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth; neither will I again smite any more every thing living, as I have done. Proverbs 4:23 Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life. evil. Matthew 9:4 And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts? Psalm 119:113 SAMECH. I hate vain thoughts: but thy law do I love. Isaiah 55:7 Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. Jump to Previous Adulteries Adultery Bitter Blasphemies Broken Desires Evil Faith False. Flesh Fornication Fornications Forth Heart Impiety Life Married Murder Murders Perjury Proceed Property Railings Sexual Sins Slanders Speech Testimony Theft Thefts Thoughts Unclean Wicked Witness WordsJump to Next Adulteries Adultery Bitter Blasphemies Broken Desires Evil Faith False. Flesh Fornication Fornications Forth Heart Impiety Life Married Murder Murders Perjury Proceed Property Railings Sexual Sins Slanders Speech Testimony Theft Thefts Thoughts Unclean Wicked Witness WordsMatthew 15 1. Jesus reproves the Scribes and Pharisees 7. for transgressing God's commandments through their own traditions; 10. teaches how that which goes into the mouth does not defile a man. 21. He heals the daughter of the woman of Canaan, 29. and other great multitudes; 32. and with seven loaves and a few small fish feeds four thousand men For out of the heart come evil thoughts The heart in biblical terms often refers to the center of human will and emotions. In ancient Jewish culture, the heart was seen as the source of moral and spiritual life. Jeremiah 17:9 describes the heart as deceitful, emphasizing humanity's inherent sinfulness. Jesus highlights that sin originates internally, not from external factors, aligning with Proverbs 4:23, which advises guarding the heart. murder adultery sexual immorality theft false testimony and slander Persons / Places / Events 1. Jesus ChristThe speaker of this verse, Jesus is addressing the Pharisees and the crowd, teaching about the true source of defilement. 2. Pharisees and Scribes Religious leaders who questioned Jesus about the disciples not following traditional ceremonial washing. 3. Disciples Followers of Jesus who were criticized for not adhering to the traditional handwashing rituals. 4. Crowd The general public who were present during Jesus' teaching and were often the audience for His parables and lessons. 5. Heart In this context, the heart is seen as the center of human thought and moral decision-making, from which actions and words originate. Teaching Points The Source of SinSin originates from within, not from external factors. Our hearts are the wellspring of our actions and thoughts. Guarding the Heart Proverbs 4:23 advises us to guard our hearts diligently, as it is the source of life. This aligns with Jesus' teaching on the heart's role in moral behavior. Repentance and Renewal Recognizing the heart's condition should lead us to repentance and seeking God's transformation through the Holy Spirit. Moral Vigilance Believers are called to be vigilant about their thoughts and desires, understanding that these can lead to sinful actions if unchecked. The Role of the Holy Spirit The Holy Spirit aids in transforming our hearts, aligning our desires with God's will, and producing the fruit of the Spirit. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Matthew 15:19?2. How can we guard our hearts against "evil thoughts" mentioned in Matthew 15:19? 3. What steps can we take to avoid "false testimony" in our daily lives? 4. How does Matthew 15:19 relate to the Ten Commandments in Exodus 20? 5. In what ways can we address "slander" within our Christian communities? 6. How can prayer help us overcome the sins listed in Matthew 15:19? 7. How does Matthew 15:19 define the nature of human sinfulness? 8. Why does Jesus list these specific sins in Matthew 15:19? 9. What is the significance of the heart in Matthew 15:19? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Matthew 15? 11. How can you eliminate the body's sinful actions? 12. How can you eliminate the body's sinful actions? 13. What does the Bible say about perverseness? 14. What is the Bible's stance on promiscuity? What Does Matthew 15:19 Mean Out of the heartJesus says, “For out of the heart come…” (Matthew 15:19). He pinpoints the inner person, not external circumstances, as the source of sin. Jeremiah 17:9 echoes this: “The heart is deceitful above all things.” Proverbs 4:23 tells us, “Guard your heart with all diligence, for from it flow springs of life.” These verses agree: the human heart, apart from God’s transforming grace (Ezekiel 36:26), naturally produces what follows in Jesus’ list. Come evil thoughts • Evil ideas are the fountainhead for sinful actions (James 1:14-15). • 2 Corinthians 10:5 urges believers to “take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ,” emphasizing that renewed minds (Romans 12:2) stop sin at its source. Murder • Jesus equates harboring anger with murder in the heart (Matthew 5:21-22), showing that the act begins long before blood is shed. • Cain’s story (Genesis 4:5-8) illustrates how unchecked resentment becomes lethal. Adultery • The seventh commandment forbids the act (Exodus 20:14), yet Jesus teaches that lustful looks are adulterous in God’s sight (Matthew 5:27-28). • Joseph’s refusal of Potiphar’s wife (Genesis 39:9) models a heart committed to purity. Sexual immorality • This broader term covers all sexual sin outside God-ordained marriage (Hebrews 13:4). • 1 Corinthians 6:18-20 instructs believers to flee such sin because the body is “a temple of the Holy Spirit.” Theft • Stealing violates the eighth commandment (Exodus 20:15) and springs from covetous desire (James 4:2). • Ephesians 4:28 calls the converted thief to honest labor and generosity, revealing a heart transformed from taking to giving. False testimony • Bearing false witness breaks the ninth commandment (Exodus 20:16) and distorts justice (Proverbs 19:5). • Colossians 3:9-10 commands believers, “Do not lie to one another,” because a new nature in Christ tells the truth. Slander • Slander destroys reputations through malicious speech (Psalm 101:5). • Titus 3:2 instructs Christians “to malign no one” and James 3:5-10 warns how the tongue, though small, can set a forest ablaze, underscoring the heart-mouth connection. summary Matthew 15:19 teaches that every sinful act or word originates in an unregenerated heart. Jesus lists representative sins—evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, and slander—to show the breadth of corruption flowing from within. Therefore, the solution is not mere behavioral reform but heart renewal through faith in Christ, who alone cleanses, transforms, and empowers believers to live in obedience. (19) Evil thoughts, . . . blasphemies.--The plural form points to the manifold variety of the forms of guilt under each several head. The order is in some measure an ascending one, beginning with the "thoughts," or rather trains of thought, which are the first suggestions of evil, and ending in the "blasphemies" or revilings which, directly or indirectly, have God and not man for their object. In this beginning and end we may trace a reference to those "evil surmises" which had led the Pharisees, as in Matthew 12:24, to words which were blasphemy against the Son of Man, and came perilously near to the blasphemy against the Holy Spirit.Verse 19. - Out of the heart proceed. The shameful catalogue which follows is less full than that in St. Mark, which contains thirteen items, while this consists of seven only. These are produced or created by the human will, of which the heart is the symbol. Evil thoughts (διαλογισμοὶ πονηροί). Some would translate the words, "evil machinations." But there is no need to change the usual rendering, which is very appropriate here. Evil thoughts are the preparation of all other sins, and have a pernicious influence on the character. We are very much what we think. That on which our minds are fixed, that which is the chief object presented to our inward sight, shapes our disposition and life. High and noble thoughts elevate and purify; low and mean thoughts debase and pollute. The wickedness in a man springs from within; he is guilty of it. If he admits the tempter, succumbs to his seductions, it is his own will that is in fault, encouraging the evil imagination, and not at once resisting, abhorring, and repelling it. Well may we pray, "Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me" (Psalm 51:10); and remember the wise man's injunction, "Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life" (Proverbs 4:23). The enumeration follows more or less closely the second table of the Decalogue.Parallel Commentaries ... Greek Forγὰρ (gar) Conjunction Strong's 1063: For. A primary particle; properly, assigning a reason. out of ἐκ (ek) Preposition Strong's 1537: From out, out from among, from, suggesting from the interior outwards. A primary preposition denoting origin, from, out. the τῆς (tēs) Article - Genitive Feminine Singular Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the. heart καρδίας (kardias) Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular Strong's 2588: Prolonged from a primary kar; the heart, i.e. the thoughts or feelings; also the middle. come ἐξέρχονται (exerchontai) Verb - Present Indicative Middle or Passive - 3rd Person Plural Strong's 1831: To go out, come out. From ek and erchomai; to issue. evil πονηροί (ponēroi) Adjective - Nominative Masculine Plural Strong's 4190: Evil, bad, wicked, malicious, slothful. thoughts, διαλογισμοὶ (dialogismoi) Noun - Nominative Masculine Plural Strong's 1261: From dialogizomai; discussion, i.e. consideration, or debate. murder, φόνοι (phonoi) Noun - Nominative Masculine Plural Strong's 5408: Murder, slaughter, killing. From an obsolete primary pheno; murder. adultery, μοιχεῖαι (moicheiai) Noun - Nominative Feminine Plural Strong's 3430: Adultery. From moicheuo; adultery. sexual immorality, πορνεῖαι (porneiai) Noun - Nominative Feminine Plural Strong's 4202: Fornication, whoredom; met: idolatry. From porneuo; harlotry; figuratively, idolatry. theft, κλοπαί (klopai) Noun - Nominative Feminine Plural Strong's 2829: Thieving, theft. From klepto; stealing. false testimony, ψευδομαρτυρίαι (pseudomartyriai) Noun - Nominative Feminine Plural Strong's 5577: False testimony, false witness. From pseudomartur; untrue testimony. [and] slander. βλασφημίαι (blasphēmiai) Noun - Nominative Feminine Plural Strong's 988: Abusive or scurrilous language, blasphemy. From blasphemos; vilification. Links Matthew 15:19 NIVMatthew 15:19 NLT Matthew 15:19 ESV Matthew 15:19 NASB Matthew 15:19 KJV Matthew 15:19 BibleApps.com Matthew 15:19 Biblia Paralela Matthew 15:19 Chinese Bible Matthew 15:19 French Bible Matthew 15:19 Catholic Bible NT Gospels: Matthew 15:19 For out of the heart come forth (Matt. Mat Mt) |
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