Evils and Defilements Jesus Says to Avoid …. evil thoughts, unchastity, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, licentiousness, envy, blasphemy, arrogance, folly
In the Gospel of Mark, at 7:20 et seq., Jesus reminds us of some of the evils that we must avoid, reject and overcome:
“[Jesus] said to [His Disciples],
‘… Do you not realize that everything
that goes into a person from outside cannot defile,
since it enters not the heart but the stomach
and passes out into the latrine?”
(Thus he declared all foods clean.)
‘But what comes out of the man, that is what defiles him.
From within the man, from his heart,
come evil thoughts, unchastity, theft, murder,
adultery, greed, malice, deceit,
licentiousness, envy, blasphemy, arrogance, folly.
All these evils come from within and they defile.'”
So, while the list is not necessary exclusive or comprehensive, Jesus provides us with a laundry list of attitudes or inclinations that would defile us:
- evil thoughts
- unchastity
- theft
- murder
- adultery
- greed
- malice
- deceit
- licentiousness
- envy
- blasphemy
- arrogance
- folly
The list of course, is varied, with regard to the areas of focus and the nature of the areas of focus. For example, adultery and murder are very specific types of sin, while “evil thoughts” is a rather broad expression. “Unchastity” and “licentiousness” are much broader than “adultery,” both in deed and level of activity, to the point where, for example, “unchastity” could include unchaste thoughts or noticing aspects of another person’s appearance in an impure manner. Recall how, elsewhere in the Gospels, Jesus mentions how someone who is lustful can thereby commit adultery in his heart.
The process of overcoming what Jesus is listing out, of course, can take time and effort, and addressing them can be a complicated undertaking across multiple levels of focus and activity, part of the broad Journey of Discipleship. For example, the Sacraments, prayer and the effort to gain greater wisdom can factor in. (One notes that at least three items listed relate to sexual matters. In a Homily to newly Ordained Deacons, a Bishop once advised them that three ways to strengthen them in their Vow of Celibacy were to have a strong relationship with the Eucharist; undertake frequent reception of the Sacrament of Reconciliation; and pray the Liturgy of the Hours in union with the universal Church.)
Yet, in addition to the steps we take, with God’s Help, along the Path of Discipleship, it also is important to start with the truth. It is important, in and of itself, to hear Jesus Speak the Truth about these things, and to accept what He Teaches, that these are evils that defile, and that we must be conscious of how they defile from within.
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