Mark 7:22

Mark 7:22, in plain English

...greed, wickedness, deceit, reckless living, envy, slander, arrogance, and foolishness. It's a long, uncomfortable list.

Why it's here

Notice that Jesus includes internal attitudes (envy, arrogance) alongside external actions (theft, murder). God cares about the condition of your heart, not just your behavior.

Who's speaking

Jesus continues listing the sins that come from the human heart.

Where it sits in the story

The list gets personal. It's not just about the big, obvious sins. Envy, arrogance, foolishness — these quiet internal corruptions are just as defiling in God's eyes.

The scholarly reading

The catalog continues with 'greed' (pleonexiai), 'wickedness' (poneriai), 'deceit' (dolos), 'debauchery' (aselgeia), 'envy' (ophthalmos poneros — literally 'evil eye'), 'slander' (blasphemia), 'arrogance' (hyperephania), and 'foolishness' (aphrosyne).

Language and setting

The twelve-item vice list (matching the twelve apostles?) encompasses sins against both God and neighbor, moving from action-sins to disposition-sins. The 'evil eye' is a Semitic idiom for envy/stinginess.

Voice

Jesus continues the comprehensive catalog of inner defilement.

Significance

Jesus extends his catalog of heart-evils: greed, wickedness, deceit, debauchery, envy, slander, arrogance, and foolishness. The full scope of human moral corruption is laid bare.

20He continued: “What comes out of a man, that is what defiles him.

21For from within the hearts of men come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery,

22greed, wickedness, deceit, debauchery, envy, slander, arrogance, and foolishness.

23All these evils come from within, and these are what defile a man.”

24Jesus left that place and went to the region of Tyre. Not wanting anyone to know He was there, He entered a house, but was unable to escape their notice.

Read all of Mark 7 — Jesus declares all foods clean and then crosses into Gentile territory to heal a woman's daughter. The walls are coming down.