The Problem Within

·32 min·3 clips

Jesus declares that what truly defiles a person isn't unclean food, but the evil thoughts that originate in the human heart.

The episode opens by exploring the origin of the phrase 'the heart wants what it wants,' noting it was written by Emily Dickinson in 1862 to describe loss, not justify desire. It was later popularized by Woody Allen in the 1990s, shifting its meaning. The host connects this to a sermon series on the Gospel of Mark, specifically chapter 7, where Jesus addresses the Pharisees' criticism of his disciples for not washing hands ritually. Jesus calls the Pharisees hypocrites, accusing them of prioritizing man-made traditions over God's word. He then tells a crowd that defilement comes from within the heart, not from external things like food. The disciples are confused, so Jesus explains in private that food passes through the body but doesn't affect the heart. He lists evils that originate in the heart, such as sexual immorality, greed, and pride, diagnosing the human heart as diseased with sin. The host references Old Testament passages like Genesis 6:5 and Jeremiah 17:9 to show God's consistent focus on the heart. Jesus' teaching applies universally, transcending cultural rituals. The host acknowledges that if the story ended here, it would be bad news, but Jesus offers salvation through his death and resurrection. The gift of the Holy Spirit is presented as the internal remedy for a sinful heart, based on Galatians 4:6. However, transformation requires hard work and obedience, as illustrated by a personal story about the host's father's heart surgery and recovery. The apostle Paul's teachings in Galatians 5 are cited, contrasting the works of the flesh with the fruit of the Spirit. Jesus' commands in the Sermon on the Mount and John 14 emphasize obedience as evidence of love. The episode concludes with a call to self-examination, using Psalm 139 to invite God to search the heart, assuring listeners of no condemnation in Christ.

As heard by us

A familiar phrase opens into Mark's searching account of what truly defiles the human heart.

The episode begins with the grief beneath "the heart wants what it wants." Emily Dickinson wrote the line to Mary in a moment of consolation, before Woody Allen's 1990s use gave it a later, more self-justifying cast.

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Why you'd press play

When a familiar excuse becomes a diagnosis of the heart, you may want this sermon in the room.

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