阅读经文 

我母亲教导我，饭前一定要洗手，她会提醒我说：“记着要用肥皂！”我们吃饭时，她不希望我们把手上的污垢和细菌送进嘴里。

法利赛人也非常小心地在饭前洗手。在那个年代，他们没有关于细菌的知识，他们洗手的规矩乃是和灵命的圣洁相关的。所以，当他们质问耶稣的门徒为什么不洗手时，他们不是为了卫生的缘故，他们乃是要找把柄来批评耶稣，他们等于在指责耶稣，祂和门徒们灵命不圣洁。

耶稣利用这个机会来教导人。祂说，灵里的污秽不是源于我们手上或进入我们消化系统中的东西。

那么，灵里的污秽是从哪里来的呢？我们灵里的污秽乃是出自我们心灵的恶。耶稣接着列出一些例子，如洗手不能除去贪婪、诡诈、苟合、憎恨，和很多其他的污秽。

我们即使尝试遵守所有的规则、文化价值和我们社会要求的行为规范——其中大部份都是为了所有人的益处；我们尽管相信所有正确的教义和尝试过完美的生活——这些都是非常重要的，然而，上述这些事情没有一件能洁净我们的心灵。

惟有靠耶稣才能真正洁净你的心灵。

My mother taught me always to wash my hands before dinner. “And use soap!” she would say. She didn’t want any dirt or germs from my hands getting into my mouth while we were eating.

The Pharisees were also careful about washing their hands before eating. But in those days they didn’t know about germs; their handwashing laws had to do with spiritual holiness. So when they asked why Jesus’ disciples didn’t wash, it wasn’t about hygiene; they were looking for a way to criticize Jesus, as if to say that he and his disciples were not spiritually holy.

Jesus used this as an opportunity to teach. Spiritual impurity isn’t about what is on our hands or what goes through our digestive system, he said.

Where does spiritual impurity come from? Our spiritual impurity comes from our sinful hearts. And then Jesus listed several examples. Handwashing could not take away greed, deceit, sexual immorality, hatred, and much more.

We can try to obey all the regulations, cultural values, and expected behaviors in our society—most of which are for the good of everyone. And we can believe all the right doctrines and try to live pure lives—which can be very important. But none of that will cleanse our hearts.

Only Jesus can truly cleanse your heart.