Mark 7:20

“Because of certain acts of his expelling demons, forgiving sins, healing on the sabbath day, his novel interpretation of the precepts of the Law regarding purity, and his familiarity with tax collectors and public sinners” — Catechism footnote: Cf. Mt 12:24; Mk 2:7, 14-17; 3:1-6; 7:14-23.

“For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts. . ."” — Catechism footnote: Mk 7:18-21; cf. Gal 3:24.

The Jews regard and murmur about only the bodily purification of the law; our Lord wishes to bring in the contrary. Wherefore it is said, “And when He had called all the people unto Him, He said unto them, Hearken…

But the intention of the Lord in saying this was to teach men, that the observing of meats, which the law commands, should not be taken in a carnal sense, and from this He began to unfold to them the intent of the law.

Again He subjoins, “If any man have ears to hear, let him hear.” For He had not clearly shewn them, what those things are which proceed out of a man, and defile a man; and on account of this saying, the Apostles…

The Lord begins by chiding them, wherefore there follows, “Are ye so without understanding also?”

For that man is a faulty hearer who considers what is obscure to be a clear speech, or what is clear to be obscurely spoken.

Then the Lord shews them what was hidden, saying, “Do ye not perceive, that whatsoever thing from without entereth into the man, it cannot make him common?”

For the Jews, boasting themselves to be the portion of God, call common those meals which all men use, as shellfish, hares, and animals of that sort. Not even however what is offered to idols is unclean, in as far as…

For some things are joined to others in such a way as both to change and be changed, just as food, losing its former appearance, is both itself turned into our body, and we too are changed, and our strength is…

Thus then it is not meat that makes men unclean, but wickedness, which works in us the passions which come from within. Wherefore it goes on: “And He said, That which cometh out of a man, that defileth a man.”

The meaning of which He points out, when He subjoins, “for from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts.” And thus it appears that evil thoughts belong to the mind, which is here called the heart, and…

From this passage are condemned those men who suppose that thoughts are put into them by the devil, and do not arise from their own evil will. The devil may excite and help on evil thoughts, he cannot be their author.

From evil thoughts, however, evil actions proceed to greater lengths, concerning which it is added, adulteries, that is, acts which consist in the violation of another man’s bed; fornications, which are unlawful…

An evil eye, that is, hatred and flattery, for he who hates turns an evil and envious eye on him whom he hates, and a flatterer, looking askance at his neighbour’s goods, leads him into evil; blasphemies, that is,…