For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:
19. For out of the heart proceed ] The enumeration follows the order of the Commandments. Evil thoughts harmful reasonings form a class under which the rest fall, indicating, too, that the transgression of the Commandments is often in thought, by Christ’s law, not in deed only. For “blasphemies,” which may be thought to sum up the first table, St Mark, whose order differs slightly, has “covetousness,” thus completing the decalogue, and adds to the list in the text “wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, pride, foolishness.”
The plurals “murders, adulteries,” &c., as Meyer points out, denote the different instances and kinds of murder and adultery. Murder includes far more than the act of bloodshed.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Verse 19. Out of the heart] In the heart of an unregenerate man, the principles and seeds of all sin are found. And iniquity is always conceived in the heart before it be spoken or acted. Is there any hope that a man can abstain from outward sin till his heart, that abominable fountain of corruption, be thoroughly cleansed? I trow not.
Evil thoughts] , wicked dialogues – for in all evil surmisings the heart holds a conversation, or dialogue, with itself. For , murders, two MSS. have , envyings, and three others have both. Envy and murder are nearly allied: the former has often led to the latter.
Blasphemies] I have already observed, Mt 9:3, that the verb , when applied to men, signifies to speak INJURIOUSLY of their persons, characters, &c., and, when applied to God, it means to speak IMPIOUSLY of his nature, works, &c.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
19. For out of the heart proceedevil thoughts“evil reasonings”; referring here moreimmediately to those corrupt reasonings which had stealthilyintroduced and gradually reared up that hideous fabric of traditionwhich at length practically nullified the unchangeable principles ofthe moral law. But the statement is far broader than this; namelythat the first shape which the evil that is in the heart takes, whenit begins actively to stir, is that of “considerations” or”reasonings” on certain suggested actions.
murders, adulteries,fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemiesdetractions,whether directed against God or man; here the reference seems to beto the latter. Mark (Mr 7:22)adds, “covetousnesses”or desires after more;”wickednesses”here meaning, perhaps, malignities ofvarious forms; “deceit, lasciviousness”meaning, excessor enormity of any kind, though by later writers restricted tolewdness; “an evil eye”meaning, all looks or glances ofenvy, jealousy, or ill will towards a neighbor; “pride,foolishness”in the Old Testament sense of “folly”;that is, criminal senselessness, the folly of the heart. Howappalling is this black catalogue!
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts,…. Of God, of Christ, of the Spirit, of fellow creatures, and of all sorts of wickedness. The thoughts of sin are evil, are to be hated, forsaken, and for which men are accountable to God. All wicked imaginations, carnal reasonings, lustful desires, and malicious contrivances, are here included; which take their rise from, and are devised, and forged, in the corrupt heart of man.
Murders; inveterate hatred of men’s persons, malice prepense, schemes to take away life, all angry and wrathful words, and actual effusion of man’s blood.
Adulteries; uncleanness committed between married persons, both in thought, and deed:
fornications; unlawful copulations of persons in a single state:
thefts; taking away from others by force or fraud, what is their right and property:
false witness: swearing falsely, or exhibiting a false testimony to the hurt of his neighbour, either his name, person, or estate:
blasphemies; evil speakings of God or men. To which Mark adds “covetousness”; a greedy and insatiable desire after the things of the world, or the neighbour’s goods: “wickedness”; doing hurt and mischief to fellow creatures: “deceit”; in words and actions, in trade and conversation: “lasciviousness”; all manner of uncleanness, and unnatural lusts: “an evil eye”; of envy and covetousness: the vitiosity, or corruption of nature, is, by the Jews h, called
, “the evil eye”: “pride”; in heart and life, in dress and gesture; and “foolishness”; expressed in talk and conduct.
h Tzeror Hammor, fol. 141. 3.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Out of the heart. Compare Plato. “For all good and evil, whether in the body or in human nature, originates, as he declared, in the soul, and overflows from thence, as from the head into the eyes; and therefore, if the head and body are to be well, you must begin by curing the soul. That is the first thing” (” Charmides, ” 157).
Thoughts [] . Lit., reasonings (compare Mr 9:33, Rev.), or disputings (Phi 2:14), like the captious questioning of the Pharisees about washing hands.
Fuente: Vincent’s Word Studies in the New Testament
19. For out of the heart proceed wicked thoughts Hence we infer that the word mouth, as I have mentioned, was used by Christ in a former verse by way of allusion to the context; for now he makes no mention of the mouth, but merely says that out of the heart of man proceeds all that is sinful and that corrupts by its pollution. Mark differs from Matthew in this respect, that he gives a larger catalogue of sins, such as lusts, or irregular desires. The Greek word ( πλεονεξίαι) is by some rendered covetousness; but I have preferred to take it in a general acceptation. Next come fraud and intemperance, and those which immediately follow. Though the mode of expression be figurative, it is enough to understand Christ’s meaning to be, that all sins proceed from the wicked and corrupt affections of the heart. To say that an evil eye proceeds from the heart is not strictly accurate, but it involves nothing that is absurd or ambiguous; for it means, that an unholy heart pollutes the eyes by making them the ministers, or organs, of wicked desires. And yet Christ does not speak as if every thing that is evil in man were confined to open sins; but, in order to show more clearly that the heart of man is the abode of all evils, (411) he says that the proofs and results appear in the sins themselves.
(411) “ Que le coeur de l’homme est le siege et la source de tous maux;” — “that the heart of man is the seat and the source of all evils.”
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(19) Evil thoughts, . . . blasphemies.The plural form points to the manifold variety of the forms of guilt under each several head. The order is in some measure an ascending one, beginning with the thoughts, or rather trains of thought, which are the first suggestions of evil, and ending in the blasphemies or revilings which, directly or indirectly, have God and not man for their object. In this beginning and end we may trace a reference to those evil surmises which had led the Pharisees, as in Mat. 12:24, to words which were blasphemy against the Son of Man, and came perilously near to the blasphemy against the Holy Spirit.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
19. Out of the heart The fountain of the moral intention and the moral action. Sinful action flows forth from a sinful nature. There lies back of the bad action a permanent badness of the disposition. The heart is therefore depraved. Evil thoughts The word thoughts here refers to these internal reasonings and weighing for and against yielding to sin which precede its commission. The heart parleys with crime and fluctuates before it gives forth the act. Hence the phrase evil thoughts designates the springs from which proceed the whole catalogue of sins enumerated in the verse. This catalogue follows nearly the order of the second table of the decalogue, beginning with the sixth commandment. False witness This phrase includes false testimony, or lying of every kind. Blasphemies Injurious expressions against God or man.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
“For out of the heart come forth evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, railings.”
Here ‘evil thoughts’ is probably a summary of what is then given in detail. Thus the idea here is that evil thoughts come from the ‘heart’ (that is, from the mind and will and inner being of a man). And that these evil thoughts then reveal themselves in such behaviour as murder, adultery, all sexually irresponsible behaviour, theft, and false witness. Note that here in Matthew these follow the order of the second section of the ten commandments, and much of what is in the Sermon on the Mount in chapter 5. They are then followed by ‘railings’ (‘blasphemia’ – injurious speech whether of God or men) which replaces ‘covetousness’, but this may contain within it the idea that men do in fact rail against God and man because they do not get what they want. Thus their covetousness is revealed by what comes from their mouths. All this includes the idea in James that the tongue can be ‘a little member — set on fire by Hell’ (Jas 3:5-6) because of the harm that it can do. Notice also that adultery has been expanded to include all irresponsible sexual behaviour. Men murder, and hate, and destroy each other, and as they do so their tongues will reveal it in various ways. And they behave sexually irresponsibly, and steal, and cheat, and cannot be trusted, and belabour others and thereby again reveal themselves for what they are. And all of them will in one way or another result in words that come from the mouth. So it is not the world that contaminates them. It is they who contaminate the world.
Thus it is the evil thoughts within a person, which result in evil actions and in evil words, which are the true measure of uncleanness.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Mat 15:19. Evil thoughts , evil reasonings: So I choose to render it, says Dr. Doddridge, as better suiting both the original and the occasion, and as containing a more universal and important truth; for those thoughts only defile the heart, which it willingly admits, and does as it were hold a parley and converse with; and I fear there are multitudes in the present age like these Pharisees, who are contracting immense guilt by those corrupt and sophistical reasonings, on the subtilty of which they may highly value themselves and each other. See Mar 7:21-22. Dr. Heylin renders it ill designs; and instead of blasphemies, he reads calumnies. The original wordincludesallreviling,backbiting,and evil-speaking. It is remarkable, that three of the crimes here mentioned as pollutions of the mind, namely, murder, false-witness, and blasphemy, were on this very occasion committed by the persons who charged our Lord with impiety, because he neglected such ceremonial precepts of religion as were of human invention: for while they feigned the highest reverence for the divine law, they were making void its most essential precepts. At the very time that they condemned the disciples for so small an offence as eating with unwashen hands, contrary only to the tradition of the elders, the Scribes and Pharisees were murdering Jesus by their calumnies and false-witnessings, notwithstanding it was the whole study of his life to do them all the good possible.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
19 For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:
Ver. 19. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts ] These are the first and immediate issue of the sinful soul; words and deeds, borborology a and enormity, follow in their order. “And I dare be bold to say,” saith a reverend divine, b “that though the act contract the guilt, because the lust is then grown up to a height, so that it is come to an absolute will in execution, yet the act of adultery and murder is not so abominable in God’s eyes, as the filthiness of the spirit; for it is the spirit that he mainly looks to,” &c. Think not then that thought is free, for as inward bleeding will kill, so will concupiscence, whatever the Papists say in favour of it, as a condition of nature: and hence flow most of their most dangerous opinions, as justification by works, state of perfection, merit, supererogation, &c.
a Filthy talk. D cites Trapp as using it in 1649 in this verse
b D. Preston of God’s attributes.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Mat 15:19 . , etc.: breaches of Sixth, Seventh, Eighth, and Ninth Commandments in succession.
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
evil. Greek. poneros. App-128.
thoughts = reasonings.
false witness. Greek. pseudomarturia. Occurs only in Matthew (here, and Mat 26:59).
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Mat 15:19. , evil thoughts) such as the Pharisees entertained. The article is added in Mar 7:21.-, , …, murders, adulteries, etc.) Sin against the sixth and following commandments. The plural number increases the force.-, curses) sc. against our neighbour, combined with false witness. In such enumerations, the absence of the copulative conjunction has often the force of etc., as if he who speaks wished to add more, or to leave more to the imagination.-Cf. Mar 7:22.[692]
[692] The filth of the draught is not so great as is that of a human heart not yet cleansed. Who is there that thoroughly weighs this consideration? who strives earnestly after true purity? But, as concerns the man who leaves this life destitute of such purity, whither is he rushing? Into the gulf of fire and brimstone. Alas! what a mass of filth that shall be, which is made up of so many impure beings! Be not offended, Reader. Offensiveness of language is profitable to be used in this case. See that thou dost conceive a loathing of the thing itself, and be moved to flee from impurity of heart.-V. g.
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
out: Gen 6:5, Gen 8:21, Pro 4:23, Pro 6:14, Pro 22:15, Pro 24:9, Jer 17:9, Mar 7:21-23, Rom 3:10-19, Rom 7:18, Rom 8:7, Rom 8:8, Gal 5:19-21, Eph 2:1-3, Tit 3:2-6
evil: Mat 9:4, Psa 119:113, Isa 55:7, Isa 59:7, Jer 4:14, Act 8:22, Jam 1:13-15
Reciprocal: Exo 20:15 – General Lev 15:19 – and her issue Num 19:22 – the soul Deu 15:9 – Beware 1Sa 24:13 – Wickedness Psa 14:1 – abominable Pro 6:19 – A false Pro 10:16 – the fruit Pro 12:17 – but Pro 15:26 – thoughts Ecc 7:22 – also Ecc 9:3 – also Isa 10:12 – punish the fruit of the stout heart Isa 32:6 – the vile Isa 65:2 – after Zec 8:17 – let Mal 2:15 – take Mat 5:37 – cometh Mat 23:25 – for Mat 23:28 – but Luk 11:39 – but Act 8:20 – thou Act 13:10 – O full Rom 7:5 – did work 2Co 10:5 – every thought Eph 5:3 – fornication Col 3:5 – fornication 1Th 4:3 – that Jam 4:1 – come they Rev 9:21 – nor of their fornication Rev 13:6 – he opened
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
EVIL THOUGHTS
For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts.
Mat 15:19
The depravity of man is a fact attested by history and experience. The source of the depravity is spiritual; the evil is enthroned in the thoughts.
I. Evil thoughts.
(a) Vain thoughts. Not of a directly noxious quality; yet, light, empty, trifling, and insignificant, they form a most fearful waste of the noble faculty of thought.
(b) Thoughts of a directly irreligious tendency. Impious and unworthy conceptions of God; sceptical thoughts; rebellious thoughts, etc.
(c) Intensely selfish and worldly thoughts. When the rules of righteousness are postponed to the vain pursuits of distinction, wealth, or pleasure. When our worldly pursuits involve the sacrifice of principle, etc.
(d) Thoughts of deliberate wickedness. Indulging malevolent dispositions, rancour, and revenge. Planning to give effect to these dispositions, purposes, etc.
II. The sinfulness of evil thoughts.
(a) They have the stamp of guilt affixed to them by the Divine law. They defile the man. Natural conscience condemns all such thinking. The laws of men are framed to deal with actions; the laws of God take cognizance of thoughts, which are the seeds of actions.
(b) They lead to the expression of evil actions. Thoughts tend to outward expression. Sin seldom dwells in the mind when there is fair opportunity for its external perpetration.
(c) They defraud us of the supreme end of thought. Our minds formed to adore, love, and contemplate God, virtue, and truth, etc. To mar that purpose is a sin of no common order.
III. The necessity of resisting evil thoughts.The right government of the thoughts is a very difficult task. Thoughtlessness upon spiritual questions is prevalent. How necessary is such resistance when we consider the advantages accruing: e.g. the influence
(a) Upon our personal character.
(b) Upon society.
(c) Upon a review of life in leaving it and during eternity.
Cherish good thoughts. Use every appliance that will suggest such: e.g. good books, wise and good people, etc. Above all, set your affections upon things above, etc. Try to live in the realised presence of God.
Fuente: Church Pulpit Commentary
5:19
See again the definition of the heart at Mat 15:8 and it will be observed why the things mentioned in this verse are said to come from it.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Mat 15:19. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, i.e., reasonings, purposes, not mere notions. The criminality of acts proceeds from the purpose; for these acts man is responsible. The plural form indicates that these sins are common and notorious. Mark adds a number of others.