277: Purity of the Heart
In this episode of Talkin’ Bible, Rohan Bell and Jeff Baxter unpack Jesus’ teaching on what truly makes a person clean before God. Spoiler: it’s not about ritual handwashing or food laws — it’s about the heart.
Jesus confronts the Pharisees’ traditions and reveals that defilement doesn’t come from what goes into our mouths, but from what flows out of our hearts. Rowan and Jeff explore why this truth was so radical then and remains just as relevant today.
👀 What you’ll discover in this episode...
✅ 🫀 Why Jesus shifts the focus from external rituals to internal transformation
✅ 📜 How “the traditions of the elders” went far beyond the Mosaic law
✅ 🌱 What Jesus meant by God uprooting plants not planted by Him
✅ 🚫 Why chasing false teaching can distract us from proclaiming truth
✅ 🔑 How Jesus offers a new heart that changes our desires from the inside out
⏱️ Timestamps
00:00 – Introduction & setting the scene in Matthew 15
01:20 – “Listen and understand” — the importance of Shema
02:15 – Food laws, traditions, and misplaced priorities
04:10 – Ritual vs. heart transformation in the Old and New Testaments
06:30 – Blind guides, false teaching, and letting God do the uprooting
09:10 – The danger of wasting time correcting those who refuse to see
12:00 – Healthy correction in Christian community
14:30 – What really defiles: evil thoughts, lust, greed, anger
16:40 – How Jesus changes the heart supernaturally
18:50 – Why life in Christ is far better than old desires
🙋♂️ Reflection & Application
What’s flowing out of your heart? Jesus offers not just behavior change, but heart transformation. Spend time with Him in Scripture, prayer, and community — it’s the only way our desires are truly made new.
💬 Share in the comments: How has Jesus changed your heart over time?
🔔 Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and tap the bell for more Talkin’ Bible conversations.
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