“For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.” (Mark 7:21-23)
Scripture tells us that we come into this world with a sin nature, “Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me” (Psalm 51:5). And this passage in Mark affirms that it is not the sin around us but that which is born from within the heart—evil thoughts, sinful desires, pride, deceit, and all manner of wickedness—that corrupt us. Therefore our primary problem is not our environment, our circumstances, or our temptations. It is our nature. The heart is corrupted, and therefore the life is corrupted.[1]
Because of the Fall, man naturally loves what he should hate and hates what he should love. He rejoices in what he should mourn over and mourns over what he should rejoice in. His heart is set upon the earth when it should be set upon heaven. Spiritual things receive too little love, and earthly things receive too much.
Our conscience is corrupted. It does not function as it should because it does not have enough light. It may convict us for more notable sins, but it often does not alert us to unbelief, pride, coldness in prayer, and lack of love for God. Sometimes our conscience is quiet when it should speak, and sometimes it speaks when it should be quiet. Without the light of God and the cleansing blood of Christ, the conscience either sleeps in false peace or awakens only to drive a man toward despair.
Our memory is also corrupted. It forgets sermons, warnings, and mercies, but remembers wrongs done to us, sinful pleasures, and past lusts.
Even our body evidences this corruption. Our eyes desire what Scripture condemns, our ears listen to what is evil, our tongue is able to tear down and destroy, and our feet can quickly take us to places we would be best to avoid.
Our minds, our wills, our affections, our consciences, our memories, and even our bodies are all affected by sin. “Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of [sin and] death? Thanks be to God, through Jesus Christ our Lord!” (Romans 7:24-25). For the only hope we have is found in the precious blood of Christ. His blood alone has the power and sufficiency to cleanse us from the corruption of all our sin.
Contemplations:
- Confessing the corruption of my heart. Lord, my heart is a fountain of sin. Evil thoughts, pride, selfishness, unbelief, and sinful desires come from within me. I often blame my circumstances, my temptations, or other people, but Your Word teaches me that the problem is within my own heart. Forgive me for the corruption that dwells within me, and cleanse my heart by Your grace.
- Confessing my disordered affections. Father, I realize that my affections are disordered. I love the world too much and You too little. I enjoy earthly things and disregard spiritual things. I fear man more than I fear You, and desire comfort more than holiness. Forgive me and teach me to love what I should love and hate what I should hate.
- Confessing the sin of my conscience and memory. Lord, my conscience is often dull where it should be sharp, and sharp where it should be quiet. I am sometimes troubled for small things and not troubled enough for more concerning sins. I also forget Your mercies, Your Word, and Your warnings, but I remember wrongs done to me and those times of pleasure in sin. Forgive me for this corruption within me.
- Confessing that my whole nature is corrupted. Father, I confess that sin has affected every part of me. My mind is darkened, my will is stubborn, my affections are disordered, my conscience is defiled, my memory is corrupt, and my body is an instrument of sin. I confess that I am a sinner not only by practice, but by nature. Have mercy on me, cleanse and renew me by Your grace.
Prayer (Confession)
Holy and righteous God, I confess that sin is not only in my life, but in my heart. As Your Word teaches, evil thoughts, sinful desires, pride, deceit, and many other sins arise from within me.
I confess that my affections are disordered. I love what I should not love, and neglect what I should love. I am too concerned with earthly things and not concerned enough with eternal things. I confess that I do not love You with all my heart as I should.
My conscience is also often dull and careless. I am not as troubled for sin as I should be, and I do not watch over my heart as I should. I confess that my memory forgets Your Word, forgets Your mercies, and forgets my own promises and resolutions, but remembers sinful desires that should be forgotten.
I confess that my body has often been an instrument of sin. My eyes have looked where You forbid, my tongue has spoken what it should not speak, and my actions have not always honored You. I have sinned in thought, word, and deed.
Lord, I confess that from the sole of my feet to the top of my head there is no soundness in me by nature. If You should mark iniquities, I could not stand. Therefore I ask You to have mercy on me for the sake of Jesus Christ. Cleanse my heart, renew my mind, order my affections, awaken my conscience, sanctify my memory, and bring my body into subjection, that I may live to Your glory.
Forgive all my sin and continue Your work of sanctification in me, until I am made fit for Your presence.
In Jesus’ name I pray.
Further Scripture References Mark 7:21-23:
Gen. 6:5; Isa. 64:6; Rom. 7:5-8; Matt. 5:28
[1] Thomas Boston, Human Nature in Its Fourfold State, Early American Imprints, 1639-1800; No. 45042 (United States: s.n. Printed for the booksellers, 1787), 79-81.
