Mark 7:22: “Greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly.”

Extended Explanation of the Verse

In this verse, Jesus continues listing sins that come from the human heart. He had just explained in Mark 7:21 that sin begins inside a person, not from external influences like food or unwashed hands. Now, He names specific examples of sins that defile a person, showing that the root of all evil is found within the sinful nature of humanity.

The sins listed here represent different types of evil:

• Greed – The selfish desire for more, especially at the expense of others.
• Malice – A deep desire to harm or bring suffering to someone.
• Deceit – Dishonesty, trickery, and misleading others for personal gain.
• Lewdness – Immoral sexual behavior, lack of self-control, and shamelessness.
• Envy – Resenting others for what they have and wanting it for oneself.
• Slander – Speaking falsely or maliciously about someone to ruin their reputation.
• Arrogance – Pride, thinking of oneself as superior to others.
• Folly – Foolishness, reckless behavior, and moral corruption.

Jesus’ point is clear: these sins do not come from outside influences—they come from within a person’s heart. The real issue is not unclean food or failing to follow religious traditions but the sinfulness that lives in every human heart.

Historical Context

The Pharisees and religious leaders of Jesus’ time placed a strong emphasis on external purity. They believed that a person became unclean by what they ate, what they touched, and whether they followed religious customs (Mark 7:1-5).

Jesus completely overturns this thinking. He shows that external rules cannot make a person holy because sin is not an external contamination—it is an internal reality.

This teaching would have shocked many Jews because it meant that the real battle for purity is not about food or ritual washing—it is about the heart.

By listing these sins, Jesus is exposing the true nature of the human heart. Instead of worrying about unclean hands or impure foods, people should be concerned about the sinfulness that lives inside them.

Theological Implications

This verse teaches several key truths:

1. Sin is universal and begins in the heart. Every person struggles with these sinful desires, proving that all have sinned and fall short of God’s glory (Romans 3:23).
2. Religious rules cannot fix the human heart. No amount of ritual cleansing or rule-following can remove these sins—only God can change a person’s heart (Ezekiel 36:26).
3. Sin is diverse, but all sin is serious. Whether it is greed, pride, or sexual immorality, every sin separates people from God and leads to judgment (Romans 6:23).
4. True purity comes through inner transformation. Jesus teaches that real holiness is about a changed heart, not just changed behaviors (Matthew 5:8).

This verse shows that sin is not just about breaking rules—it is about the corruption that exists in every human heart.

Literary Analysis

Jesus’ list of sins follows a structured pattern, covering different types of wickedness:

• Personal sins (greed, malice, arrogance)
• Sexual sins (lewdness)
• Relational sins (envy, slander, deceit)
• Sins of foolishness and pride (arrogance, folly)

This list shows that sin affects every part of life—our desires, relationships, and moral decisions.

Jesus is using a direct and confrontational tone. He is not speaking in parables or soft language—He is calling out the true nature of sin so that people understand the real problem is inside them, not outside them.

Relevant Biblical Cross-References

• Jeremiah 17:9 – “The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?” – The human heart is naturally sinful.
• Proverbs 6:16-19 – A list of sins that God hates, including pride, lying, and evil plans.
• Romans 1:29-31 – Paul gives a similar list of sins that characterize those who reject God.
• Galatians 5:19-21 – “The acts of the flesh are obvious…” – A list of sins that come from the sinful nature.
• Ephesians 4:22-24 – A call to put off the old self (sinful nature) and be renewed in Christ.

What This Verse Means for Today’s Christian

This verse is a warning and a call to self-examination. Many people today still think that sin is something that comes from outside influences—bad culture, bad friends, or bad circumstances. But Jesus teaches that the real problem is inside every person.

For Christians today, this means:

• We must examine our hearts, not just our behaviors. It’s easy to focus on external morality while ignoring the inner sins of greed, pride, and envy.
• We need real transformation, not just religious discipline. True holiness comes from God changing us from within, not just by following rules.
• We should not judge others while ignoring our own sin. The Pharisees focused on other people’s failures while ignoring their own sinfulness—Jesus warns against this kind of hypocrisy (Matthew 7:3-5).

Instead of trying to manage our sin with external rules, we need to seek God’s help to purify our hearts.

How This Verse Relates to a Loving God

God’s love is shown in how He reveals the true problem of sin. He does not just give people rules to follow—He tells them the truth: they need a new heart.

This verse is not just a condemnation—it is an invitation. God reveals our sin not to destroy us, but to lead us to repentance and transformation (2 Corinthians 7:10).

Because God loves us, He does not leave us in our sinful condition—He offers grace, forgiveness, and a new life through Jesus Christ.

How This Verse Connects to Jesus Christ

Jesus is the only solution to the problem of the sinful heart. The Pharisees thought rituals could make them pure, but Jesus teaches that only He can cleanse a person from within.

• Jesus lived with perfect purity. He never had greed, malice, deceit, or arrogance—He was without sin (Hebrews 4:15).
• Jesus came to cleanse sinful hearts. His death on the cross paid for our sins and gives us a new heart (1 John 1:7).
• Jesus offers true transformation. When a person believes in Him, they are made new and given the Holy Spirit to change them from within (2 Corinthians 5:17).

This verse highlights why we need Jesus—because sin lives inside of us, and only He can make us truly clean.

Questions for Reflection and Discussion

1. Which of the sins listed in this verse do you struggle with the most?
2. Do you focus more on outward morality or inward transformation?
3. Why do people prefer religious rituals over dealing with the real issue of the heart?
4. How can you seek God’s help in overcoming sinful thoughts and desires?
5. What does this verse teach you about your need for Jesus and His transforming power?

This verse is a powerful reminder that sin is not just about outward actions—it is a matter of the heart. Jesus calls us to turn to Him, confess our sin, and allow Him to transform us from the inside out.