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Mark has Jesus say that nothing going into a person from outside can defile him. Matthew makes it what goes into the mouth, and the Gospel of Thomas, which probably follows Matthew here, also speaks of the mouth.
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2500 BCE
1000+ CE
Mark 7:15
New Testament
14 Then he called the crowd again and said to them, “Listen to me, everyone, and understand. 15 There is nothing outside of a person that can defile him by going into him. Rather, it is what comes out of a person that defiles him.”
Matthew 15:11
New Testament
10 Then he called the crowd to him and said, “Listen and understand. 11 What defiles a person is not what goes into the mouth; it is what comes out of the mouth that defiles a person.”
Gospel of Thomas 1:14
Nag Hammadi
13 Jesus said to his disciples, “Compare me and tell me whom I am like.” Simon Peter said to him, “You are like a righteous messenger.” Matthew said to him, “You are like a wise philosopher.” Thomas said to him, “Teacher, my mouth is utterly unable to say whom you are like.” Jesus said, “I am not your teacher. Because you have drunk, you have become intoxicated from the bubbling spring I have measured out.” And he took him and withdrew and spoke three sayings to him. When Thomas returned to his companions, they asked him, “What did Jesus say to you?” Thomas said to them, “If I tell you even one of the sayings he spoke to me, you will pick up stones and throw them at me, and fire will come out of the stones and burn you up.” 14 Jesus said to them, “If you fast, you will bring sin upon yourselves; if you pray, you will be condemned; if you give alms, you will do harm to your spirits. When you go into any land and travel about in the countryside, if they receive you, eat what they set before you and heal the sick among them. For what goes into your mouth will not defile you; rather, what comes out of your mouth is what will defile you.” 15 Jesus said, “When you see one who was not born of woman, fall on your faces and worship him; that one is your Father.”
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Notes and References
“... 14.5 For whatever goes into your mouth will not defile you. Rather, whatever comes out of your mouth—that is what defiles you. Cf. Mk 7.15/ Matt. 15.11 (and Mk 7.18, 20/ Matt. 15.17–18); the word ‘mouth’ also connects GTh 13–14. Defilement is not mentioned elsewhere in Thomas, and the question of the uncleanness of foods does not feature again outside of GTh 6 and 14 (cf. 89). The clear sense here is that any traditional scruples that food might defile are dismissed. In contrast, speech is prioritised. [...] Thomas is probably dependent upon Matthew here. See Gathercole, Composition, 178–179. ...”
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