15:15-20 What do we learn from what Jesus says here?

Although what Jesus said here was in response to the hypocrisy of the Pharisees, it is also an admonition for professing Christians (cp Pr 4:23; Mk 7:14-15, 20-23; Lk 6:45).

Heart is used figuratively in this context to represent the seat, or source of human motives, desires, feelings, affections, passions, impulses, thoughts etc. While we must always outwardly be seen to be conforming to the image of God, we must always inwardly – in the deepest recesses of our heart – also conform. We are not to be like the Pharisees, outwardly righteous, but inwardly morally defiled (cp Mt 23:23-33).

The root cause of unanswered prayer is cherishing iniquity in our heart (cp Job 27:8-9; Psa 66:18; Pr 15:29; 28:9; Isa 1:15; Jn 9:31; Jas 4:3). Christians must constantly examine themselves and ensure that they are in the place in God where their prayers will be answered (cp 2Cor 13:5).

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