GREAT THINGS ENTERPRISE
CLAUDE BLACK
Mark 7:20
Pardon My French
In early America, many French people lived in or visited the new nation. Often, these people would allow a French word to enter their conversation. Since not everyone spoke French or knew the language, the speaker would say, “Pardon my French.” On the one hand, many people considered French culture sophisticated; on the other hand, it was also considered risqué or bawdy, so the phrase “pardon my French” became a tongue-in-cheek way to excuse rude or vulgar words. By the 20th century, few Americans knew or spoke French, so the phrase “pardon my French” became a way of jokingly apologizing for using vulgarity.
In a recent movie, a sophisticated man described another man with vulgarity—a sign that the writer had run out of creativity and settled for shock—and said, “Pardon my French.” In the movie, however, the sophisticated man was the villain; he was all right on the outside, but inside, he was rotten. This is a condition Jesus described to his disciples: “Thus he said, ‘The thing coming out of a man—that defiles the man.’” (Mark 7:20)
Jesus had finished a conversation with culturally precise critics. Their beards were carefully trimmed, their clothing meticulously clean, and their hands ceremonially washed, but Jesus pointed out that, deep inside their hearts, they were violating the law of God—they looked righteous on the outside, but sinful on the inside.
A famous man in a high position struggled with this condition: “May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.” (Psalm 19:14) And so do I.
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