Basically it is a matter of our thoughts. The external is the expression, the results. Moral battles are not won in the external world first. They are always a result flowing naturally from a cause, and the cause is in the internal world of one's thoughts [for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh - MT.12:34]
There are those who would make a distinction here and regard the "heart" as more than just thoughts, but even if one held this view, the important fact is simply that we are dealing with the internal world. What Jesus is saying is that if the internal condition is not right, one cannot bring forth proper results.
[MT.5:21-22 & 1JN.3:15 - anger and hate is murder]
So far we have taken three steps:
First: the internal is first;
Second: the internal causes the external;
Third: morally, the internal is central
TS, pp98-99
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