This is a difficult and controversial topic for
many people. We know that laws pertaining to the sacrificial system,
the priesthood, and the earthly tabernacle have been changed. The
question is, are the clean and unclean laws to be included among
those that have been changed? A verse that is often used to support
this belief is Rom.14:14 - "I know, and am persuaded by the Master
Yeshua, that there is nothing unclean of itself: but to him that
esteemeth any thing to be unclean, to him it is unclean." Poor
translation and poor exegesis can lead one to believe that the
unclean law has been changed. The word translated "unclean" is
properly translated "common" as the margin of most Bibles show.
"Common" refers to something that was originally clean but for some
reason became defiled such as a lamb that "died of itself." Also, the
context of Romans 14 refers to eating meats, which a weak brother
would consider common, as opposed to vegetarianism.
To understand the truth of this matter concerning clean and unclean
laws we must first understand why Yahweh gave those laws to Israel.
Lev.15:31 states, "Thus shall ye separate the children of Israel from
their uncleanness; that they die not in their uncleanness, when they
defile my tabernacle that is among them." A superficial reading of
this verse may lead one to believe that, since there is no longer an
earthly tabernacle to defile, there is no longer a need for people to
know when they are unclean. Why did the tabernacle need to be kept
undefiled? Because Almighty Yahweh dwelt there. The tabernacle was
holy because of Yahweh's presence. In fact, the section that housed
the Ark of the Covenant ( which Yahweh's presence sat upon ) was
called the "Most Holy Place" as opposed to the outer room that was
only designated the "Holy Place." The tabernacle, without Yahweh's
presence, was merely a tent like any other tent. The ground next to
the burning bush was just like any other ground until Yahweh's
presence made it holy. It became dirt and stones that needed to be
respected by removing one's sandals.
Yahweh no longer dwells among His people in an earthly tabernacle.
Instead, He chooses to dwell within His people and their bodies are
His temple. 1 Cor.3:16,17 says, "Know ye not that ye are the temple
of [Yahweh], and that the Spirit of [Yahweh] dwelleth in you? If any
man defile the temple of [Yahweh], him shall [Yahweh] destroy; for
the temple of [Yahweh] is holy, which temple ye are."
Now the question is, how can someone defile the temple of Yahweh or
their own body? 1 Cor.6:15-20 teaches us that we are to glorify
Yahweh in our bodies and that one way to diminish that glory, defile
our bodies, and make them unclean is by being joined to a prostitute.
This same admonition was given to the priests, the sons of Aaron, in
Lev.21:6,7. Are we not a "Royal Priesthood" and a "Holy Nation" (1
Pet.2:9)? Just as the sons of Aaron would become defiled by being
joined to a prostitute, so would a believer today. In fact, there are
several commandments given by Yahweh to the priests concerning ways
that they would become defiled, all of which His Royal Priesthood
must continue to obey.
When something holy (such as a believer) comes in contact with
something unclean (such as a dead body) it becomes defiled.
Therefore, having a full knowledge of what is unclean is the first
step in preventing oneself from being defiled. The Messiah made it
clear that dead bodies of men and the contents of graves are unclean
(Mt.23:27) so, in agreement with Lev.21:1, Nu.9:10, and Nu.19:11, we
should not touch dead bodies. If we do touch a dead body within seven
days of Passover we must not observe that day until the following
month.
One might ask how such a person is made clean again. Does he have to
be sprinkled with the ashes of a red heifer, etc., as in Nu.19?
Heb.9:13,14 make it clear that Yeshua's blood cleanses the unclean.
He replaces the heifer. However, just as we don't do away with the
Feast days because Yeshua replaced the sacrifices on those days, we
shouldn't go around touching dead bodies because Yeshua replaced the
red heifer.
Lev.17:15,16 and Deut.14:21 teach us that a believer should not eat
an animal that died of itself or was killed by another animal. If he
does so, he becomes unclean until sundown. In this instance the
health concerns are obvious. The possibility of eating diseased flesh
or flesh with blood is very great. Certainly the command to abstain
from eating blood is still in force for believers today (Lev.17:10,
Acts 15:20). But what about the washing of the clothes and flesh
after eating such an animal? Lev. 17:16 suggests that the washing is
for removing the iniquity or sin that resulted from breaking Yahweh's
law. This type of washing for purification from sin is addressed in
Heb.9:6-14. Verse 10 speaks of "diverse washings" to purify the flesh
however, verse 14 teaches us that the blood of Messiah accomplishes
that cleansing far better than water can. Does this mean we no longer
have to wash ourselves if we touch a dead body, or have a nocturnal
emission, or if women are menstruating? Of course not. It means that
we don't have to concern ourselves with washings that were symbolic
of washing away our sins. The word for "washings" in Heb.9:10 is
"baptismos" which is the same word for baptism or immersion. When we
are immersed in water and into Yeshua's death and resurrection we
are made spiritually clean.
Compare the uncleanness resulting from Lev.17:15 with that resulting
from Lev.15:16-18 and Deut.23:9-14. The uncleanness spoken of here is
not the result of sin or disobedience to Yahweh's laws, but it is an
inherent uncleanness within human semen and excretion that is
revolting to Yahweh. It may not be revolting to us and we may not
understand why it would turn Yahweh away but the fact is it does turn
Him away and it should be washed if it defiles us. One type of
uncleanness results from sin and another type results from touching
something inherently unclean in Yahweh's sight. One no longer needs
to be washed with water and the other must still be cleansed with
water.
Perhaps the most revolting uncleanness in Yahweh's sight is that
pertaining to a menstruous woman. Ezek.18:5 and 36:17 give us an idea
of Yahweh's feelings toward this. In fact, to have sexual relations
with a menstruous woman meant death for both parties (Lev.20:18).
Yahweh caused Israel to be extremely careful concerning things having
to do with blood. A menstruous woman was considered unclean to touch
and anything she lied or sat upon was rendered unclean. If anyone
were to touch that which was rendered unclean by her also became
unclean (Lev.15:19-24). This uncleanness was not the result of
willful or ignorant sin and therefore did not require a washing for
the cleansing of sin.
Further along in that chapter it deals with a woman who was bleeding
outside of her appointed seven days of menstruation. She would
continually be unclean until her bleeding stopped and even then she
would be unclean for seven more days. Notice that after the seventh
day since her bleeding stopped she became clean. The offerings in
verses 29 and 30, therefore, were not for cleansing the uncleanness
since the woman was declared clean prior to her offerings. An
atonement no longer needs to be made for such a woman, however, she
is still unclean and should not be touched until her days of
separation are complete.
Different circumstances exist in Lev.12 concerning childbirth. A
woman is unclean 40 days for a male child and 80 days for a female
child. Many medical books suggest that a woman should not have sexual
relations until six weeks after birth. There are undoubtedly health
concerns involved in this commandment and a wise man will heed it. As
far as the offerings are concerned, they have been fulfilled in
Yeshua. The woman becomes clean by fulfilling the days of her
purifying whether it be 40 or 80.
Yahweh required complete purity of the Israelites and did not allow
them to come before Him when defiled out of respect for His holiness.
We should bear in mind that Yahweh was teaching His people to live in
His presence as priests devoted to His service (Ex.19:6) and that
these rules for personal cleanliness and purity are not too difficult
or burdensome even for His priests today.
2 Cor.12:21 informs us that many Corinthians were guilty of
"uncleanness" and so the Apostle Paul exhorts them in 2 Cor.7:1 to
"cleanse themselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit,
perfecting holiness in the fear of [Yahweh]."
A similar exhortation was made to the Ephesians in chapter 5, vss.
3-5, "But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it
not be once named among you, as becometh saints; Neither filthiness,
nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but
rather giving of thanks. For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor
unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any
inheritance in the kingdom of Messiah and of [Yahweh]." (See also
Rev.21:8,27;22:11).
Uncleanness is also included among the "works of the flesh" in
Gal.5:19. Therefore, it is clear that believers are to maintain a
high level of physical, moral and spiritual cleanness. However, we
should place greater emphasis on spiritual cleanness in light of what
Yeshua said in Mark 7:15, "There is nothing from without a man, that
entering into him can defile him: but the things which come out of
him, those are they that defile the man." Based on the context in
which that was said, we understand it to mean food eaten with dirty
hands does not defile a man. Eating unclean food would most assuredly
defile a man. To say this verse means it is impossible to be defiled
from external sources is without grounds based on 1 Cor.3:16,17 and
6:15-19.
Placing greater emphasis on spiritual cleanness, however, does not
mean we should place little or no emphasis on physical cleanness.
Abstaining from unclean foods, from touching dead bodies, and from
having sexual relations with a menstruating woman are all ways of
maintaining physical cleanness. And since Yahweh's ways are above
man's ways we should not seek to spiritualize these things away, but
instead, obey and touch not the unclean thing.
Ezek.44:23 is included among verses that may apply to the millennial
kingdom. Then Yahweh's priests (true believers today) will be able to
discern between unclean and clean. So let us all follow the
scriptural admonition found in Yahweh's holy law, "put difference
between holy and unholy, and between unclean and clean," (Lev.10:10).
And let us have a heart like Daniel of whom it is written, "But
Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself . .
."