Uncleanness
In the Old Testament, physical cleanliness was
mandated by God through various laws and commands. Notice Leviticus
22:1:8, “Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to Aaron and
his sons, that they separate themselves from the holy things of the
children of Israel, and that they do not profane My holy name by what
they dedicate to Me: I am the Lord. Say to them, ‘Whoever of all your
descendants throughout your generations, who goes near the holy things
which the children of Israel dedicate to the Lord, while he has
uncleanness upon him, that person shall be cut off from My presence: I
am the Lord. Whatever man of the descendants of Aaron, who is a leper or
has a discharge, shall not eat the holy offerings until he is clean. And
whoever touches anything made unclean by a corpse, or a man who has had
an emission of semen, or whoever touches any creeping thing by which he
would be made unclean, or any person by whom he would become unclean,
whatever his uncleanness may be—the person who has touched any such
thing shall be unclean until he washes his body with water. And when the
sun goes down he shall be clean; and afterward he may eat the holy
offerings, because it is his food. Whatever dies naturally or is torn by
beasts he shall not eat, to defile himself with it: I am the Lord.”
In the Old Testament, God was fairly specific about uncleanness. Yet,
the old covenant was concerned with “fleshly ordinances” and
today we are more concerned with the “circumcision of the heart”
(Hebrews 9:9,10; Romans 2:29). So, what is “uncleanness” as we consider
it in the New Testament? If we look back and consider the Old Testament
principle it can lead us to a better understanding of the New Testament
principle.
The term “uncleanness” is described as one of the “works of the
flesh” in Galatians 5:19-21. It is also translated “impurity.” This
is a sin which will keep us from inheriting the “kingdom of God.”
Yet, what does it mean? Does it mean if I touch a leper or fail to wash
my hands I will be excluded from heaven? No, it is not concerned with
the ceremonialism of the old covenant.
Instead, consider a definition and some comments. The word “uncleanness”
is from a Greek noun AKATHARSIA meaning “uncleanness or impurity.” It
refers to both physical and moral uncleanness. Barclay says of the word
in his study of Galatians 5:16-21, “It can be used for the pus of an
unclean wound, for a tree that has never been pruned, for material which
has never been sifted. In its positive form (katharos, an adjective
meaning pure) it is commonly used in housing contracts to describe a
house that is left clean and in good condition. But its most suggestive
use is that katharos is used of that ceremonial cleanness which entitles
a man to approach his gods. Impurity, then, is that which makes a man
unfit to come before God, the soiling of life with the things which
separate us from him."
Though the term can refer to any impurity that would separate us from
approaching God, it seems to be referencing sensual sin in Galatians 5.
Kenneth Wuest writes in his Word Studies in the Greek New Testament,
“The word uncleanness is from akatharsia which is used in the New
Testament of sensual impurity.” This seems to be the most popular idea
of the term especially since it is listed along with other sensual sins
like “adultery, fornication…lewdness.”
Many teens and adults today get the idea that the only sexual sin is
that of actual sexual intercourse outside of marriage. Paul seems to
indicate otherwise. No, he doesn’t list out all the different types of
sensuality. Yet, he seems to make it clear there are other ways we sin
even if sexual intercourse is not involved. What could this include?
Maybe you should think about it and make your own list of specific sins
that fit under the general heading of “uncleanness.” Perhaps, we should
think about it this way…anything you’d feel uncomfortable with your
mother (if she’s a godly woman) seeing or knowing you do with
significant others.
No matter what you come up with—remember the danger of doing and
thinking things which separate you from God. James 4:7,8, “Therefore
submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to
God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and
purify your hearts, you double-minded.”
1 Peter 3:10-12, “For He who would love life and see good days, let
him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips from speaking deceit. Let
him turn away from evil and do good. Let him seek peace and pursue it.
For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears are open to
their prayers; but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”
If you want to “come boldly to the throne of grace” you must
“hold fast” the “confession” you once made (Hebrews 4:14-16).
Are you coming to God with clean hands and a pure heart?