By David Phillips
Introduction. The laws of clean and unclean things found in the Old Testament often cause Bible students to ask, “What made something unclean?” Another question often follows, “Do the laws of unclean things apply to Christians today?” Though the laws do not directly apply to Christians, they do to teach a vital principle. Before we get to that, let us take a closer look at the Old Testament laws.
Animals were first identified as clean or unclean in the days of Noah. God used this distinction to determine how many of each kind of animal would enter the ark (Genesis 7:2). Though this account pre-dates Moses, he was inspired to record this detail in his Genesis account to teach the Israelites about their origins and heritage. The book of Leviticus further details such laws. The list includes not only animals, but substances, contact with certain things as well as the impure actions of the people.
These laws were meant to set the Israelites apart from the other nations (Leviticus 18:24). They also had the added benefit of reducing the spread of disease and maintaining the health of the people. Some religious people today go so far as to adopt these laws and ordinances in their own lives, believing that they will simultaneously improve their health as well as their spirituality. God makes it clear that this was not His intent. Paul writes in Colossians 2:16: “So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths, which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ.
Introduction. The laws of clean and unclean things found in the Old Testament often cause Bible students to ask, “What made something unclean?” Another question often follows, “Do the laws of unclean things apply to Christians today?” Though the laws do not directly apply to Christians, they do to teach a vital principle. Before we get to that, let us take a closer look at the Old Testament laws.
Animals were first identified as clean or unclean in the days of Noah. God used this distinction to determine how many of each kind of animal would enter the ark (Genesis 7:2). Though this account pre-dates Moses, he was inspired to record this detail in his Genesis account to teach the Israelites about their origins and heritage. The book of Leviticus further details such laws. The list includes not only animals, but substances, contact with certain things as well as the impure actions of the people.
These laws were meant to set the Israelites apart from the other nations (Leviticus 18:24). They also had the added benefit of reducing the spread of disease and maintaining the health of the people. Some religious people today go so far as to adopt these laws and ordinances in their own lives, believing that they will simultaneously improve their health as well as their spirituality. God makes it clear that this was not His intent. Paul writes in Colossians 2:16: “So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths, which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ.
He continues in verse 20, “Therefore, if you died with Christ from the basic principles of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to regulations — ‘Do not touch, do not taste, do not handle,’ which all concern things which perish with the using — according to the commandments and doctrines of men? These things indeed have an appearance of wisdom in self-imposed religion, false humility, and neglect of the body, but are of no value against the indulgence of the flesh” (Colossians 2:20-23).
In these verses, Paul confirms that the Old Testament regulations are not bound on Christians, but he does show us the application God wants us to make today. The law was a “shadow… but the substance is of Christ.” God intends for us to use the concept of clean and unclean things to understand a much more profound truth in Christ than simply “do not touch” and “do not taste.”
To make the proper application, we must first understand that the things labeled unclean were not sinful in and of themselves. Breaking the laws regarding uncleanness was a sin, but the items designated as unclean did not contain within themselves a sinful nature. For example, meat from a pig is not sinful, but eating pork would have been a sin under the Old Testament law. Touching a dead body is not sinful, but handling a dead body for preparation and burial made one unclean for a period of time. To engage in regular daily activity while in that unclean condition would have been sinful under the Law of Moses.
Then why label certain things unclean? God’s laws gave the Israelites a substantial way to understand the concept of sin, its effects on a person, the spread of sin, and the difficulty of removing sin.
Just as God is holy (completely separate from sin) we too must strive to be holy (separate from sin) in all our conduct (1 Peter 1:15-16). Today, it is not what we touch or what we eat that makes the Christians unclean, but rather our conduct. Therefore, Peter said, “be holy in all your conduct.” Sin is what makes us unclean, for it is what comes forth from our hearts; not what we eat or touch, but what we say and do. “Do you not yet understand that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and is eliminated? But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies. These are the things which defile a man, but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile a man” (Matthew 15:17-20). What “comes out” of a man is his words, his actions, the manifestation of evil desires, friendship with the world, etc.
Because uncleanness was easily spread, an unclean person was required to be isolated from the rest of the community (Leviticus 13:44-46; 15:31). They were required to shout to warn others to stay away. In the same manner we must be keenly aware of the dangers of sinful influences. Sin is more contagious than the worse disease you can imagine.
Paul stressed this very point in his second letter to the Corinthians. “Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: ‘I will dwell in them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they shall be My people.’ Therefore ‘Come out from among them And be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, And I will receive you.’ ‘I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters, Says the Lord Almighty.’” (2 Corinthians 6:14-18).
The full thrust of Paul’s point is missed unless we read into the next chapter: “Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God” (2 Corinthians 7:1).
Paul’s point here is NOT that we are to isolate ourselves from the world. He says that such isolation would defeat the purpose and influence of Christians continuing to live in the world. “Yet I certainly did not mean with the sexually immoral people of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world” (1 Corinthians 5:9-10).
Therefore, rather than avoiding any contact with the world, 2 Corinthians 6:17 teaches us to be separate in conduct, in character, in behavior, and in speech. Concerning proximity, we are to be the salt of the earth and light of the world (Matthew 5:13-16). Concerning our conduct, we are to be strangers and pilgrims, living in the world but as those who are not of the world (1 Peter 2:11).
Conclusion. The Old Testament laws that distinguish between the clean and the unclean vividly illustrate the dangers of sin and its proclivity to spread. They teach us the necessity of maintaining separation from the immoral conduct of the world. They help us see the need to avoid company with those who call themselves Christians but refuse to repent of their sins. They help us understand that compromise is unacceptable with God.
God calls us to be holy (1 Peter 1:13-16). Though sin is all around us, we must strive against it (1 Peter 5:8-10).
We are made clean by the blood of Jesus Christ. Now it is up to us to remain clean by separating ourselves from sin and its influence
In these verses, Paul confirms that the Old Testament regulations are not bound on Christians, but he does show us the application God wants us to make today. The law was a “shadow… but the substance is of Christ.” God intends for us to use the concept of clean and unclean things to understand a much more profound truth in Christ than simply “do not touch” and “do not taste.”
To make the proper application, we must first understand that the things labeled unclean were not sinful in and of themselves. Breaking the laws regarding uncleanness was a sin, but the items designated as unclean did not contain within themselves a sinful nature. For example, meat from a pig is not sinful, but eating pork would have been a sin under the Old Testament law. Touching a dead body is not sinful, but handling a dead body for preparation and burial made one unclean for a period of time. To engage in regular daily activity while in that unclean condition would have been sinful under the Law of Moses.
Then why label certain things unclean? God’s laws gave the Israelites a substantial way to understand the concept of sin, its effects on a person, the spread of sin, and the difficulty of removing sin.
Just as God is holy (completely separate from sin) we too must strive to be holy (separate from sin) in all our conduct (1 Peter 1:15-16). Today, it is not what we touch or what we eat that makes the Christians unclean, but rather our conduct. Therefore, Peter said, “be holy in all your conduct.” Sin is what makes us unclean, for it is what comes forth from our hearts; not what we eat or touch, but what we say and do. “Do you not yet understand that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and is eliminated? But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies. These are the things which defile a man, but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile a man” (Matthew 15:17-20). What “comes out” of a man is his words, his actions, the manifestation of evil desires, friendship with the world, etc.
Because uncleanness was easily spread, an unclean person was required to be isolated from the rest of the community (Leviticus 13:44-46; 15:31). They were required to shout to warn others to stay away. In the same manner we must be keenly aware of the dangers of sinful influences. Sin is more contagious than the worse disease you can imagine.
Paul stressed this very point in his second letter to the Corinthians. “Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: ‘I will dwell in them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they shall be My people.’ Therefore ‘Come out from among them And be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, And I will receive you.’ ‘I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters, Says the Lord Almighty.’” (2 Corinthians 6:14-18).
The full thrust of Paul’s point is missed unless we read into the next chapter: “Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God” (2 Corinthians 7:1).
Paul’s point here is NOT that we are to isolate ourselves from the world. He says that such isolation would defeat the purpose and influence of Christians continuing to live in the world. “Yet I certainly did not mean with the sexually immoral people of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world” (1 Corinthians 5:9-10).
Therefore, rather than avoiding any contact with the world, 2 Corinthians 6:17 teaches us to be separate in conduct, in character, in behavior, and in speech. Concerning proximity, we are to be the salt of the earth and light of the world (Matthew 5:13-16). Concerning our conduct, we are to be strangers and pilgrims, living in the world but as those who are not of the world (1 Peter 2:11).
Conclusion. The Old Testament laws that distinguish between the clean and the unclean vividly illustrate the dangers of sin and its proclivity to spread. They teach us the necessity of maintaining separation from the immoral conduct of the world. They help us see the need to avoid company with those who call themselves Christians but refuse to repent of their sins. They help us understand that compromise is unacceptable with God.
God calls us to be holy (1 Peter 1:13-16). Though sin is all around us, we must strive against it (1 Peter 5:8-10).
We are made clean by the blood of Jesus Christ. Now it is up to us to remain clean by separating ourselves from sin and its influence