In the Bible, “clean” often refers to a state of ritual purity, as seen in the laws of Leviticus, which distinguish between clean and unclean animals and practices. It can also symbolize moral and spiritual purity, indicating a life that is free from sin and in alignment with God’s commandments.
Scripture
1 And the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying to them,
2 “Speak to the people of Israel, saying, These are the living things that you may eat among all the animals that are on the earth.”
3 Whatever parts the hoof and is cloven-footed and chews the cud, among the animals, you may eat.
4 Nevertheless, among those that chew the cud or part the hoof, you shall not eat these: The camel, because it chews the cud but does not part the hoof, is unclean to you.
5 And the rock badger, because it chews the cud but does not part the hoof, is unclean to you.
6 And the hare, because it chews the cud but does not part the hoof, is unclean to you.
7 And the pig, because it parts the hoof and is cloven-footed but does not chew the cud, is unclean to you.
8 You shall not eat any of their flesh, and you shall not touch their carcasses; they are unclean to you.
9 “These you may eat, of all that are in the waters. Everything in the waters that has fins and scales, whether in the seas or in the rivers, you may eat.
10 But anything in the seas or the rivers that has not fins and scales, of the swarming creatures in the waters and of the living creatures that are in the waters, is detestable to you.
11 You shall regard them as detestable; you shall not eat any of their flesh, and you shall detest their carcasses.
12 Everything in the waters that has not fins and scales is detestable to you.
13 “And these you shall detest among the birds; they shall not be eaten; they are detestable: the eagle, the bearded vulture, the black vulture,
14 the kite, the falcon of any kind;
15 Every swarming thing that swarms on the ground is detestable; it shall not be eaten.
16 the ostrich, the nighthawk, the sea gull, the hawk according to its kind,
17 And the little owl and the cormorant and the short-eared owl,
18 the stork, the heron of any kind, the hoopoe, and the bat.
19 the stork, the heron of any kind, the hoopoe, and the bat.
20 “All winged insects that go on all fours are detestable to you.”
21 Yet among the winged insects that go on all fours you may eat those that have jointed legs above their feet, with which to hop on the ground.
22 Of them you may eat: the locust of any kind, the bald locust of any kind, the cricket of any kind, and the grasshopper of any kind.
23 But all other winged insects that have four feet are detestable to you.
24 “And by these you shall become unclean. Whoever touches their carcass shall be unclean until the evening,
25 And whoever carries any part of their carcass shall wash his clothes and be unclean until the evening.
26 Every animal that parts the hoof but is not cloven-footed or does not chew the cud is unclean to you. Everyone who touches them shall be unclean.
27 And among the animals that go on all fours, those that have a true hoof that is completely split open at the bottom, you shall regard as unclean.
28 But the swarming thing that crawls on the ground you shall not eat; they are detestable.
29 “And these are unclean to you among the swarming things that swarm on the ground: the mole rat, the mouse, the great lizard of any kind,
30 the gecko, the monitor lizard, the lizard, the sand lizard, and the chameleon.
31 These are unclean to you among all that swarm. Whoever touches them when they are dead shall be unclean until the evening.
32 And anything on which any of them falls when they are dead shall be unclean, whether it is an article of wood or a garment or a skin or a sack, any article that is used for any purpose. It must be put into water, and it shall be unclean until the evening; then it shall be clean.
33 And if any of them falls into any earthenware vessel, all that is in it shall be unclean, and you shall break it.
34 Any food in it that could be eaten, on which water comes, shall be unclean. And all drink that could be drunk from every such vessel shall be unclean.
35 And everything on which any part of their carcass falls shall be unclean. Whether oven or stove, it shall be broken in pieces. They are unclean and shall remain unclean for you.
36 Nevertheless, a spring or a cistern holding water shall be clean, but whoever touches a carcass in them shall be unclean.
37 If any part of their carcass falls upon any seed grain that is to be sown, it is clean,
38 But if water is put on the seed and any part of their carcass falls on it, it is unclean to you.
39 And if any animal which you may eat dies, whoever touches its carcass shall be unclean until the evening.
40 Whoever eats of its carcass shall wash his clothes and be unclean until the evening.
41 “Every swarming thing that swarms on the ground is detestable; it shall not be eaten.”
42 Whatever goes on its belly, and whatever goes on all fours, or whatever has many feet, any swarming thing that swarms on the ground, you shall not eat, for they are detestable.
43 You shall not make yourselves detestable with any swarming thing that swarms, and you shall not defile yourselves with them, and become unclean through them.
44 For I am the Lord your God. Consecrate yourselves therefore, and be holy, for I am holy. You shall not defile yourselves with any swarming thing that crawls on the ground.
45 For I am the Lord who brought you up out of the land of Egypt to be your God. You shall therefore be holy, for I am holy.”
46 This is the law about beast and bird and every living creature that moves through the waters and every creature that swarms on the ground,
47 to make a distinction between the unclean and the clean and between the living creature that may be eaten and the living creature that may not be eaten.
Biblical Definition of “Clean”
In the biblical context, the concept of “clean” encompasses both physical and spiritual dimensions. The book of Leviticus meticulously outlines various laws regarding ritual purity, emphasizing the importance of being “clean” in the sight of God. For example, in Leviticus 11, certain animals are designated as clean, and their consumption is allowable under the Mosaic Law, while other animals are deemed unclean and prohibited (Leviticus 11:1-47). This distinction serves to create a boundary around holiness, suggesting that maintaining a clean status was essential for participation in communal worship and for approaching God. The cleanliness of the body and personal practices reflected an internal state of holiness and obedience to God’s commandments.
Beyond the ceremonial implications, the term “clean” carries significant moral weight in the scripture, underscoring a broader theme of spiritual integrity. In Psalm 51:10, the psalmist pleads, “Create in me a clean heart, O God,” revealing a desire for inner purification and alignment with divine will. Similarly, in Matthew 5:8, Jesus states, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God,” indicating that true cleanliness involves a sincere and unblemished spirit, free from sin. The New Testament takes this notion a step further by emphasizing that faith in Christ leads to spiritual cleansing (1 John 1:9), highlighting that divine forgiveness offers a pathway to both justification and genuine moral purity. Thus, the idea of “clean” in the Bible is multifaceted, reflecting the integral relationship between ritual observance and the pursuit of a righteous and holy life before God.
The biblical understanding of “clean” extends beyond mere observance of dietary laws and ritualistic practices; it encapsulates an overarching pursuit of holiness that permeates various aspects of life. In the Old Testament, the practice of purification rituals, such as those described in Exodus and Numbers, illustrates the connection between physical cleanliness and spiritual readiness. For instance, those who became ceremonially unclean through contact with a dead body or skin diseases were required to undergo specific cleansing processes before re-entering the community’s worship settings. This signifies that cleanliness is not just about adhering to rules but also about fostering a right relationship with God and others, reiterating the need for internal purity as a reflection of external actions.
Furthermore, the New Testament reflects this duality of cleanliness through the teachings and actions of Jesus. His encounters with the marginalized, such as lepers and sinners, reveal a radical redefinition of what it means to be clean. He prioritizes compassion and healing over ritualistic purity, indicating that true cleanliness arises from love and grace rather than strict adherence to the law. Additionally, the Apostle Paul speaks to the idea of being “washed” in the name of Jesus, which serves as a metaphor for spiritual cleansing and transformation. This indicates that a life marked by faith and the love of Christ inherently leads to a state of cleanness, allowing believers to embody the purity of heart that connects them more deeply with God’s presence. Thus, the scriptural portrayal of “clean” reaffirms a holistic transformation that encompasses both moral and spiritual dimensions, challenging individuals to pursue a life reflective of divine ideals.
Spiritual Purity and Righteousness
In the Bible, the concept of “clean” often extends beyond physical cleanliness to encompass spiritual purity. This notion emphasizes the importance of being free from sin and moral corruption. A “clean” heart or spirit signifies a state of righteousness that aligns with God’s will, reflecting an inner transformation that leads to a life of holiness and obedience to divine commandments.
Ritual and Ceremonial Cleanliness
The term “clean” also pertains to ritual and ceremonial practices within the biblical context. Various laws and regulations outlined in the scriptures dictate what is considered clean or unclean in terms of food, bodily functions, and interactions with certain substances or individuals. Adhering to these guidelines was essential for maintaining a proper relationship with God and participating in communal worship, highlighting the significance of physical states in spiritual life.
Symbolism of Redemption and Restoration
Furthermore, “clean” symbolizes the themes of redemption and restoration throughout the Bible. The act of being made clean often represents God’s grace and mercy, offering forgiveness and a fresh start to those who repent. This transformative process illustrates the hope of renewal, where individuals are cleansed from their past transgressions and restored to a right standing with God, enabling them to live in accordance with His purposes.
How to Pursue Purity and Righteousness as a Christian
Pursuing purity and righteousness as a Christian is a deeply personal journey that requires both intentionality and grace. Start by immersing yourself in Scripture, allowing God’s Word to shape your thoughts and actions; verses like Philippians 4:8 remind us to focus on what is true, noble, and pure. Surround yourself with a community of believers who encourage and hold you accountable, as fellowship can be a powerful catalyst for growth. Remember, it’s not about perfection but about progress—acknowledge your shortcomings and lean into God’s grace, which is sufficient for you (2 Corinthians 12:9). Finally, cultivate a heart of prayer, asking the Holy Spirit to guide you in making choices that reflect Christ’s love and righteousness. Embrace this journey with patience and joy, knowing that each step taken in faith brings you closer to the heart of God.
Bible References to the Definition of “Clean”:
Leviticus 13:1-59: 1 The Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying,
2 When a person has on the skin of his body a swelling or an eruption or a spot, and it turns into a case of leprous disease on the skin of his body, then he shall be brought to Aaron the priest or to one of his sons the priests.
3 And the priest shall examine the diseased area on the skin of his body. And if the hair in the diseased area has turned white and the disease appears to be deeper than the skin of his body, it is a case of leprous disease. When the priest has examined him, he shall pronounce him unclean.
4 If the case of leprous disease is deeper than the skin of his body, then the priest shall examine him, and if the leprous disease has spread in the skin, the priest shall pronounce him unclean; it is a case of leprous disease.
5 And the priest shall examine him on the seventh day, and if in his eyes the disease is checked and the disease has not spread in the skin, then the priest shall shut him up for another seven days.
6 And the priest shall look, and if the itch has spread in the skin, then the priest shall pronounce him unclean; it is a case of leprous disease.
7 But if the eruption spreads in the skin, after he has shown himself to the priest for his cleansing, he shall appear again before the priest.
8 And the priest shall examine him again on the seventh day, and if the diseased area has faded and the disease has not spread in the skin, then the priest shall pronounce him clean; it is only an eruption.
9 “When the infection of leprosy is on a man, then he shall be brought to the priest,”
10 And the priest shall examine the sore on the skin of the body, and if the hair in the diseased area has turned white and the disease appears to be deeper than the skin of the body, it is a case of leprous disease. When the priest has examined him, he shall pronounce him unclean.
11 It is a chronic leprous disease in the skin of his body, and the priest shall pronounce him unclean. He shall not shut him up, for he is unclean.
12 And if the leprous disease breaks out in the skin, so that the leprous disease covers all the skin of the diseased person from head to foot, so far as the priest can see,
13 then the priest shall look, and if the leprous disease has covered all his body, he shall pronounce him clean of the disease; it has all turned white, and he is clean.
14 But when raw flesh appears on him, he shall be unclean.
15 And the priest shall examine the raw flesh and pronounce him unclean, for the raw flesh is unclean; it is a leprous disease.
16 And if the priest examines, and if the disease has faded after it has been washed, he shall tear it out of the garment, or the warp or the woof, or the skin.
17 And the priest shall examine him, and if the itch has turned white in the skin and has affected the hair, and the itch appears to be deeper than the skin of his body, it is a case of leprous disease. When the priest has examined him, he shall pronounce him unclean.
18 “If there is in the skin of one’s body a boil and it heals,”
19 And in the place of the boil there comes a white swelling or a reddish-white spot, reddish-white, like a spot of leprous disease in the skin of the body.
20 And if, when the priest sees it, behold, it appears lower than the skin, and the hair in it has turned white, the priest shall pronounce him unclean. It is a case of leprous disease that has broken out in the boil.
21 But if the priest examines it and there is no white hair in it and it is not deeper than the skin, but has faded, then the priest shall shut him up seven days.
22 And if it spreads in the skin, then the priest shall pronounce him unclean; it is a case of leprous disease.
23 But if the spot remains in one place and does not spread, it is the scar of the boil, and the priest shall pronounce him clean.
24 Or if there is any flesh in the skin of the body and it is healed and the fresh appears in the skin, then the priest shall pronounce him unclean; it is a case of leprous disease that has broken out in the boil.
25 the priest shall examine it, and if the hair in the diseased area has turned white and the disease appears to be deeper than the skin of his body, it is a case of leprous disease. When the priest has examined him, he shall pronounce him unclean.
26 But if the priest examines it and there is no white hair in it and it is not deeper than the skin, but has faded, then the priest shall shut him up seven days.
27 And the priest shall examine him on the seventh day, and if in his eyes the disease is checked and the disease has not spread in the skin, then the priest shall shut him up for another seven days.
28 And if the itch spreads in the skin after he has shown himself to the priest for his cleansing, he shall appear again before the priest.
29 “When a man or woman has a disease on the head or the beard,”
30 then the priest shall examine the disease. And if it appears deeper than the skin, and the hair in it is yellow and thin, then the priest shall pronounce him unclean. It is an itch, a leprous disease of the head or the beard.
31 But if the priest examines the itching disease and it does not appear deeper than the skin and there is no black hair in it, then the priest shall shut up the person with the itching disease for seven days.
32 And on the seventh day the priest shall examine the disease. If the disease has not spread in the skin and it appears to be no deeper than the skin, then the priest shall shut him up for another seven days.
33 then the man shall be shaven, but the woman shall not be shaven.
34 And on the seventh day the priest shall examine the itch, and if the itch has not spread in the skin and it appears to be no deeper than the skin, then the priest shall pronounce him clean. And he shall wash his clothes and be clean.
35 But if the itch spreads in the skin after his cleansing,
36 then the priest shall examine him, and if the itch has spread in the skin, the priest need not seek for the yellow hair; he is unclean.
37 But if in his eyes the itch is unchanged and black hair has grown in it, the itch is healed and he is clean, and the priest shall pronounce him clean.
38 When a man or a woman has spots on the skin of the body, white spots,
39 “And on the seventh day the priest shall look at the infection, and if the infection has not spread in the skin and it appears to be no deeper than the skin, then the priest shall pronounce him clean. And he shall wash his clothes and be clean.”
40 “If a man’s hair falls out from his head, he is bald; he is clean.”
41 But if in his eyes the itch is unchanged and black hair has grown in it, the itch is healed and he is clean, and the priest shall pronounce him clean.
42 But if there is in the bald head or the bald forehead a reddish-white diseased area, it is a leprous disease breaking out on his bald head or his bald forehead.
43 “Then the priest shall examine it, and if the swelling of the itch is reddish-white on his bald head or on his bald forehead like the appearance of leprous disease in the skin of the body,”
44 he is a leprous man; he is unclean. He shall live alone. His dwelling shall be outside the camp.
45 “The leprous person who has the disease shall wear torn clothes and let the hair of his head hang loose, and he shall cover his upper lip and cry out, ‘Unclean, unclean.’”
46 He shall remain unclean as long as he has the disease. He is unclean. He shall live alone. His dwelling shall be outside the camp.
47 “If there is any garment of wool or linen in the warp or the woof of the linen or of the wool or in a skin or in any article made of skin,
48 If the priest examines the itching disease and it appears no deeper than the skin and there is no black hair in it, then the priest shall shut up the person with the itching disease for seven days.
49 if the disease is greenish or reddish in the garment, or in the skin or in the warp or the woof or in any article made of skin, it is a case of leprous disease, and it shall be shown to the priest.
50 The priest shall examine the plague and shut up the person for seven days.
51 He shall examine the disease on the seventh day. If the disease has spread in the garment, in the warp or the woof, or in the skin, whatever be the use of the skin, the disease is a persistent leprous disease; it is unclean.
52 He shall burn the garment, whether diseased in warp or woof, in wool or in linen, or anything of skin, for it is a persistent leprous disease. It shall be burned in the fire.
53 “But if the priest examines, and the disease has not spread in the skin and it appears no deeper than the skin, then the priest shall shut up the person with the disease for seven days.”
54 then the priest shall command that they wash the thing in which is the disease, and he shall shut it up for seven days.
And the priest shall examine the disease after it has been washed. And behold, if the diseased area has not changed color, though the disease has not spread, it is unclean. You shall burn it in the fire, whether the rot is on the back or on the front.
56 And if the priest examines, and if the disease has faded after it has been washed, he shall tear it out of the garment, or the warp or the woof, or the skin.
57 And if it appears again in the garment, in the warp or the woof, or in any article made of skin, it is spreading. You shall burn with fire that in which it is.
58 But the garment, or the warp or the woof, or any article made of skin from which the disease departs when you have washed it, shall then be washed a second time, and be clean.”
59 This is the law for a case of leprous disease in a garment of wool or linen, either in the warp or the woof, or in any article made of skin, to determine whether it is clean or unclean.
Leviticus 14:1-32: 1 The Lord spoke to Moses, saying,
2 “This shall be the law of the leprous person for the day of his cleansing. He shall be brought to the priest,”
3 And the priest shall go out of the camp, and the priest shall look. Then, if the case of the leprous disease is healed in the leprous person,
4 the priest shall command them to take for him who is to be cleansed two live clean birds and cedarwood and scarlet yarn and hyssop.
5 And the priest shall command them to kill one of the birds in an earthenware vessel over fresh water.
6 As for the living bird, he shall take it together with the cedarwood and the scarlet yarn and the hyssop, and dip them and the living bird in the blood of the bird that was killed over the fresh water.
7 And he shall sprinkle it seven times on him who is to be cleansed of the leprous disease. Then he shall pronounce him clean and shall let the living bird go into the open field.
8 And he who is to be cleansed shall wash his clothes and shave off all his hair and bathe himself in water, and he shall be clean. And after that he may come into the camp, but live outside his tent seven days.
9 And on the seventh day he shall shave off all his hair from his head, his beard, and his eyebrows. He shall shave off all his hair, and then he shall wash his clothes and bathe his body in water, and he shall be clean.
10 “And on the eighth day he shall take two male lambs without blemish, and one ewe lamb a year old without blemish, and a grain offering of three tenths of an ephah of fine flour mixed with oil, and one log of oil.”
11 And the priest who cleanses him shall set the man who is to be cleansed and these things before the Lord, at the entrance of the tent of meeting.
12 And the priest shall take one of the male lambs and offer it for a guilt offering, along with the log of oil, and wave them for a wave offering before the Lord.
13 And he shall kill the lamb in the place where they kill the sin offering and the burnt offering, in the place of the sanctuary. For the guilt offering, like the sin offering, belongs to the priest; it is most holy.
14 the priest shall take some of the blood of the guilt offering, and the priest shall put it on the lobe of the right ear of him who is to be cleansed, and on the thumb of his right hand and on the big toe of his right foot.
15 And the priest shall take some of the log of oil and pour it into the palm of his own left hand
16 the priest shall dip his finger in the blood and sprinkle it seven times before the Lord in front of the veil of the sanctuary.
17 And of the rest of the oil that is in the priest’s hand he shall put on the head of him who is to be cleansed.
18 And the rest of the oil that is in the priest’s hand he shall put on the head of him who is to be cleansed. Then the priest shall make atonement for him before the Lord.
19 the priest shall offer the sin offering, to make atonement for him who is to be cleansed from his uncleanness. Then afterward he shall kill the burnt offering.
20 And the priest shall offer the burnt offering and the grain offering on the altar. Thus the priest shall make atonement for him, and he shall be clean.
21 But if he is poor and cannot afford so much, then he shall take one male lamb for a guilt offering to be waved, to make atonement for him, and a tenth of an ephah of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering, and a log of oil;
22 And two turtledoves or two pigeons, whichever he can afford, one shall be a sin offering and the other a burnt offering.
23 And on the eighth day he shall bring them for his cleansing to the priest, to the entrance of the tent of meeting, before the Lord.
24 And the priest shall take the lamb of the guilt offering and the log of oil, and the priest shall wave them for a wave offering before the Lord.
25 And he shall kill the lamb of the guilt offering. And the priest shall take some of the blood of the guilt offering and put it on the lobe of the right ear of him who is to be cleansed, and on the thumb of his right hand and on the big toe of his right foot.
26 And the priest shall take one male lamb and offer it for a guilt offering, along with the log of oil, and wave them for a wave offering before the Lord.
27 And if he is poor and cannot afford so much, then he shall take one male lamb for a guilt offering to be waved, to make atonement for him, and a tenth of an ephah of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering, and a log of oil;
28 And the priest shall put some of the oil that is in his hand on the lobe of the right ear of him who is to be cleansed and on the thumb of his right hand and on the big toe of his right foot, in the place where the blood of the guilt offering was put.
29 And the rest of the oil that is in the priest’s hand he shall put on the head of the one to be cleansed. Then the priest shall make atonement for him before the Lord.
30 And he shall offer, of the turtle-doves or pigeons, such as he can afford,
31 And if the priest makes the anointed one, who is to be cleansed, stand before the Lord, and the priest shall take from the log of oil and shall pour it into the palm of his own left hand
32 This is the law for him in whom is a case of leprous disease, who cannot afford the offerings for his cleansing.”
Leviticus 15:1-33: 1 The Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying,
2 “Speak to the people of Israel and say to them, When any man has a discharge from his body, his discharge is unclean.
3 And this is the law of his uncleanness for a discharge: whether his body runs with his discharge, or his body is blocked up by his discharge, it is his uncleanness.
4 Every bed on which the one with the discharge lies shall be unclean, and everything on which he sits shall be unclean.
5 And anyone who touches his bed shall wash his clothes and bathe himself in water and be unclean until the evening.
6 And whoever sits on anything on which the one with the discharge has sat shall wash his clothes and bathe himself in water and be unclean until the evening.
7 And whoever touches the body of the one with the discharge shall wash his clothes and bathe himself in water and be unclean until the evening.
8 And if the one with the discharge spits on someone who is clean, then he shall wash his clothes and bathe himself in water and be unclean until the evening.
9 And whatever saddle he who has the discharge rides on shall be unclean.
10 And whoever touches anything that was under him shall be unclean until the evening, and whoever carries such things shall wash his clothes and bathe himself in water and be unclean until the evening.
11 Whoever touches anything that has been on which has the discharge without having rinsed his hands in water shall wash his clothes and bathe himself in water and be unclean until the evening.
12 And the earthenware vessel that he who has the discharge touches shall be broken, and every vessel of wood shall be rinsed in water.
13 “And when the one with a discharge is cleansed of his discharge, then he shall count for himself seven days for his cleansing, and wash his clothes. And he shall bathe his body in fresh water and shall be clean.”
14 And on the eighth day he shall take two turtledoves or two pigeons and come before the Lord to the entrance of the tent of meeting and give them to the priest.
15 And the priest shall offer them, one for a sin offering and the other for a burnt offering. And the priest shall make atonement for him before the Lord for his discharge.
16 “If a man has an emission of semen, he shall bathe his whole body in water and be unclean until the evening.
17 “And every garment and every skin on which the semen comes shall be washed with water and be unclean until the evening.”
18 If a man lies with a woman and has an emission of semen, both of them shall bathe themselves in water and be unclean until the evening.
19 “When a woman has a discharge, and the discharge in her body is blood, she shall be in her menstrual impurity for seven days, and whoever touches her shall be unclean until the evening.”
20 Everything on which she lies during her menstrual impurity shall be unclean. Everything also on which she sits shall be unclean.
21 And whoever touches her bed shall wash his clothes and bathe himself in water and be unclean until the evening.
22 And whoever touches anything on which she sits shall wash his clothes and bathe himself in water and be unclean until the evening.
23 And if a woman has a discharge, and the discharge in her body is blood, she shall be in her menstrual impurity for seven days, and whoever touches her shall be unclean until the evening.
24 And if any man lies with her and her menstrual impurity comes upon him, he shall be unclean seven days, and every bed on which he lies shall be unclean.
25 “If a woman has a discharge of blood for many days, not at the time of her menstrual impurity, or if she has a discharge beyond the time of her impurity, all the days of the discharge she shall continue in uncleanness. As in the days of her impurity, she shall be unclean.
26 “Every bed on which she lies, all the days of her discharge, shall be to her as the bed of her impurity. And everything on which she sits shall be unclean, as in the uncleanness of her menstrual impurity.”
27 Whoever touches these things shall be unclean, and shall wash his clothes and bathe himself in water and be unclean until the evening.
28 But if she is cleansed of her discharge, she shall count for herself seven days, and after that she shall be clean.
29 And on the eighth day she shall take two turtledoves or two pigeons and bring them to the priest, to the entrance of the tent of meeting.
30 And the priest shall offer one for a sin offering and the other for a burnt offering. And the priest shall make atonement for her before the Lord for her unclean discharge.
31 Thus you shall keep the people of Israel separate from their uncleanness, lest they die in their uncleanness by defiling my tabernacle that is in their midst.
32 This is the law for him who has a discharge and for him who has an emission of semen, becoming unclean thereby.
33 And for a woman who is in her menstrual impurity, or for anyone in whom a discharge of semen occurs, or for a man who lies with a woman who is unclean,
Numbers 19:1-22: 1 Now the Lord spoke to Moses and to Aaron, saying,
2 “This is the statute of the law that the Lord has commanded: Tell the people of Israel to bring you a red heifer without defect, in which there is no blemish, and on which a yoke has never come.
3 And you shall give it to Eleazar the priest, and it shall be taken outside the camp and slaughtered before him.
4 And Eleazar the priest shall take some of its blood with his finger, and sprinkle some of its blood toward the front of the tent of meeting seven times.
5 And the heifer shall be burned in his sight; its skin, its flesh, and its blood, with its dung, shall be burned.
6 And the priest shall take cedarwood and hyssop and scarlet yarn, and throw them into the fire burning the heifer.
7 Then the priest shall wash his clothes and bathe his body in water, and afterward he may come into the camp. But the priest shall be unclean until evening.
8 And the one who burns it shall wash his clothes in water and bathe his body in water and shall be unclean until the evening.
9 And a man who is clean shall gather up the ashes of the heifer and deposit them outside the camp in a clean place. And they shall be kept for the water for impurity for the congregation of the people of Israel; it is a sin offering.
10 And the one who gathers the ashes of the heifer shall wash his clothes and be unclean until evening. And this shall be a perpetual statute for the people of Israel, and for the stranger who sojourns among them.
11 Whoever touches the dead body of any person shall be unclean seven days.
12 He shall cleanse himself with the water on the third day and on the seventh day, and so be clean. But if he does not cleanse himself on the third day and on the seventh day, he will not become clean.
13 Whoever touches a dead person, the body of anyone who has died, and does not cleanse himself, defiles the tabernacle of the Lord, and that person shall be cut off from Israel; because the water for impurity was not thrown on him, he shall be unclean. His uncleanness is still on him.
14 “This is the law when a man dies in a tent: everyone who comes into the tent and everyone who is in the tent shall be unclean seven days.
15 And every open vessel that has no cover fastened on it is unclean.
16 Whoever in the open field touches someone who was killed with a sword or who died naturally, or touches a human bone or a grave, shall be unclean for seven days.
17 And for the unclean they shall take some ashes of the burnt sin offering, and fresh water shall be added in a vessel.
18 Then a clean person shall take hyssop and dip it in the water and sprinkle it on the tent and on all the furnishings and on the persons who were there, and on whoever touched the bone, or the slain, or the dead, or the grave.
19 And the clean person shall sprinkle it on the unclean on the third day and on the seventh day. Thus on the seventh day he shall cleanse him, and he shall wash his clothes and bathe himself in water, and at evening he shall be clean.
20 But the man who is unclean and does not cleanse himself, that person shall be cut off from the midst of the assembly, because he has defiled the sanctuary of the Lord. The water for impurity has not been thrown on him; he is unclean.
21 And it shall be a perpetual statute for them.
22 And whatever the unclean person touches shall be unclean, and anyone who touches it shall be unclean until evening.”
Deuteronomy 14:3-21: 3 You shall not eat any abomination.
4 These are the animals you may eat: the ox, the sheep, the goat,
5 the deer, the gazelle, the roebuck, the wild goat, the ibex, the antelope, and the mountain sheep.
6 And every beast that parts the hoof and has the hoof cloven in two and chews the cud, among the animals, you may eat.
7 Yet of those that chew the cud or have the hoof cloven you shall not eat these: the camel, the hare, and the rock badger, because they chew the cud but do not part the hoof, are unclean for you.
8 And the pig, because it parts the hoof and is cloven-footed but does not chew the cud, is unclean to you.
9 “These you may eat of all that are in the waters. Everything in the waters that has fins and scales, whether in the seas or in the rivers, you may eat.
10 but anything that does not have fins and scales you shall not eat; it is unclean for you.
11 You may eat all clean birds.
12 But these are the ones that you shall not eat: the eagle, the bearded vulture, the black vulture,
13 and the glede, the kite, the falcon, all kinds of hawks,
14 And every raven according to its kind,
15 the pig, because it parts the hoof and is cloven-footed but does not chew the cud, is unclean to you.
16 You shall not eat any abomination.
17 the little owl, the cormorant, the short-eared owl,
18 the stork, the heron of any kind, the hoopoe, and the bat.
19 “Every swarming thing that flies is unclean to you; they shall not be eaten.
20 You shall eat it, the clean bird, according to its kind, the clean animal, according to its kind, and everything that creeps on the ground, according to its kind.
21 “You shall not eat anything that has died naturally. You may give it to the sojourner who is within your towns, that he may eat it, or you may sell it to a foreigner. For you are a people holy to the Lord your God. “
Psalm 51:1-19: 1 Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions.
2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin!
3 For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me.
4 Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you may be justified in your words and blameless in your judgment.
5 Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me.
6 Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being, and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart.
7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
8 Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones that you have broken rejoice.
9 Hide your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities.
10 Create in me a clean heart, O God,
and renew a right spirit within me.
11 Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me.
12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.
13 Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will return to you.
14 Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God,
O God of my salvation,
and my tongue will sing aloud of your righteousness.
15 O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise.
16 For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it; you will not be pleased with a burnt offering.
17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.
18 Do good to Zion in your good pleasure; build up the walls of Jerusalem;
19 Then you will delight in right sacrifices, in burnt offerings and whole burnt offerings; then bulls will be offered on your altar.
Isaiah 1:16-18: 16 Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean; remove the evil of your deeds from before my eyes; cease to do evil,
17 learn to do good;
seek justice,
correct oppression;
bring justice to the fatherless,
plead the widow’s cause.
18 “Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool.
Ezekiel 36:25-27: 25 I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleannesses, and from all your idols I will cleanse you.
26 And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.
27 And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules.
Matthew 15:1-20: 1 Then Pharisees and scribes came to Jesus from Jerusalem and said,
2 “Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat.”
3 He answered them, “And why do you break the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition?
4 For God commanded, ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and, ‘Whoever reviles father or mother must surely die.’
5 But you say, ‘Whoever tells his father or his mother, “Whatever you would have gained from me is a gift for God”—
6 he need not honor his father. So for the sake of your tradition you have made void the word of God.
7 You hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy of you, when he said:
8 “‘This people honors me with their lips,
but their heart is far from me;
9 in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.
10 And he called the people to him and said to them, “Hear and understand:
11 it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth; this defiles a person.
12 Then the disciples came and said to him, “Do you know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this saying?”
13 He answered, “Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be rooted up.
14 Let them alone; they are blind guides. And if the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit.
15 But Peter said to him, “Explain the parable to us.”
16 And he said, “Are you also still without understanding?
17 Do you not see that whatever goes into the mouth passes into the stomach and is expelled?
18 But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person.
19 For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander.
20 These are what defile a person. But to eat with unwashed hands does not defile anyone.”
Mark 7:1-23: 1 Now when the Pharisees gathered to him, with some of the scribes who had come from Jerusalem,
2 they saw that some of his disciples ate with hands that were defiled, that is, unwashed.
3 (For the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they wash their hands properly, holding to the tradition of the elders,
4 and when they come from the marketplace, they do not eat unless they wash. And there are many other traditions that they observe, such as the washing of cups and pots and copper vessels and dining couches.
5 And the Pharisees and the scribes asked him, “Why do your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat with defiled hands?”
6 And he said to them, “Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written, “‘This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me;
7 in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.
8 You leave the commandment of God and hold to the tradition of men.
9 And he said to them, “You have a fine way of rejecting the commandment of God in order to establish your tradition!
10 For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and your mother’; and, ‘Whoever reviles father or mother must surely die.’
11 But you say, ‘If a man tells his father or his mother, “Whatever you would have gained from me is Corban”’ (that is, given to God)—
12 then you no longer permit him to do anything for his father or mother,
13 thus making void the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down. And many such things you do.”
14 And he called the people to him again and said to them, “Hear me, all of you, and understand:
15 There is nothing outside a person that by going into him can defile him, but the things that come out of a person are what defile him.
16 If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.”
17 And when he had entered the house and left the people, his disciples asked him about the parable.
18 And he said to them, “Then are you also without understanding? Do you not see that whatever goes into a person from outside cannot defile him,
19 since it enters not his heart but his stomach, and is expelled?” (Thus he declared all foods clean.)
20 And he said, “What comes out of a person is what defiles him.
21 For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery,
22 coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness.
23 All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person.”
John 13:1-17: 1 Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.
2 During supper, when the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him,
3 Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going back to God,
4 rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist.
5 Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him.
6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, do you wash my feet?”
7 Jesus answered him, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand.”
8 Peter said to him, “You shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no share with me.”
9 Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!”
10 Jesus said to him, “The one who has bathed does not need to wash, except for his feet, but is completely clean. And you are clean, but not every one of you.”
11 For he knew who was to betray him; that was why he said, “Not all of you are clean.”
12 When he had washed their feet and put on his outer garments and resumed his place, he said to them, “Do you understand what I have done to you?
13 You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am.
14 If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet.
15 For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you.
16 Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him.
17 If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.
Acts 10:9-16: 9 The next day, as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the housetop about the sixth hour to pray.
10 And he became hungry and wanted something to eat, but while they were preparing it, he fell into a trance.
11 and saw the heavens opened and something like a great sheet descending, being let down by its four corners upon the earth.
12 In it were all kinds of four-footed animals and reptiles and birds of the air.
10 And there came a voice to him: “Rise, Peter; kill and eat.”
14 But Peter said, “By no means, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean.”
15 And the voice came to him again a second time, “What God has made clean, do not call common.”
19 And while Peter was pondering the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Behold, three men are looking for you.
Romans 14:14-23: 14 I know and am persuaded in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself, but it is unclean for anyone who thinks it unclean.
15 For if your brother is grieved by what you eat, you are no longer walking in love. By what you eat, do not destroy the one for whom Christ died.
16 So do not let what you regard as good be spoken of as evil.
17 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
18 Whoever thus serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men.
19 So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding.
20 Do not, for the sake of food, destroy the work of God. Everything is indeed clean, but it is wrong for anyone to make another stumble by what he eats.
21 It is good not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything that causes your brother to stumble.
22 The faith that you have, keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the one who has no reason to pass judgment on himself for what he approves.
23 But whoever has doubts is condemned if he eats, because the eating is not from faith. For whatever does not proceed from faith is sin.
1 Corinthians 6:9-11: 9 Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality,
10 nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.
11 And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
2 Corinthians 7:1: 1 Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God.
Ephesians 5:25-27: 25 Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her,
26 that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word,
27 so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.
Hebrews 9:11-14: 11 But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and more perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation)
12 he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption.
13 For if the blood of goats and bulls, and the sprinkling of defiled persons with the ashes of a heifer, sanctify for the purification of the flesh,
14 how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God.
Hebrews 10:19-22: 19 Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus,
20 by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh,
21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God,
22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.
1 John 1:7-9: 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.
8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Reverend Ogunlade is a seasoned Church Minister with over three decades of experience in guiding and nurturing congregations. With profound wisdom and a serene approach, Reverend Ogunlade has carried out various pastoral duties, including delivering uplifting sermons, conducting religious ceremonies, and offering sage counsel to individuals seeking spiritual guidance. Their commitment to fostering harmony and righteousness within their community is exemplified through their compassionate nature, making them a beloved and trusted figure among the congregation.