by John V. Cordaro

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
Yahshua, 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. But, 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 Yahshua's blood cleanses the unclean. He replaces the heifer.
However, just as we don't do away with the Feast days because Yahshua
replaced the sacrifices on those days, we shouldn't go around touching dead
bodies because Yahshua 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 Yahshua'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 Yahshua. 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 Yahshua 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 . .
."
The Laws of Clean and Unclean