Our guilt of uncleanness Jesus died for
Leviticus 5:2-3 2 ‘ “If anyone becomes aware that they are guilty—if they unwittingly touch anything ceremonially unclean (whether the carcass of an unclean animal, wild or domestic, or of any unclean creature that moves along the ground) and they are unaware that they have become unclean, but then they come to realise their guilt; 3 or if they touch human uncleanness (anything that would make them unclean) even though they are unaware of it, but then they learn of it and realise their guilt;
Leviticus 5:6 6 As a penalty for the sin they have committed, they must bring to the Lord a female lamb or goat from the flock as a sin offering; and the priest shall make atonement for them for their sin.
(Message)
I. Uncleanness (Leviticus 11-15)
“Cleanness and uncleanness” is written in Leviticus 11:1-46 (food, carcass), Leviticus 12:1-8 (childbirth), Leviticus 13:1-59, Leviticus 14:1-57 (skin diseases, moulds), Leviticus 15:1-33 (unusual bodily discharge, emission of semen (men), flow of blood (women)). Uncleanness lasts till evening or more depending on the type of uncleanness.
II. Uncleanness that can cut them off from the holy community if without two purification rites (Numbers 19:11-21)
Numbers 19:11-21 is about uncleanness by touching a human corpse, a human bone, or a grave. Such uncleanness lasts seven days (Numbers 19:16). Note the difference: the uncleanness by touching the carcasses of unclean animals lasts till evening (Leviticus 11:24-25). They must also purify themselves with the water of purification on the third day and on the seventh day (Numbers 19:12-13). Failure to do this purification results in being cut off from the holy community (Numbers 19:20). The water of purification can be made by using of ashes of red heifer without defect or blemish and that has never been under a yoke (Numbers 19:1-10).
III. Uncleanness is transmittable
Anything that an unclean person touches becomes unclean, and anyone who touches it becomes unclean till evening.’ (Numbers 19:22, Leviticus 5:2-3)
IV. Our guilt of uncleanness
Bearing the above in mind, let us read Leviticus 5:1-6, which lets us know
(a) Uncleanness has to do with guilt (Leviticus 5:2-3, Leviticus 5:6).
(b) Uncleanness is transmittable and spreads (Leviticus 5:2-3, Numbers 19:22). Thus, guilt increases.
(c) Guilt by uncleanness requires confession of the sin (“they must confess in what way they have sinned” (Leviticus 5:5)).
(d) As a penalty for the sin they have committed, they must bring a sin offering to the Lord (Leviticus 5:6).
V. Conclusion
Why is the above important to mention? Many people may not know that living their lives without knowing ‘uncleanness’ would be full of guilt before God.
Why do you need the sacrifice of Jesus (See (d))? When you first believe Jesus, what sin would you acknowledge? Not sure? Now you just learned the concept of the sin related to uncleanness in the above, which you can admit.
References
[1] The Holy Bible: New International Version (Anglicised Edition, 2011). (2011). (Revised and updated edition, Le 15:31). London: Hodder & Stoughton.
