Matthew 15:19-20 For out of the heart come evil thoughts—murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander. These are what defile a person; but eating with unwashed hands does not defile them.”
Leviticus 11 of the Mosaic Law gives us details of the ceremonial cleansing and dietary laws. It gives a whole list of animals and creeping creatures that are clean and unclean. You may eat any animal that has a divided hoof and that chews the cud. “‘You will make yourselves unclean by these; whoever touches their carcasses will be unclean till evening” (Leviticus 11:3 & 24). Those who did not follow the rituals mentioned in the law were declared ceremonially unclean. Before Christ was born spiritual cleanliness was directly related to physical cleanliness of washing hands and clothes. The ritual was to bring conviction and conversion. They lived outside-in.
However, after Christ in AD 30+, (Anno Domini, the year of our Lord), Jesus taught us to live inside-out. Being clean on the outside does not make us clean on the inside. Ceremonial cleaning will keep us hygienic but not holy. Jews also strictly follow the kosher diet in order to remain clean. Kosher diet was given to them when there were no food and safety regulations. Kosher diet kept them healthy but could not keep them holy. The law taught them to live outside-in.
BC we lived outside-in but AD we live inside-out:
1. Hygienic: Ceremonial cleansing taught the redeemed slaves who left Egypt good hygienic habits yet, it had no impact on their heart. “Heart and mind hygiene” of clean and healthy thoughts will make us holy.
2. Healthy: Good personal hygiene keeps us healthy and stops us from spreading germs but has no impact on our spiritual wellbeing. Living clean on the inside makes us spiritually healthy.
3. Holy: Clean habits and purity of the heart make us holy. “He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully” (Psalm 24:3-4).
BC was all about the external cleansing and eating formalities but Christ taught us that it is not what goes into the mouth but what comes out that will make a man pure or impure.
Prayer: Dearest Lord Jesus, come and dwell in me and clothe me with power to proclaim your resurrection power to the world. Amen.
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