Mark 7:14-15,17-23 NIV:
[14] "Again Jesus called the crowd to him and said, “Listen to me, everyone, and understand this. [15] Nothing outside a person can defile them by going into them. Rather, it is what comes out of a person that defiles them.”
[17] "After he had left the crowd and entered the house, his disciples asked him about this parable. [18] “Are you so dull?” he asked. “Don't you see that nothing that enters a person from the outside can defile them? [19] For it doesn't go into their heart but into their stomach, and then out of the body.” (In saying this, Jesus declared all foods clean.)"
[20] "He went on: “What comes out of a person is what defiles them. [21] For it is from within, out of a person's heart, that evil thoughts come---sexual immorality, theft, murder, [22] adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. [23] All these evils come from inside and defile a person.”
As we read these verses, it is important that we not read them with a modern English understanding, especially of defilement. The actual Greek word used here is 'Koinoo' which literally means to make common. The additional Jewish understanding is that this is related to Levitical uncleaness. Thus, we must go back to the basics of what that was and why it mattered. Much of the Jewish 'religious' life was focused on remaining clean, or undefiled, and thus Jesus words are very related to their understanding.
In Modern English, Webster's dictionary defines de·file:
transitive verb: to make unclean or impure: as
a : to corrupt the purity or perfection of : debase
b : to violate the chastity of : deflower
c : to make physically unclean especially with something unpleasant or contaminating
d : to violate the sanctity of : desecrate
e : sully, dishonor
synonyms see contaminate
In my mind, this is quite a serious situation, especially if we equate contamination with defilement. It seems like there is a permanence and seriousness associated with these words. I am bringing this up because the initial conversation Jesus was commenting on had to do with washing hands before eating. In fact there were hundreds of laws and rules concerning uncleanness in the Jewish tradition some for very benign things, others for serious issues. In the Old Testament alone the word unclean is mentioned 168 times, most in the book of Leviticus.
As I was reading through the lists of things that caused one to be unclean I came across the following verses in Leviticus 15:25-27,31 NIV:
[25] “ 'When a woman has a discharge of blood for many days at a time other than her monthly period or has a discharge that continues beyond her period, she will be unclean as long as she has the discharge, just as in the days of her period. [26] Any bed she lies on while her discharge continues will be unclean, as is her bed during her monthly period, and anything she sits on will be unclean, as during her period. [27] Anyone who touches them will be unclean; they must wash their clothes and bathe with water, and they will be unclean till evening.
[31] “ 'You must keep the Israelites separate from things that make them unclean, so they will not die in their uncleanness for defiling my dwelling place, which is among them.' ”
When I read those verses I was immediately reminded of the story of the woman that touches Jesus' cloak - Luke 8:43-48 NIV:
[43] "And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years, but no one could heal her. [44] She came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak, and immediately her bleeding stopped.
[45] “Who touched me?” Jesus asked.
When they all denied it, Peter said, “Master, the people are crowding and pressing against you.”
[46] But Jesus said, “Someone touched me; I know that power has gone out from me.”
[47] Then the woman, seeing that she could not go unnoticed, came trembling and fell at his feet. In the presence of all the people, she told why she had touched him and how she had been instantly healed.
[48] Then he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace.”
Reading these verses we can understand the complete difference there is in what Jesus is saying and teaching and demonstrating. In the Old Testament, and under the law, people could become defiled by something outside themselves, or something internal that they had no control over, like this woman. Imagine, she was considered unclean for 12 years, and everything she touched or came in contact with became unclean, which would have included Jesus and His robe.
However, Jesus demonstrates the truth, namely that He is undefileable, and His very presence and touch cleanses us of our sin and uncleanness. It is not some act, or sacrifice, some offering we have to give to become clean, we just need to go to Him!
If you read through Leviticus, you can get a sense for the weight of the Law on the lives of the Jews, even for something as basic as what causes you to be unclean. Imagine living a life constantly concerned that you were unclean, or that there was a possibility of being unclean, unable to enjoy the normal experiences of life, for you could spread the uncleanness, or become unclean just by touching someone or something. Now I don't know if this was a major concern in the life of the normal Jewish person, but it was certainly something the Pharisees were very concerned about, and something they were careful to observe in others, for they didn't want to become unclean through any chance encounter. Thus, in the original story, they had observed the disciples of Jesus eating without washing their hands, thus defiling themselves, and potentially anything they touched afterwards.
Now, back to the woman with the bleeding, she knew she was unclean, and no amount of medical treatment or cures had been able to change that situation. She was obviously not showing herself as one who was unclean in joining the crowd swarming around Jesus, for that would have caused people to avoid her. In many ways, I think this situation is much like someone who carries a secret sin or wound in their life, and sits under the constant sense of uncleanness, or of being contaminated by sin. I have some friends who grew up under very strict religious teaching around sin, they were taught that any sin could cause you to lose your salvation, should you die with it unconfessed. The main message they experienced in church was one of how easy it was for their sin to stain them and defile them. To me that sounds like the Old Testament mindset about sin, rather than what Jesus demonstrated in this story, of curing the woman's bleeding.
Jesus demonstrates an awesome truth here that we must embrace in our mind and hearts. He is the cure for defilement, He takes away our uncleanliness through the washing of His blood. In Leviticus 15:27 we see that the cure for uncleanliness caused by bleeding is to wash with water and wait until evening. In the new reality introduced by Jesus, His blood washes us clean of our defilement, and the effects are immediate. He has paid for every sin of every person, not one was missed. Thus, there is no unforgiven sin, just unconfessed sin. John captures the reality in his following statement - 1 John 2:2 NIV: "He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world." John also writes - 1 John 1:9 NIV: "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness."
Going all the way back to the original statement by Jesus concerning defilement (Mark 7:20-23 above), we see that Jesus is not saying these things leave a permanent stain, but rather, in the same mindset as the Old Testament, they cause a person to become unclean. He was talking to Jews and they understood this concept that was a critical part of the Law. Later through the story of the woman with bleeding, we see Jesus demonstrate that in His Kingdom, uncleanness is a temporary situation that is cured by coming to Him, and John adds confessing our sins and receiving forgiveness. John reiterates these truths in his first letter and we are encouraged to understand them and embrace them.
Finally, Jesus prophesied and reminded His disciples of the Prophecy form Isaiah 53 that forgiveness of sins was going to be one of the primary messages of His followers. He was speaking to them them after His resurrection and said the following, “This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, [47] and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem." (Luke 24:46-47). This forgiveness, this cleansing of unrighteousness, of uncleanness, of those things that defile is supposed to be one of the core messages of the messages of the church.
So, let us embrace this truth and let it settle into our hearts and minds! Jesus is the source of all forgiveness and cleansing of our sins. There is no sin that is not covered by His sacrifice, nor washed clean by His blood, if we confess. His desire is to set us free from the effects of the uncleanness and restore us to right relationship immediately. He has won the victory over sin and we, as we join ourselves to Him, are freed from its stain and effects. If we carry hidden sin, or hidden wounds from other's sins, let us come to Jesus, confess it all to Him and receive His forgiveness and cleansing, for He is faithful to forgive all our sins. No matter how long we have walked in this state, He can cleanse us in an instant!
Amen Lord!
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