Due to a pandemic, the government wants everyone to constantly wash their hands. I looked at the word “unclean” in the Bible. Using BibleGateway.com set on the New King James Bible Version, I could see how many times the word “unclean” appears in the Bible. Here are stats:
124 x – Books of Moses
153 x – All Old Testament including Books of Moses
22 x – Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke
44 x – All New Testament books including the Gospels
197 x – The entire Bible
The Book of Leviticus uses the word “unclean” ninety-two times. Many of these passages state that if a person does ____, or eats ______, etc., they are unclean.
The Gospels use the word “unclean” most often to refer to a person who had been defiled and negatively affected by an unclean spirit.
“Now there was a man in their synagogue with an unclean spirit. And he cried out…” [1] Jesus removed the unclean spirit from the man and people were amazed. “Then they were all amazed, so that they questioned themselves, saying, ‘What is this? What new doctrine is this? For with authority He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey Him.’” [2]
Jesus gave authority to His disciples to cast out unclean spirits. “And He called the twelve to Himself, and began to send them out two by two, and gave them power over unclean spirits.” [3]
The ministry of casting out unclean spirit continued after Jesus ascended to heaven. “Also a multitude gathered from the surrounding cities to Jerusalem, bringing sick people and those who were tormented by unclean spirits, and they were all healed.” [4]
The Bible associates uncleanness with sin done in the body. “Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.” [5] “For this you know that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.” [6]
New Jerusalem is a place that is free from uncleanness. “There shall by no means enter it anything that defiles, or causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.” [7]
Jesus is the key to victory over unclean spirits. “How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?” [8] His blood cleanses our conscience so that we hear and obey His Spirit’s voice and leading.
“Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for sending Your Son into the world. An atoning sacrifice for our sins! We ask that You forgive our sins and cleanse our land from unclean spirits that defile people. Please bring about newness through the indwelling presence of Your Holy Spirit. In Jesus’ Name we pray. Amen.”
[1] Mark 1:23
[2] Mark 1:27
[3] Mark 6:7
[4] Acts 5:16
[5] Romans 1:24-25
[6] Ephesians 5:5
[7] Revelation 21:27
[8] Hebrews 9:14
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