Let’s have a quick review of what we’ve learned so far in Numbers Chapter Five.
First, we learned that there are basically three categories of UNCLEAN people afflicted with one of the following:
-TAZARA’AT (Skin Infection)
-ABNORMAL GENITAL DISCHARGE
-DEFILEMENT DUE TO TOUCHING A CORPSE
Anybody who became defiled due to one of the above was expelled from the community of Israel until his or her impurity cleared up (if it ever did).
If the impurity did clear up, the priest performed a visual verification to make sure and then there was to be a final 7-day purification waiting period after which the person could return to the community guilt-free.
Now this brings up a point that many gentile Bible scholars, pastors and teachers just don’t get.
Here’s the most terribly misunderstood point:
The danger of ritual uncleanness still exists and can pose a danger to the believer today.
Contrary to what many preach and teach, Yeshua didn’t UNIVERSALLY do away with all uncleanness on the planet.
Only those who don’t understand or aren’t interested in the Hebrew Scriptures or TORAH would promote such a Scripturally unsound and ridiculous idea.
Think of it in terms of salvation.
God surely desires that all will be saved but does that mean all will be saved?
We know the sad answer is unfortunately no.
God will only save those who repent from their idolatry and turn to Him for salvation.
The same thing goes for UNCLEANNESS.
What I’m trying to get at is it’s wrong to think that just because you’re a believer who has been “washed in the blood of Jesus” (to use a super gentile churchy expression) doesn’t mean you can go around carelessly exposing yourself to sin and UNCLEANNESS and think you don’t have to worry about it.
Check out this verse from the Book of Romans.
“So take a good look at God’s kindness and his severity: on the one hand, severity toward those who fell off; but, on the other hand, God’s kindness toward you — provided you maintain yourself in that kindness! Otherwise, you too will be cut off!”-Romans 11:22
Paul’s words here are quite clear.
If you maintain your faith in God (and remember James said faith without works is DEAD!), then you shall remain connected to the Olive Tree (which is Israel).
But if you fall by engaging in all kinds of un-kosher hog wild behavior, YOU WILL BE CUT OFF!
Again, the point is, is that it is possible for the believer to be contaminated by the UNCLEANNESS in the world if you don’t protect yourself from it.
At worst, your relationship with HASHEM will be severed and at best, your relationship with Him will be severely damaged.
Check out these verses from the Book of Revelations:
“I saw no Temple in the city, for Adonai,
God of heaven’s armies,
is its Temple, as is the Lamb.
The city has no need for the sun
or the moon to shine on it,
because God’s Sh’khinah gives it light,
and its lamp is the Lamb.
The nations will walk by its light,
and the kings of the earth
will bring their splendor into it.
Its gates will never close,
they stay open all day
because night will not exist there,
and the honor and splendor of the nations
will be brought into it.
Nothing unclean may enter it,
nor anyone who does shameful things or lies;
the only ones who may enter are those
whose names are written
in the Lamb’s Book of Life.”
-Revelations 21:22-27
Notice the bit I bolded and underlined: “Nothing unclean may enter it“
Hmmm?
If Yeshua did away with all UNCLEANNESS when he was crucified around 30 A.D., then why is John in the Book of Revelations still referring to UNCLEANNESS as something that still exists.
Consider that the Book of Revelations was written a full 60 years after Yeshua’s death.
Well, my point still stands.
The believer today is foolish to think that he or she is immune to becoming contaminated from the uncleanness in the world today.
The man of sin has convinced many to not fear God and His Laws.
In fact, Satan has so brain-washed the gentile “believers” that many of them think that to strive for purity by obeying God’s commands is actually a sin because somehow it is an attempt to earn one’s salvation.
I’ve got news for those who would harbor such dangerous notions.
In the New Testament, Paul calls such thinking not only arrogant but an abomination.
The exhortation of Yeshua has always been a call to worship the Father and obey His commandments.
Any messiah that would preach against God’s Torah is a false messiah.
And any prophet that would preach against God’s Torah is a false prophet.
CONNECTING THIS TEACHING TO THE NEW TESTAMENT
“Do we, then,
nullify the law by this faith?
Not at all!
Rather, we uphold the law.”
-Romans 3:31
“Don’t think that I have come to abolish
the Torah or the Prophets.
I have come not to abolish but to complete.
Yes indeed!
I tell you that until heaven and earth pass away,
not so much as a yud or a stroke will pass from the Torah
— not until everything that must happen has happened.
So whoever disobeys the least of these commands
and teaches others to do so will be called
the least in the Kingdom of Heaven.
But whoever obeys them and so teaches
will be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven.
For I tell you that unless your righteousness
is far greater than that of the Torah-teachers
and P’rushim, you will certainly not enter
the Kingdom of Heaven!”
-Matthew 5:17-20
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