A24. Being Clean of Spirit as Well as of Body. [Make a Comment]
We are to give as much attention to being clean of spirit as to being clean of body.
This precept is derived from His Word (blessed be He):
Key Scriptures
Matthew 23:25-28
Woe to you hypocritical Torah-teachers and P'rushim! You clean the
outside of the cup and the dish, but inside they are full of robbery and
self-indulgence. Blind Parush! First clean the inside of the cup, so that
the outside may be clean too. Woe to you hypocritical Torah-teachers and
P'rushim! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look fine on the
outside but inside are full of dead people's bones and all kinds of
rottenness. Likewise, you appear to people from the outside to be good and
honest, but inwardly you are full of hypocrisy and far from Torah.
Hebrews 10:22
Therefore, let us approach the Holiest Place with a sincere heart, in the
full assurance that comes from trusting - with our hearts sprinkled clean
from a bad conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.
Supportive Scriptures
Isaiah 1:16
Wash yourselves clean! Get your evil deeds out of my sight! Stop doing evil
...
Ezekiel 44:23
They are to teach my people the difference between holy and common and
enable them to distinguish between clean and unclean.
Psalm 24:3-4
Who may go up to the mountain of ADONAI? Who can stand in his holy place?
Those with clean hands and pure hearts, who don't make vanities the
purpose of their lives or swear oaths just to deceive.
Psalm 51:4(2)
Wash me completely from my guilt, and cleanse me from my sin.
Psalm 51:9(7)
Sprinkle me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter
than snow.
Psalm 51:12(10)
Create in me a clean heart, God; renew in me a resolute spirit.
Luke 11:39-41
However, the Lord said to him, "Now then, you P'rushim, you clean the
outside of the cup and plate; but inside, you are full of robbery and
wickedness. Fools! Didn't the One who made the outside make the inside
too? Rather, give as alms what is inside, and then everything will be clean
for you!"
2 Corinthians 7:1
Therefore, my dear friends, since we have these promises, let us purify
ourselves from everything that can defile either body or spirit, and strive
to be completely holy, out of reverence for God.
James 4:8
Come close to God, and he will come close to you. Clean your hands, sinners;
and purify your hearts, you double-minded people!
Commentary
It is a repeated teaching of Scripture that cleanliness of a man's body is analogized to cleanliness of his spirit. Scripture teaches that both are important, but that cleanliness of spirit is weightier in that if a man's spirit is not clean, no amount of washing with water can cleanse him. A man becomes spiritually clean by submitting himself in obedience to God, repenting of his sins, and receiving Messiah Yeshua as his personal savior.
Some of you used to do these things [premarital sex, idol worship, adultery, homosexuality, theft, greed, drunkenness]. But you have cleansed yourselves, you have been set apart for God, you have come to be counted righteous through the power of the Lord Yeshua the Messiah and the Spirit of our God. (1 Corinthians 6:11)
If we acknowledge our sins, then, since he is trustworthy and just, he will forgive them and purify us from all wrongdoing. (1 John 1:9)
Classical Commentators
This Mitzvah is not addressed by any of the Jewish classical commentators.
NCLA: JMm JFm KMm KFm GMm GFm