Gentiles & Uncleanness The Importance of Having The Right Approach PrideComfortTradition

WARNING!!! Pride & The Human Condition Must Not Be Part of Our Interpretation.Pride & The Human Condition Must Not Be Part of Our Interpretation. The Ancient Jews Are a Great Example.The Ancient Jews Are a Great Example.

Our Subject Tonight Our Study…Our Study… –Reading in Leviticus & Numbers –Acts 10…Converting the Gentiles Many Jews Never Converted Gentiles Or Never Came To Jesus Because of Their InterpretationMany Jews Never Converted Gentiles Or Never Came To Jesus Because of Their Interpretation

The Result These Jews Kept Others From Being Saved.These Jews Kept Others From Being Saved. Did They Eventually Lose Their Own Souls?Did They Eventually Lose Their Own Souls? They Allowed Pride & The Human Condition To Be Part of Their Interpretation.They Allowed Pride & The Human Condition To Be Part of Their Interpretation.

The Old Law & Gentiles Ex 34:12-13 “Watch yourself that you make no covenant with the inhabitants of the land into which you are going, lest it become a snare in your midst. But rather, you are to tear down their altars and smash their sacred pillars and cut down their Asherim.”

Deut 7:2-3 “…and when the Lord your God shall deliver them before you, and you shall defeat them, then you shall utterly destroy them. You shall make no covenant with them and show no favor to them. Furthermore, you shall not intermarry with them; you shall not give your daughters to their sons, nor shall you take their daughters for your sons.” Josh 9

Add To This Uncleanness Lev 5:2-3 if a person touches any unclean thing, whether a carcass of an unclean beast, or the carcass of unclean cattle, or a carcass of unclean swarming things, though it is hidden from him, and he is unclean, then he will be guilty. 'Or if he touches human uncleanness, of whatever sort his uncleanness may be with which he becomes unclean, and it is hidden from him, and then he comes to know it, he will be guilty.

Passages of Uncleanness Lev. 5:2-3 Lev. 7:19-21 Lev. 11 Lev. 12 (childbirth) Lev. 13 (leprosy) Lev. 15 (discharge) Lev. 17:15-16 (dead animals) Lev. 20:25 Num. 5:1-4 Num. 9:6-12 (Passover) Num. 19:1-22 Deut. 14:1-2 Deut. 23:1-8 Deut. 23:9-14 What Made You Unclean Bodily dischargeBodily discharge Child birthChild birth LeprosyLeprosy Touching deathTouching death Touching the uncleanTouching the unclean

Why? Health RegulationsHealth Regulations Israel Was To Be Holy (Lev. 20:26)Israel Was To Be Holy (Lev. 20:26) Lev 10:10Lev 10:10 “So as to make a distinction between the holy and the profane, and between the unclean and the clean.”

Darrell Hymell A Topical Study of The Law of Moses “Why were these food restrictions given? The Bible does not tell us specifically but it was certainly a part of the shadow and was designed to teach the Hebrews and Christians a valuable lesson. That lesson seems to be stated in Lev. 11:44.”

Lev. 11:44 “For I am the Lord your God. Consecrate yourselves therefore, and be holy; for I am holy. And you shall not make yourselves unclean with any of the swarming things that swarm on the earth.”

Darrell Hymell A Topical Study of The Law of Moses “God seems to have given the food restrictions for the purpose of separating Israel from other nations, and helping them to make a distinction between what is holy and detestable. Their adherence to strict diet restrictions would have helped them hold to moral distinctions.”

Purifying Yourself The Length of the Uncleanness Varied Based On The Type of Uncleanness. Usually You Were Unclean For 7 Days. Then You Had To Wash (Clothes & Body). Sacrifices

Put It All Together During The 2 nd Temple Period, Jews Began To Combine These Two Things. No Favor With The Foreign Nations CeremonialUncleanness

Mikvah Ceremonial Wash Bath

Wealthier Jews Had Mikvahs In Their Houses

Why? Pride – It’s a Lot Easier To Elevate Yourself Over Those Who Are Different.Pride – It’s a Lot Easier To Elevate Yourself Over Those Who Are Different. Comfort – It’s a Lot Easier to Ignore Those Who Are Different.Comfort – It’s a Lot Easier to Ignore Those Who Are Different. Tradition – It’s a Lot Easier Not to Change When You’ve Been Doing It For So Long.Tradition – It’s a Lot Easier Not to Change When You’ve Been Doing It For So Long.

Their Interpretation Matt 5:43-44 You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor, and hate your enemy.‘ But I say to you, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you.

Their Interpretation Matt 9:11-13 And when the Pharisees saw this, they said to His disciples, "Why is your Teacher eating with the tax-gatherers and sinners?" But when He heard this, He said, "It is not those who are healthy who need a physician, but those who are sick. But go and learn what this means, 'I desire compassion, and not sacrifice,'for I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners."

Their Interpretation Rom 2:1-3 Therefore you are without excuse, every man of you who passes judgment, for in that you judge another, you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things…And do you suppose this, O man, when you pass judgment upon those who practice such things and do the same yourself, that you will escape the judgment of God?

Their Interpretation Rom 12:16 Be of the same mind toward one another; do not be haughty in mind, but associate with the lowly. Do not be wise in your own estimation.

What About Us? Do We Interpret The Law…Do We Interpret The Law… –Color Blind –Without Classes –Personality Conflicts Avoided –In Favor of God