How does Leviticus 6:27 connect with New Testament teachings on holiness? Setting the scene in Leviticus 6:27 “Whatever touches its flesh will become holy, and if any of its blood is splattered on a garment, you must wash the garment in a holy place.” What Leviticus teaches about holiness • The sin offering is “most holy” (v. 25). • Holiness is transferable: simple contact with the sacrifice consecrates. • Blood demands care and cleansing inside the sanctuary, underscoring separation from common life. Jesus, the ultimate sin offering • Hebrews 10:10 — “By this will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.” • Hebrews 13:12 — “Jesus also suffered outside the gate to sanctify the people by His own blood.” • The holiness that spread from the Levitical sacrifice prefigures the holiness that now flows from Christ’s body and blood. Holiness that spreads outward in the Gospels • Luke 8:44: the woman touches Jesus’ cloak and is healed—contact with the Holy One brings cleansing, not contamination. • Mark 1:41–42: Jesus touches the leper; holiness overcomes impurity. • Matthew 9:20–22; Luke 5:13 reinforce the same pattern. Witness of the apostles • 1 Peter 1:15-16 quotes Leviticus: “Be holy, for I am holy.” • 1 Corinthians 6:19-20: our bodies are temples; purchased by blood, we are set apart. • 2 Corinthians 7:1: “Let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” • 1 John 1:7: “The blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.” Comparing contagion • Old Covenant: uncleanness normally spreads, yet here holiness reverses the flow. • New Covenant: holiness in Christ always overcomes defilement; His righteousness is imputed and imparted to believers. • Revelation 7:14 pictures garments washed “in the blood of the Lamb,” echoing Leviticus’ call to wash blood-spattered garments in a holy place. Practical takeaways for believers today • Approach Christ confidently—His holiness is greater than our past defilements (Hebrews 4:16). • Treat every area of life as “holy ground,” because His Spirit indwells us (Romans 12:1). • Guard what touches your life: relationships, media, habits. Contact with the world’s impurity can dull sensitivity, but contact with Christ continually sanctifies (John 17:17). • Engage the world for His glory; like the sacrifice in Leviticus, our Spirit-empowered presence can spread holiness, not merely avoid contamination (Philippians 2:15). |
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