What steps are required for purification according to Leviticus 22:6? Setting the Scene Leviticus 22 addresses priests who handle the sacred offerings. Verse 6 is crystal-clear about what must happen when a priest becomes ceremonially unclean by touching a defiling object or person. Scripture is literal here—God sets specific, non-negotiable steps. The Purification Steps in Leviticus 22:6 “ ‘The one who touches any such thing will be unclean until evening and must not eat of the sacred offerings unless he has bathed his body with water.’ ” • Recognize Defilement – The priest must first acknowledge that contact with uncleanness has occurred (cf. Leviticus 11:24-28; 15:5). • Abstain from Holy Food – “Must not eat of the sacred offerings” until purified. Holiness demands distance while impurity remains (Leviticus 7:20-21). • Wait Until Evening – “Unclean until evening.” Time is part of the remedy; the impurity lasts the full daylight cycle (cf. Leviticus 17:15). • Bathe the Entire Body – “Has bathed his body with water.” A full immersion, not a token washing (Numbers 19:7). • Restoration After Sunset – Once the body is washed and the sun has set, full priestly privileges resume (Leviticus 22:7). Why Evening? Evening marked a new day in Hebrew reckoning (Genesis 1:5). God built a daily reset into the rhythm of worship, underscoring both His holiness and His mercy. Foreshadowing a Deeper Cleansing The water bath pointed ahead to a fuller cleansing provided by Christ: • Hebrews 10:22—“having our bodies washed with pure water.” • 1 John 1:7—“the blood of Jesus…cleanses us from all sin.” Practical Takeaways for Believers • Sin still disrupts fellowship; confession and cleansing are essential (1 John 1:9). • Holiness requires both God’s prescribed means (then, water; now, the finished work of Christ) and obedient hearts. • God graciously provides a path back to service—whether for an Old-Covenant priest or a New-Covenant believer. |
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