Leviticus 15:19 - Meaning and Application

This passage deals with the ceremonial uncleanness women had from bodily discharges. Some of these were normal and part of life, according to nature (Leviticus 15:19-24). Others were abnormal, excessive, and signs of disease. One example is the woman who had a flow of blood for twelve years and was healed when she touched the hem of Christ’s garment. She had spent all she had on doctors and medicine, but nothing helped. Such a discharge made the woman unclean (Leviticus 15:25), and anything she touched became unclean too (Leviticus 15:26-27). If she recovered and, after seven days of testing, was found completely free from the discharge, she was to bring two turtledoves or two young pigeons for cleansing, to make atonement for her (Leviticus 15:28-29).

All wicked behavior, especially idolatry, is compared to the uncleanness of a woman in her monthly period (Ezekiel 36:17). In the same spirit, Jerusalem is said to have had “filthiness in her skirts” (Lamentations 1:9), so that, as the following verse says, she was treated like an unclean woman. The picture is meant to show how hateful sin is in God’s sight.

The reasons for these laws, which may seem unnecessary to us, are given in Leviticus 15:31. First, “so you will keep the people of Israel separate from their uncleanness.” These laws applied only to Israel, along with their servants and foreigners who joined them. In this way, the people learned their honor and privilege. They were set apart for God as a special people, meant to be a holy nation and a kingdom of priests. What was a defilement for them was not the same for other nations.

They also learned their duty. They were to guard the honor of their holiness and keep away from all sinful defilement. If even natural and unavoidable bodily uncleanness made them unfit for fellowship with God and with people for a time, then sins done against conscience, like drunkenness, adultery, fraud, and the like, were far more shameful and corrupting. These sins stain the mind and conscience itself. And if ceremonial uncleanness could be removed only by sacrifice and offering, then something far greater must be needed to cleanse the soul from the uncleanness of sin.

Second, these laws kept them from dying in their uncleanness if they came near the sanctuary while unclean. That would bring them under God’s judgment. It is a dangerous thing to die in uncleanness, and it is our own fault if we do. God’s law warns us clearly against what defiles us, and his gospel provides mercy and cleansing if we are defiled.

Third, these laws showed special care for the honor of the tabernacle, so that no one would come near it in uncleanness and defile it. God used this to keep a careless people in continual fear and reverence for his glory and presence among them in the sanctuary. When the tabernacle of God was among men, people could easily grow too familiar with holy things, and familiarity can lead to contempt. So the law made many common things count as ceremonial uncleanness, and it made these things keep people away from the sanctuary, with death as the penalty. In this way, they learned not to come near God casually, but with humble fear, careful preparation, and a serious concern to be fit for his presence.

What should we learn from this? First, we should thank God that we are not under the burden of these outward rules. Now, nothing can destroy us or defile us except sin. Those who now may take the Lord’s Supper could not then eat the peace offerings. And the daily uncleanness we contract through our ordinary failings can now be cleansed in private by fresh acts of repentance and faith, without washing in water or bringing an offering to the tabernacle.

Second, we should carefully stay away from all sin, since it defiles the conscience. We should especially flee fleshly lusts, that is, sinful desires of the body. We must keep our bodies in holiness and honor, not in filthy desires, which pollute the soul and fight against it.

Third, we should see how necessary true holiness is if we want future happiness. We need our hearts purified by faith so that we may see God. This may be why, in asking who may stand in God’s holy place, Scripture answers, “He who has clean hands and a pure heart” (Psalm 24:3-4). For without holiness, no one will see the Lord.