The Bible has a lot to say about defilement and being made unclean. Here is an overview of some of the key biblical teachings on this topic:
Ritual Impurity
Much of the Old Testament law was focused on ritual purity and impurity. God gave the Israelites detailed laws regarding activities and substances that could make a person ceremonially unclean. For example:
- Touching a dead body (Numbers 19:11-22)
- Skin diseases like leprosy (Leviticus 13-14)
- Bodily discharges (Leviticus 15)
- Eating certain foods (Leviticus 11)
When a person became ritually impure, they had to undergo purification rites before they could enter the sanctuary and participate in worship again (Leviticus 15:31). The purpose of these laws was to teach Israel to be distinct from other nations and to avoid sin and all that was unclean.
However, the New Testament makes it clear that food and outward things do not truly defile a person (Mark 7:18-19). True defilement is spiritual and moral.
Moral Defilement
The Bible warns repeatedly against allowing oneself to be morally corrupted and defiled by sinful desires and ungodly living. For example:
- “Let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.” (2 Corinthians 7:1)
- “See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.” (Hebrews 12:15)
- “These people are blemishes at your love feasts, eating with you without the slightest qualm—shepherds who feed only themselves. They are clouds without rain, blown along by the wind; autumn trees, without fruit and uprooted—twice dead. They are wild waves of the sea, foaming up their shame; wandering stars, for whom blackest darkness has been reserved forever.” (Jude 1:12-13)
Sexual immorality is especially linked to defilement in Scripture:
- “Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a person commits are outside the body, but whoever sins sexually, sins against their own body.” (1 Corinthians 6:18)
- “Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)
Defilement can spread in a community if sin is not confronted and dealt with. The Corinthian church experienced this by tolerating sexual immorality in their midst (1 Corinthians 5:6-8).
Spiritual Defilement
The Pharisees strictly adhered to ritual cleansing laws but inside were full of sin and corruption. Jesus condemned them for focusing on outward purity while neglecting internal purity:
- “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean.” (Matthew 23:25-26)
- “Listen and understand. What goes into someone’s mouth does not defile them, but what comes out of their mouth, that is what defiles them.” (Matthew 15:10-11)
Sin begins in the heart before being manifested in words and deeds (Mark 7:20-23). We must guard our hearts because our thoughts and attitudes can make us spiritually unclean.
Defilement of the Land
God warned Israel that the land would “vomit them out” if they defiled it with idolatry and bloodshed (Leviticus 18:24-30). Innocent bloodshed was especially polluting (Numbers 35:33-34). God judges nations who disregard morality and justice.
God’s Response to Defilement
How does God respond when his people are defiled by sin?
- He disciplines them to bring them to repentance (Hebrews 12:6-11).
- He waits for them to repent so he can forgive and purify them (2 Peter 3:9).
- He promises to one day perfect them so they will never again be defiled (1 John 3:2-3).
- He provided redemption through Jesus’ blood so sinners can be forgiven, cleansed, and set free from bondage to defiling habits (Ephesians 1:7, Titus 2:14, 1 John 1:7).
God’s desire is always to restore and purify his people when they have been contaminated and defiled by the influence of sin.
Avoiding Defilement
How can believers avoid being polluted and led astray by the defiling influences around them? The Bible gives these instructions:
- “Do not be misled: ‘Bad company corrupts good character.'” (1 Corinthians 15:33)
- “Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.” (Ephesians 5:11)
- “Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm.” (Proverbs 13:20)
- “I will set before my eyes no vile thing.” (Psalm 101:3)
- “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” (Philippians 4:8)
The key is replacing defiling influences with things that are pure, edifying, and drawing us closer to God. Our thought life is incredibly important when it comes to moral and spiritual purity.
Jesus Cleanses and Purifies Us
The good news of the gospel is that Jesus’ perfect sacrifice cleanses believers from sin and defilement:
- “The blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.” (1 John 1:7)
- “Such were some of you; but you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.” (1 Corinthians 6:11)
- “He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit.” (Titus 3:5)
- “And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.” (Hebrews 10:10)
As we walk in faith and obedience, the Holy Spirit empowers us to live above defilement. What glorious freedom and purity come through Christ!