I always thought this was about cleanliness.
You know, washing your hands before you eat. Washing your hands after going into a restroom area…washing your hands after sneezing…that kind of a thing…
In the back of my head – I can hear mom or a parental figure yelling out – and this time use “hot water.”
When you think about the first century of the Common Era you do not necessarily think of a people obsessed with hygiene.
I am sure they had no knowledge of virus’ and bacteria.
As a matter of fact, a quick Google – and you learn that bacterium was not discovered until 1676. That was the beginning of microbiology!
Viruses as a sub-species were not discovered until 1898…and Virology was born!
I won’t bore you with everything I read, but it is really cool stuff. Suffice it to say:
I am pretty sure they did not run around their homes spraying Lysol everywhere.
It was an era without bathrooms, water-closets and restrooms. So there would have been no concern for having your house being at least as clean as an operating theatre…
Living on, sleeping on, eating on dirt floors was a way of life. Dirt was everywhere.
Again, suffice it to say, for germaphobes it was not a great time to be alive.
The cool thing is that they didn’t have to worry about pesticides, exposure to lead, growth hormones and all of that stuff.
A far bigger issue would have been keeping your distance from unclean people who might in some way defile you and make you ritually unclean.
It seems to me – that is the real issue behind the text.
You know, stuff that prevents you from being “holy.” Holiness, righteousness, being ritually clean was all important.
This was not about hygiene or hand-washing or cleanliness per se, but rather about being holy…sacred…set apart.
Now you know, as well as I do – that the Bible is full of do’s and don’ts. Things we should do and things we should not do.
Traveling down one road and keeping certain laws made you holy, while disregarding any of those, rules, laws, statutes, commandments, ways, teachings made you un-holy. It was a cultural thing. It was what set you and your people apart, from the people that lived near you or surrounded you.
It was all about being a part of God’s people.
It was an ever-growing, ever being added to list of do’s and don’ts!
So silly! Who decides this stuff? Who cares? Who makes up these stupid rules and regulations?
Remember the days when women had to have their heads covered?
Or when pants or pant suits were banned for women?
Remember when all the guys had a Sunday Suit – or a “Going-to-meeting-suit?”
You had to wear a tie! And whatever happened to “dress shoes?”
Shorts were a no-no.
No one could speak, everyone whispered-quietly…
Women could not lector, usher, teach the men, vote, be on council?
Do you remember seriously when children were to be seen and not heard?
Or when there was that “perfect family” in church? With perfect children? Who lived a “perfect life?” That everyone else talked about?
Just what did any of this have to do with “holiness?” Or with being a part of God’s people? Or, with being righteous?
Who made this stuff up?
This is the stuff that Jesus was taking on…It is not about cups, pots and bowls and kettles and washing – nor was it about eating with defiled hands.
Hand sanitizers, aside…it is about what is in you…in your heart of hearts. It is about your actions that speak louder than your words.
It is about how you live your life daily.
It is not about what you wear…or who you hang with…it is about you…way deep down inside.
What kind of a person are you?
That’s why today we are being encouraged to be – not just hearers of the word, but doers, as well.
Holiness comes from within.