Scripture contains many references to the issue of "cleanliness." Interestingly, the expression, "Cleanliness is next to godliness" is NOT to be found in Scripture. The issue of being "clean" in Scripture carries varied meanings. Certainly bodily cleanliness is at issue at times. But there are other meanings.
In Acts Chapter 10, Peter is confronted with the issue (in a dream) of the cleanliness and uncleanliness of food. The Lord sends to Peter a message in a dream by showing him a "great sheet, bound at the four corners," and it was filled with animals which the Jews would declare to be ritually unclean. Peter was told to eat, and he refused. In response, he heard a voice saying, "What God has cleansed you must not call common." (Acts 10:9-16)
In today's Gospel reading (Luke 11:34-41) we find the following:
37And as He spoke, a certain Pharisee asked Him to dine with him. So He went in and sat down to eat. 38When the Pharisee saw it, he marveled that He had not first washed before dinner. 39Then the Lord said to him, “Now you Pharisees make the outside of the cup and dish clean, but your inward part is full of greed and wickedness. 40Foolish ones! Did not He who made the outside make the inside also? 41But rather give alms of such things as you have; then indeed all things are clean to you."
Hear what our Lord is explaining to the "teachers" of Israel - as well as to us! It is not that bodily cleanliness is unimportant. It is rather that "cleanliness" has a higher (a spiritual) meaning! In the Gospel of St. Matthew (15:11), Jesus says, "Hear and understand. Not what goes into the mouth defiles a man; but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man."
In other words, "wash" or "make clean" what we say, what we do, what we think. These are the things which define what is pleasing in God's sight. And He has the ability to "make clean" our offerings, even though we are steeped in sin. He does this when our labors, our offerings are the defining issue, when we seek to do His will. In the above verse from Luke 11:41, the word "alms" is used. This is the Greek word ἐλεημοσύνη, which means beneficence, being a benefactor to another. Our personal "spiritual hygene" is effected by our benevolence to others! He has blessed us to "make clean" that which we've soiled by our sinfulness if only we are faithful to care for others to the extent that He has given us resources and abilities to do so.
"Coming clean" is not so much a matter of soap and water as it is a matter of serving the least of His brethren!
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