Cleanliness is Next to Godliness...Really???
Reflection: If you have ever lived with a “neat freak”, you know that clean is never clean enough for them. No matter how hard they scrub the floor or the counter top, there will still be a sense of uneasiness about the state of is cleanliness. You have heard some others say, “Cleanliness is next to godliness.” Many think it is a quote from the bible but actually it is not in the bible. There are others who say, “Well it is not in the bible but it is certainly implied in the bible.”
In the Chronicles passage we see a detailed listing of the tribe of Levi. The Levites were in charge of the temple and maintaining its purity according to Levitical Law. There were all sorts of laws regarding cleanliness and what made a person unclean, including what they ate. One can read in Leviticus 11 and Deuteronomy 14 all of the foods declared unclean by the Law. Peter, being a good Jew, was raised in this tradition, which is what makes his dream in Acts 10 all the more astounding. The unclean animals included the four footed animals, birds and reptile mentioned in his dream. By application this also applied to the Gentiles (all non-Jews) who the Jewish people also considered unclean.
This context is so important for understanding the vision Peter was given and the subsequent encounter with Cornelius the Centurion. This would be the basis for Peter going to this man’s house and sharing the Gospel with him. Importantly we hear the words, “What God has declared clean, let no man declare unclean.” Ultimately we see that the only one who is truly clean is God Almighty.
Sometimes people today can think that Christians today are a lot like the law-keepers of the Old Testament, who tried to measure a person’s spirituality with how well they kept the Law. As Christians get focused on external behaviors like what someone eats or drinks, or how religious they seem to act and talk, this can lead us away from the calling God gave to Peter and the early church. While it was illogical for them to think God had called the Gentiles too, the conversion of the Gentile Cornelius was key to the expansion of the Gospel to all people groups.
Who are the people in your life or community that you might see as unclean? How can the fact that only God can make someone clean help you to reaching out to them in Jesus’ name?
Psalm 5
For the director of music. For pipes. A psalm of David.
1 Listen to my words, Lord,
consider my lament.
2 Hear my cry for help,
my King and my God,
for to you I pray.
3 In the morning, Lord, you hear my voice;
in the morning I lay my requests before you
and wait expectantly.
4 For you are not a God who is pleased with wickedness;
with you, evil people are not welcome.
5 The arrogant cannot stand
in your presence.
You hate all who do wrong;
6 you destroy those who tell lies.
The bloodthirsty and deceitful
you, Lord, detest.
7 But I, by your great love,
can come into your house;
in reverence I bow down
toward your holy temple.
8 Lead me, Lord, in your righteousness
because of my enemies—
make your way straight before me.
9 Not a word from their mouth can be trusted;
their heart is filled with malice.
Their throat is an open grave;
with their tongues they tell lies.
10 Declare them guilty, O God!
Let their intrigues be their downfall.
Banish them for their many sins,
for they have rebelled against you.
11 But let all who take refuge in you be glad;
let them ever sing for joy.
Spread your protection over them,
that those who love your name may rejoice in you.
12 Surely, Lord, you bless the righteous;
you surround them with your favor as with a shield.
1 Chronicles 5:23-6:30
Levi
6 The sons of Levi:
Gershon, Kohath and Merari.
2 The sons of Kohath: Amram, Izhar, Hebron and Uzziel.
3 The children of Amram: Aaron, Moses and Miriam.
The sons of Aaron: Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar.
4 Eleazar was the father of Phinehas, Phinehas the father of Abishua, 5 Abishua the father of Bukki,
Bukki the father of Uzzi, 6 Uzzi the father of Zerahiah, Zerahiah the father of Meraioth,
7 Meraioth the father of Amariah, Amariah the father of Ahitub, 8 Ahitub the father of Zadok,
Zadok the father of Ahimaaz, 9 Ahimaaz the father of Azariah, Azariah the father of Johanan, 10 Johanan the father of Azariah (it was he who served as priest in the temple Solomon built in Jerusalem),
11 Azariah the father of Amariah, Amariah the father of Ahitub, 12 Ahitub the father of Zadok, Zadok the father of Shallum,
13 Shallum the father of Hilkiah, Hilkiah the father of Azariah, 14 Azariah the father of Seraiah, and Seraiah the father of Jozadak. 15 Jozadak was deported when the Lord sent Judah and Jerusalem into exile by the hand of Nebuchadnezzar.
16 The sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath and Merari. 17 These are the names of the sons of Gershon:
Libni and Shimei.
18 The sons of Kohath: Amram, Izhar, Hebron and Uzziel. 19 The sons of Merari: Mahli and Mushi.
These are the clans of the Levites listed according to their fathers:
20 Of Gershon: Libni his son, Jahath his son, Zimmah his son, 21 Joah his son, Iddo his son, Zerah his son and Jeatherai his son.
22 The descendants of Kohath: Amminadab his son, Korah his son, Assir his son, 23 Elkanah his son,
Ebiasaph his son, Assir his son, 24 Tahath his son, Uriel his son Uzziah his son and Shaul his son.
25 The descendants of Elkanah:
Amasai, Ahimoth, 26 Elkanah his son, Zophai his son, Nahath his son, 27 Eliab his son, Jeroham his son, Elkanah his son and Samuel his son.
28 The sons of Samuel: Joel the firstborn and Abijah the second son.
29 The descendants of Merari: Mahli, Libni his son, Shimei his son, Uzzah his son, 30 Shimea his son, Haggiah his son and Asaiah his son.
Acts 10:9-23a
Peter’s Vision
9 About noon the following day as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the roof to pray. 10 He became hungry and wanted something to eat, and while the meal was being prepared, he fell into a trance. 11 He saw heaven opened and something like a large sheet being let down to earth by its four corners. 12 It contained all kinds of four-footed animals, as well as reptiles and birds. 13 Then a voice told him, “Get up, Peter. Kill and eat.” 14 “Surely not, Lord!” Peter replied. “I have never eaten anything impure or unclean.” 15 The voice spoke to him a second time, “Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.” 16 This happened three times, and immediately the sheet was taken back to heaven. 17 While Peter was wondering about the meaning of the vision, the men sent by Cornelius found out where Simon’s house was and stopped at the gate. 18 They called out, asking if Simon who was known as Peter was staying there. 19 While Peter was still thinking about the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Simon, three men are looking for you. 20 So get up and go downstairs. Do not hesitate to go with them, for I have sent them.” 21 Peter went down and said to the men, “I’m the one you’re looking for. Why have you come?” 22 The men replied, “We have come from Cornelius the centurion. He is a righteous and God-fearing man, who is respected by all the Jewish people. A holy angel told him to ask you to come to his house so that he could hear what you have to say.” 23 Then Peter invited the men into the house to be his guests.
Peter at Cornelius’s House
The next day Peter started out with them, and some of the believers from Joppa went along.
The hearing ear and the seeing eye – the Lord has made them both. Proverbs 20:12
Jesus opened their minds to understand the scriptures. Luke 24:45
Lord Jesus, you gave us eyes to see and ears to hear; we ask you to open our hearts to receive your word and fill us with your Holy Spirit that we may always do your will. Amen.
In the Chronicles passage we see a detailed listing of the tribe of Levi. The Levites were in charge of the temple and maintaining its purity according to Levitical Law. There were all sorts of laws regarding cleanliness and what made a person unclean, including what they ate. One can read in Leviticus 11 and Deuteronomy 14 all of the foods declared unclean by the Law. Peter, being a good Jew, was raised in this tradition, which is what makes his dream in Acts 10 all the more astounding. The unclean animals included the four footed animals, birds and reptile mentioned in his dream. By application this also applied to the Gentiles (all non-Jews) who the Jewish people also considered unclean.
This context is so important for understanding the vision Peter was given and the subsequent encounter with Cornelius the Centurion. This would be the basis for Peter going to this man’s house and sharing the Gospel with him. Importantly we hear the words, “What God has declared clean, let no man declare unclean.” Ultimately we see that the only one who is truly clean is God Almighty.
Sometimes people today can think that Christians today are a lot like the law-keepers of the Old Testament, who tried to measure a person’s spirituality with how well they kept the Law. As Christians get focused on external behaviors like what someone eats or drinks, or how religious they seem to act and talk, this can lead us away from the calling God gave to Peter and the early church. While it was illogical for them to think God had called the Gentiles too, the conversion of the Gentile Cornelius was key to the expansion of the Gospel to all people groups.
Who are the people in your life or community that you might see as unclean? How can the fact that only God can make someone clean help you to reaching out to them in Jesus’ name?
Psalm 5
For the director of music. For pipes. A psalm of David.
1 Listen to my words, Lord,
consider my lament.
2 Hear my cry for help,
my King and my God,
for to you I pray.
3 In the morning, Lord, you hear my voice;
in the morning I lay my requests before you
and wait expectantly.
4 For you are not a God who is pleased with wickedness;
with you, evil people are not welcome.
5 The arrogant cannot stand
in your presence.
You hate all who do wrong;
6 you destroy those who tell lies.
The bloodthirsty and deceitful
you, Lord, detest.
7 But I, by your great love,
can come into your house;
in reverence I bow down
toward your holy temple.
8 Lead me, Lord, in your righteousness
because of my enemies—
make your way straight before me.
9 Not a word from their mouth can be trusted;
their heart is filled with malice.
Their throat is an open grave;
with their tongues they tell lies.
10 Declare them guilty, O God!
Let their intrigues be their downfall.
Banish them for their many sins,
for they have rebelled against you.
11 But let all who take refuge in you be glad;
let them ever sing for joy.
Spread your protection over them,
that those who love your name may rejoice in you.
12 Surely, Lord, you bless the righteous;
you surround them with your favor as with a shield.
1 Chronicles 5:23-6:30
Levi
6 The sons of Levi:
Gershon, Kohath and Merari.
2 The sons of Kohath: Amram, Izhar, Hebron and Uzziel.
3 The children of Amram: Aaron, Moses and Miriam.
The sons of Aaron: Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar.
4 Eleazar was the father of Phinehas, Phinehas the father of Abishua, 5 Abishua the father of Bukki,
Bukki the father of Uzzi, 6 Uzzi the father of Zerahiah, Zerahiah the father of Meraioth,
7 Meraioth the father of Amariah, Amariah the father of Ahitub, 8 Ahitub the father of Zadok,
Zadok the father of Ahimaaz, 9 Ahimaaz the father of Azariah, Azariah the father of Johanan, 10 Johanan the father of Azariah (it was he who served as priest in the temple Solomon built in Jerusalem),
11 Azariah the father of Amariah, Amariah the father of Ahitub, 12 Ahitub the father of Zadok, Zadok the father of Shallum,
13 Shallum the father of Hilkiah, Hilkiah the father of Azariah, 14 Azariah the father of Seraiah, and Seraiah the father of Jozadak. 15 Jozadak was deported when the Lord sent Judah and Jerusalem into exile by the hand of Nebuchadnezzar.
16 The sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath and Merari. 17 These are the names of the sons of Gershon:
Libni and Shimei.
18 The sons of Kohath: Amram, Izhar, Hebron and Uzziel. 19 The sons of Merari: Mahli and Mushi.
These are the clans of the Levites listed according to their fathers:
20 Of Gershon: Libni his son, Jahath his son, Zimmah his son, 21 Joah his son, Iddo his son, Zerah his son and Jeatherai his son.
22 The descendants of Kohath: Amminadab his son, Korah his son, Assir his son, 23 Elkanah his son,
Ebiasaph his son, Assir his son, 24 Tahath his son, Uriel his son Uzziah his son and Shaul his son.
25 The descendants of Elkanah:
Amasai, Ahimoth, 26 Elkanah his son, Zophai his son, Nahath his son, 27 Eliab his son, Jeroham his son, Elkanah his son and Samuel his son.
28 The sons of Samuel: Joel the firstborn and Abijah the second son.
29 The descendants of Merari: Mahli, Libni his son, Shimei his son, Uzzah his son, 30 Shimea his son, Haggiah his son and Asaiah his son.
Acts 10:9-23a
Peter’s Vision
9 About noon the following day as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the roof to pray. 10 He became hungry and wanted something to eat, and while the meal was being prepared, he fell into a trance. 11 He saw heaven opened and something like a large sheet being let down to earth by its four corners. 12 It contained all kinds of four-footed animals, as well as reptiles and birds. 13 Then a voice told him, “Get up, Peter. Kill and eat.” 14 “Surely not, Lord!” Peter replied. “I have never eaten anything impure or unclean.” 15 The voice spoke to him a second time, “Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.” 16 This happened three times, and immediately the sheet was taken back to heaven. 17 While Peter was wondering about the meaning of the vision, the men sent by Cornelius found out where Simon’s house was and stopped at the gate. 18 They called out, asking if Simon who was known as Peter was staying there. 19 While Peter was still thinking about the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Simon, three men are looking for you. 20 So get up and go downstairs. Do not hesitate to go with them, for I have sent them.” 21 Peter went down and said to the men, “I’m the one you’re looking for. Why have you come?” 22 The men replied, “We have come from Cornelius the centurion. He is a righteous and God-fearing man, who is respected by all the Jewish people. A holy angel told him to ask you to come to his house so that he could hear what you have to say.” 23 Then Peter invited the men into the house to be his guests.
Peter at Cornelius’s House
The next day Peter started out with them, and some of the believers from Joppa went along.
The hearing ear and the seeing eye – the Lord has made them both. Proverbs 20:12
Jesus opened their minds to understand the scriptures. Luke 24:45
Lord Jesus, you gave us eyes to see and ears to hear; we ask you to open our hearts to receive your word and fill us with your Holy Spirit that we may always do your will. Amen.
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