Leviticus 15
McGeeCHAPTER 15THEME: Running issues of the man; running issues of the woman; repulsiveness and regulations of running issuesWe have had two chapters on this matter of leprosy, and that has been bad enough, but it is going to get worse in this chapter. We are hearing a great deal about the pollution of our ecology in these days but there is a pollution of our souls also, and of our mindsof our entire beings. These running sores are highly contagious and infectious, and they reveal to us the exceeding sinfulness of sin. Human nature is an overflowing cesspool and a sewer of uncleanness. Not only is human nature defiled, but it is defiling; not only is it corrupt, but it is corrupting. This chapter holds up the mirror to human nature, and after one look, no flesh can glory in His sight. One would think that leprosy was the worst of the diseases, but actually it was not as contagious and contaminating as running issues. I would like to quote Dr. Leiker who is an authority on leprosy. “Leprosy is caused by tiny germs called leprosy bacilli, which can be seen only through a microscope. The bacilli were discovered in 1873 by the Norwegian doctor, Hansen. That is why leprosy is sometimes called Hansen’s disease. The bacilli are present in large numbers in the skin of certain types of leprosy patients.
They pass from these patients to the skin of healthy people, mainly by bodily contact. They then enter the skin through tiny wounds and scratches, where they may live and multiply. Only infectious patientsthose who have many bacilli in their skinare able to spread the disease. Many patients have no bacilli left in their skin and therefore they do not pass on the disease. “Frequent bathing, washing of clothes, and keeping a clean house will help to prevent the disease, because many bacilli can be washed away with water and soap before they enter the skin. The most important thing is to avoid bodily contact with infectious cases of leprosy. The germs are not carried by air or by insects. There is no proof that leprosy is spread in other ways, but it may be that the disease is spread occasionally by means other than bodily contact. “You may use patients’ clothes, sleeping mats, tools, and so on, without risk, provided they are washed with hot water and soap and have been in the sun for at least 24 hours. There is no danger in visiting patients’ homes, or even in shaking hands with them, but you should wash your hands afterwards. There is no reason to fear leprosy if these simple safeguards are taken.” Leprosy was a disease that could not be kept a secret for long. It worked slowly, but it would finally break out. In contrast, running issues could be kept secret for a lifetime. These represent the thought life of man as well as the overt act of sin. “And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually” (Gen_6:5). This has to do with that part of human nature that is defiled and affects others. “Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? not one” (Job_14:4). “Who can understand his errors? cleanse thou me from secret faults” (Psa_19:12). “For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not” (Rom_7:18). Here we have the nature of man that is hidden.
No one else may know about it. This is what we know down deep in our hearts. Yet, this secret sin can be passed on to others. Some famous men have commented on the secret sin of man: “I see no fault committed which I too might not have committed” (Goethe). “Every man knows that of himself which he dares not tell to his dearest friends” (Dr. Samuel Johnson). “I do not know what the heart of a villain may beI only know that of a virtuous man, and that is frightful” (Count de Maistre). “Go to your own bosom. Knock there: and ask your heart what it doth know” (Shakespeare). “Why is there no man who confesses his vices? It is because he has not yet laid them aside. It is a waking man only who can tell his dreams” (Seneca). The curse of sin has affected man’s power in the propagation of the race. Man is only capable of producing after his kinda sinner as he is. The very fountain of the race is polluted. Many of these running issues are connected with the generative organs of the race. For the most part, they are the social diseases. There is filthiness and defilement connected with sexual sins that is appalling. David cried out to God, “Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow…. Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me” (Psa_51:7, Psa_51:10). Today people talk about the new morality. It is interesting that they turn out the same old diseases with the new morality. Today the social diseases, venereal diseases, are increasing at an alarming rate. They are of epidemic proportion both in this country and in places abroad where our soldiers are stationed. That is the way sin is. And it robs a person of the joy of his salvation. It seems strange that God would talk so much about such a repulsive subject. However, He gives to man a comprehensive view of the exceeding sinfulness of sin. We get an unusual view of it in this chapter. We need to recall the words of Paul, “For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope” (Rom_15:4).
Leviticus 15:1
RUNNING ISSUES OF THE MANGod addressed both Moses and Aaron. In chapter 14 where the “law of the leper” was under consideration, only the law-giver Moses was addressed. Aaron, as the high priest, is a prophetic picture of our Great High Priest. Only the Lord Jesus can give comfort and understanding to the afflicted as well as the extending of mercy and grace. Our High Priest cannot be touched by our sin, but He can be touched with the feeling of our infirmities, because He was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin (Heb_4:14-15 and Heb_2:17-18).
Leviticus 15:2
This vivid language reveals how sickening, disgusting, abhorrent, offensive, impure, repugnant, and utterly corrupt and corrupting the human nature is. The pus of sin is flowing from the human heart. We can see it all around us and in us. The defilement is here. We cannot rub shoulders with each other without it affecting our lives because human nature is not only corrupt, it is corrupting. You and I influence one another. I live my life in you, and you live your life in me. It cannot be otherwise. You are a preacher, whether you know it or not. You are preaching by your life. When I was a pastor in Pasadena, I knew a very godly woman whose son was a drunkard. They lived a little way from the church. One could always tell when he was on what is called a “toot” because he would use both sides of the street on the way home. His mother was distressed and ashamed, and she asked me to talk with him. One day I saw him weaving down the street and I brought him into my study to talk with him. I told him how low-down he was, called him a sinner and a disgrace.
I called him everything you could possibly call such a man, and he just hung his head and took it all. Then I said, “Don’t you know that you are preaching by your life?” He asked, “Are you calling me a preacher?” When I told him he was, he got up the best he could as drunk as he was and wanted to fight me. You could call him anything else in the world but a preacher! Well, my friend, whoever you are, you are a preacher. You are preaching some message by your life. You are influencing someone. Human nature is corrupting because it is sinful. Even the regenerated man still carries his old sinful flesh. Listen to the words of the Lord Jesus: “But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: These are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man” (Mat_15:18-20). It is amazing today how many people are interested in religious ceremonies. Even though they go through those religious ceremonies, they have a heart that is just as filthy as it possibly can be. We all have that kind of heart, unless it has been cleansed by the blood of Christ. James makes it very practical. “But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth …death” (Jas_1:14-15). Paul cried out in despair, “…I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing …” (Rom_7:18). The sore of sin may be visible or invisible; it may be oozing blood and pus, or it may not appear on the surface, yet it is there. The uncleanness in view here is in the thought life and the secret sinssecret to man but open before God. “Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom” (Psa_51:6). This passage should humble the proud man and show how utterly disgusting he is in the light of God’s presence. Listen to David: “Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest” (Psa_51:4). God has emphasized in His Word again and again that sin is exceedingly sinful. Read Eze_16:1-13 in which God makes it very clear to Israel that they had no virtues or attractions but were utterly disgusting to Him. They were polluted and their genealogy was bad. Or read the entire chapter of Isaiah 59, where he says, “But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear” (v. 2)
Leviticus 15:4
Everything he sits on, everything he touches is unclean. God is concerned with the personal life of His people. His law reaches into the minute areas of their lives. He even watches over them while they are asleep! The man with an unclean issue contaminated the bed upon which he slept, and even his dreams were impure. Many a person spends a sleepless night, not counting sheep, but recalling his sins with lustful pleasure. God is interested in what we think when we lie upon our pillows. He wants to control our thought life. “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things” (Php_4:8). God is interested in you! He is interested in you when you lie down and when you walk about. He is interested in what you touch. When we sit upon a chair in social conversation, God is interested in our conversation. Do we spread the virus of contamination? Also God is interested in our business and social contacts. Physical contact of the clean with the unclean always spreads the disease to the clean. My friend, we cannot be with people or even just walk down the street without becoming soiled. We hear four-letter words, we see pictures, we are lured by advertising and propaganda. We are constantly soiled. We need to be aware of this and to confess our sin and to be cleansed by God. We all have this leprosy of sin, these running sores, these hidden sins.
Leviticus 15:8
This gets down to where a person almost feels disgusted, but it reveals the nastiness of sin by contact. The former regulations had to do with conduct in the home and now this pertains to contact on the street or in a public place. Some of this we might call accidental contact. We find this today. A believer often finds himself in a public place or on the street and some vile, dirty-minded person opens his mouth and spews out undiluted profanity and unspeakable blasphemy. This is contaminating. A believer may feel dirty after leaving such a group, and he is dirty. He needs to wash himself. That is the reason it is so very important for us to stay in the Word of God. “Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word” (Psa_119:9). We get dirty in this life! Listen to these words of Jesus: “…If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me” (Joh_13:8). This means we cannot have fellowship with the Lord Jesus if we are not washed by Him. “Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you” (Joh_15:3). “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth” (Joh_17:17).
Leviticus 15:13
Here, again, we have both the water and the blood introduced. The blood removes the guilt of sin and the water removes the stain of sin. The Holy Spirit must apply the sacrifice of Christ to those secret sins which are in our lives today. Friend, do you see what this is describing? It is a sordid chapter, and yet we must confess that it is a picture of you and me. We need to confess and be cleansed of our secret sins. “I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the LORD; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin” (Psa_32:5). “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1Jn_1:9).
Leviticus 15:16
It is obvious that this is referring to venereal diseases. Today these diseases are like an epidemic. God guards against these social diseases. God is interested in the procreation of the race. God gave this gift to man for his good and inspiration, and so guards this system carefully. Man is always in danger of debasing himself in that which was to be one of the noblest experiences. Our Lord teaches that unholy desires and lustful thoughts are to be avoided, for they are sin. “Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart” (Mat_5:27-28).
Leviticus 15:19
RUNNING ISSUE OF THE WOMANThese verses evidently refer to the uncleanness of a woman during her normal menstrual period. She was separated from her friends and her loved ones during this period. She was treated as an outcast and a leper (Num_5:2). This seems to be unusually severe. The only explanation we have to offer is that this is a reminder of the fall of man as recorded in Genesis. The penalty was death. Man is reminded that he had a bad beginning and has nothing in which to glory. Sinful man can produce only sin.
Leviticus 15:25
This section deals with an abnormal issue. This gives rules for her separation and the fact that she contaminates the bed she lies on and anyone who touches the things which she contaminates. It also explains the offering she is to bring when she is cleansed of her issue. This gives us some insight into the plight of the woman with the issue of blood who came to Christ for healing (Luk_8:43-48). The Law had shut her out from contact with others, yet she touched Jesus. The Law had shut her out from the temple and from the public worship of God. The grace of our Lord healed her and restored her, and He commended her faith. Jesus is the fountain for the cleansing of the uncleanness of our hearts.
Leviticus 15:31
REPULSIVENESS AND REGULATIONS OF RUNNING ISSUESSexual sins are obviously under primary consideration in the closing verses of the chapter concerning running issues. It is referring to venereal disease, and death was the penalty for the failure to obey the commandments regulating running issues. Hidden sin is not a trivial matter to God. Neither does He ignore the secret sins of believers. “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are” (1Co_3:16-17). We belong to God and we are the temple of the Holy Spirit. Abuse of that temple can be a sin unto death. There is a sin unto death. “If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death.
There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it” (1Jn_5:16). It is possible for a believer to commit a sin so that God takes him home. There is no use praying for him, because God is going to take him home. How do you know what that sin is? You don’t know. But we are to remember that God deals with His own children in judgment when that is necessary.
That does not mean that everyone who dies is taken home under judgment. Yet, there is a sin unto death and God calls His children home when they continue to be disobedient. The disobedience may be in the area of secret sins. A mother may warn her little boy not to fight with the boy next door. She tells him that if they can’t play without fighting, he must come into the house. She may issue this warning several times and each time she finds him fighting. Finally, she goes out and gets precious little Willie and leads him into the house. Little Willie says, “Mama, I don’t want to come in,” but into the house he goes! He doesn’t want to come in, but neither will he obey. God is a good disciplinarian, by the way. Sometimes a child of His keeps on sinning and commits a sin unto death; so the Father just takes him on home. “But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear” (Isa_59:2). The child of God needs to recognize this and he needs to confess his sin. There can be secret sins which the believer does not confess. If, then, God strikes him down, let us not blame God for it. The blame lies with the individual. We are living in an age that has gone mad over sex. Sexual sins are rampant and venereal disease is becoming an epidemic. What a lesson we have in this chapter. I’m glad to close the page on this chapter because it is such an ugly picture. Yet, it is the picture of the human family and we are part of that family. We will come now to the sixteenth chapter and it is like going out of darkness into light. We have come out of a tunnel and will enter the clear noonday sun.