Leviticus 15 cleanliness is next to godliness bible verse
"Cleanliness is Next to Godliness": Meaning and Origin
Cleanliness is a concept deeply ingrained in various cultures and religions worldwide. The phrase "Cleanliness is next to Godliness" is often attributed to the teachings of John Wesley, an influential leader in the Methodist movement.
Cleanliness is Next to Godliness Meaning
The saying "cleanliness is next to godliness" suggests that being clean is nearly as important as being morally upright. It also implies the significance of maintaining personal hygiene and a tidy living environment. In Christianity, this idea isn't just about keeping our bodies and homes clean. It also means keeping our hearts and minds clean. This internal cleanliness involves virtues like kindness, honesty, and faith.
Internal cleanliness of virtue means doing what is right and good. It means being kind to others, telling the truth, and helping those in need. These good actions and attitudes make our hearts pure. When our hearts are pure, we are more like God wants us to be. The Bible teaches that God looks at the heart, not just our outward actions. So, being clean inside is very important to our faith.
Faith is also a big part of internal cle
Articles
Published: 23rd August 2023
You’ve probably heard the saying “cleanliness is next to godliness.” A friend of mine lived on campus at Liberty University, the Baptist college founded by Jerry Falwell, and he said the staff would cite this proverb to motivate the students to keep things tidy and clean, including their personal hygiene. Is this saying true?
Let’s start with this passage:
15But just as he who called you is holy, so be holyin all you do; 16for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”
1 Peter 1:15-16
Peter was quoting the book of Leviticus:
44“I am the Lord your God; consecrate yourselves and be holy, because I am holy. Do not make yourselves unclean by any creature that moves along the ground. 45I am the Lord, who brought you up out of Egypt to be your God; therefore be holy, because I am holy.”
Leviticus 11:44-45
“Speak to the entire assembly of Israel and say to them: ‘Be holy because I, the LORD your God, am holy.’ “
Leviticus 19:2
While the context of the first passage is in reference to the Hebrews staying away from unclean foods, the second verse was a general instruc
Cleanliness is Next to Godliness
The group of words “cleanliness is next to godliness” is often quoted as if it comes directly from the Bible, but it is not a biblical verse. While the exact phrase does not materialize in Scripture, the concept of cleanliness-both physical and spiritual-is indeed emphasized in the Bible. From a biblical perspective, cleanliness is important because it reflects the purity, holiness, and order that God desires in our lives. Understanding this phrase from a biblical viewpoint involves exploring the significance of both physical and spiritual cleanliness in Scripture.
The Beginning of the Phrase
Historical Background
The statement “cleanliness is next to godliness” is commonly attributed to John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, who used it in a sermon in the 18th century. However, the idea has ancient roots, with similar sentiments create in various cultures and religious traditions long before Wesley’s hour. The notion that physical cleanliness has moral and spiritual implications has been a part of human thinking for centuries.
Not a Biblical Verse
It’s important to clarify that while the Bible emphasizes cleanliness, the specific phrase “cleanliness is next t
You know, there are a few phrases that I have heard Christians use so much that they begin to believe them to be in the Bible somewhere. These include:
“God won’t give you more than you can handle.”
“God helps those who help themselves.”
“Cleanliness is next to godliness.”
While all three of these phrases have potential biblical principles, the actual phrases are NOT found in the Scriptures. Are you surprised? Maybe so… However, we can understand them and apply them to our lives from the Scriptures that teach these principles. Let’s take a look at the last one and break it down a little.
“Cleanliness is next to godliness.”
There are passages found in the Old Testament that teach the people of Israel to be clean people. Shortly before the nation of Israel entered the Promised Land, God said that He would protect them from “terrible diseases” (Deuteronomy 7:15). One way He accomplished this was by giving them specific instructions on hygiene. For example:
- There were specific instructions about bathing and washing clothes – Leviticus 15:4-27
- There were specific instructions about where to go to the bathroom to relieve yourself – Deuteronomy
Pulpit Commentary Homiletics
Uncleanness
Leviticus 15:1-33
J.A. Macdonald
Had sin never entered, there had been no disease. Diseases are consequences of sin; their symptoms are therefore taken as emblems of it. So when our Lord miraculously "healed all manner of sickness, and all manner of disease," he evinced ability to remove all corresponding moral evil. The examples specified in the Law are typical or representative, and are such as have symptoms pronounced and visible.I. THOSE WHO HAD ISSUES IN THE FLESH WERE UNCLEAN.
1.Out of a pure heart are the issues of life (see Proverbs 4:23).
(1) The blood, which is the life of the flesh, issuing from the heart, passes along the arteries to the extremities of the body, and carries nourishment to every part.
(2) This is a fine emblem of the heart of the "good treasure," whose influence upon any corporation, whether domestic, civic, or ecclesiastic, is life-giving (Luke 6:45). But:
2.Out of a foul heart are the issues of death.
(1) If the blood is poisoned at its source, the poison is carried to the extremities, and will break out in ulcers and purulent issues.
(2) As these symptoms declare the boldness of the bloo