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 blood at the heart, which, if not purified, must terminate in mortification and death, so arc they appropriate emblems of moral impurity (see Matthew 12:34, 35; Mark 7:20-23; James 1:21).

(3) Or if the blood, which is the life, flow away from the body, that also is a fitting emblem of sin which is spiritual death. Therefore the woman who has an issue of blood is accounted unclean, as being in that condition in which the streams of the fountain of life are diverted from their uses of health and nourishment. Those who reject the life-giving efficacy of the gospel are morally dead, and must, if they remain so, rot in their iniquities (see Lamentations 1:9, 17; Ezekiel 36:17).

3. The Law enjoined the separation of the unclean.

(1) They must not come into the tabernacle. They are unfit to stand in God's presence or to mingle with his people. They must not eat of the holy things. They are in no moral condition to hold fellowship with God and his Church (see Psalm 24:4; Matthew 5:8).

(2) They have to remove outside the camp, like the leper (see Numbers 5:2, 3). There they must remain until they are healed and cleansed.

(3) They transgress these bounds at their peril. They may be stoned to death by the people, or God himself may deal with them (verse 31; Exodus 19:12, 13). The profane under the gospel have a "much sorer punishment" (see Hebrews 10:26-31).

II. THEY RENDERED UNCLEAN WHATEVER THEY TOUCHED.

1. This signified the contagion of sin.

(1) Persons were rendered unclean by contact with them (verses 7, 19, 26). We cannot have fellowship with sin and with God (1 Corinthians 5:11; 1 Corinthians 15:33; 2 Corinthians 6:15-18; Ephesians 4:29; James 4:4).

(2) Things touched by them were also rendered unclean. The bed, the chair, the saddle, etc. (verses 4, 12, 20). These things may represent men in their properties or attributes, or in their usages, which are all damaged by the influence of sin (1 Thessalonians 4:4).

(3) Those who touched things rendered unclean by contact, also became unclean (verses 5, 6, 21-23). What a picture of the spreading power of evil example! How careful should we be to save ourselves from the untoward generation!

2. Ever, when cured they must be cleansed.

(1) Genuine repentance may cure sinful habits, but does not cancel guilt nor purify from sin. The utmost it could do is to prevent accumulations of guilt; the old score remains to be dealt with It does not touch the depravity of the heart (see Matthew 23:25).

(2) Time is given to test the cure. Where the disease was rooted, "seven days" of quarantine were required (see verses 13, 24, 28). The repentance of a moment after a life of evil habits may prove illusive.

(3) Where no disease existed, but uncleanness was contracted by contact, the quarantine was "until the even." The time here indicated was that of the evening sacrifice, which pointed significantly to the evening of the Jewish day, otherwise called the "end of the world" or age, viz. when Jesus "appeared to put away sin [sacrifices] by the sacrifice of himself," and remove ritual obligations.

3. Observe the ceremonies of cleansing.

(1) Some who were made clean by contact had to wash their hands (verse 11; comp. Luke 11:38-41). This was when they were passive when the contact was inflicted. But if they neglected to rinse their hands, then they were as though they were active, so they had to wash their flesh and their clothes, and be unclean until the even. No special sacrifices were prescribed. They availed themselves of the daily sacrifice ever on the altar. So in our contact with the moral filth of this world, which is often unavoidable, we have the fountain of the house of David ever flowing, to enable us, almost without an interruption, to walk in the light (see 2 Corinthians 7:1; 1 John 1:7; comp. John 13:10).

(2) The person healed of an issue had to bathe his flesh and wash his clothes on the seventh day, when he became "clean." So far he cleansed himself. The spirit of the Law was fulfilled thus far if he put away all his evil ways (see Isaiah 1:16; Matthew 15:20; James 4:8). He was clean so far as repentance could make him so, which was externally only, or before his fellow-men.

(3) He still needed the removal of sin from his soul. He had, therefore, now on the eighth day, to bring his sin offering and burnt offering, that with these the priest should "make an atonement for him before the Lord for his issue" (verses l4, 15, 29, 30). Christ is the Healer and Cleanser (comp. Matthew 8:16, 17, with Isaiah 53:4, 5). - J.A.M.

2. Again, we learn that human nature is the ever-flowing fountain of uncleanness. It is hopelessly defiled and defiling.

3. Finally, we learn, afresh, the expiatory value of the blood of Christ, and the cleansing, sanctifying virtues of the precious Word of God. When we think of the unsullied purity of the sanctuary, and then reflect upon nature's irremediable defilement, and ask the question, "However can we enter and dwell there?" the answer is found in "the blood and water" which flowed from the side of a crucified Christ — a Christ who gave up His life unto death for us, that we might live by Him.

(C. H. Mackintosh.)