In biblical terms, a "contaminated article" refers to objects that have become ritually unclean or impure according to the laws and customs outlined in the Scriptures. The concept of ritual purity is a significant theme in the Old Testament, particularly in the books of Leviticus and Numbers, where various laws are given to the Israelites to maintain holiness and cleanliness before God.

Old Testament Context

The Book of Leviticus provides detailed instructions on what constitutes a contaminated article and how such items should be handled. Leviticus 11:32-33 states, "When one of them dies and falls on something, it becomes unclean—any article of wood, clothing, leather, or sackcloth, or any implement used for work. It must be put into water, and it will remain unclean until evening; then it will be clean." This passage highlights that contact with a dead animal renders an object unclean, necessitating a purification process.

Leviticus 15 further elaborates on the concept of contamination through bodily discharges, stating that any bed or object a person with a discharge touches becomes unclean. Leviticus 15:12 instructs, "The clay pot that the man with the discharge touches must be broken, and any wooden utensil must be rinsed with water." This underscores the importance of maintaining ritual purity and the measures required to restore cleanliness.

Purification and Restoration

The process of purification often involved washing with water and waiting until evening, as seen in Leviticus 11:32. In some cases, more elaborate rituals were required, such as the use of sacrificial offerings or the ashes of a red heifer, as described in Numbers 19. Numbers 19:18 states, "Then a man who is clean is to take hyssop, dip it in the water, and sprinkle it on the tent, on all the furnishings, and on the people who were there, and on anyone who touched a bone, a grave, a person who had been killed, or a person who had died a natural death."

Symbolism and Spiritual Implications

The laws concerning contaminated articles serve as a physical representation of spiritual truths. They illustrate the pervasive nature of sin and the need for purification to approach a holy God. The meticulous attention to cleanliness in the Old Testament foreshadows the ultimate purification through Jesus Christ, who cleanses believers from sin. Hebrews 9:13-14 reflects this transition from ritual to spiritual purity: "For if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that their bodies are clean, how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from works of death, so that we may serve the living God!"

New Testament Perspective

In the New Testament, the focus shifts from external ritual purity to internal spiritual purity. Jesus often challenged the Pharisees and religious leaders who emphasized outward cleanliness while neglecting the heart's condition. In Mark 7:15 , Jesus teaches, "Nothing that enters a man from the outside can defile him, but what comes out of a man, that is what defiles him." This teaching emphasizes that true contamination arises from within, from sinful thoughts and actions, rather than from external objects.

The Apostle Paul also addresses issues of purity and conscience in his letters, encouraging believers to live lives that reflect their sanctification in Christ. In 1 Corinthians 6:11 , Paul reminds the church, "And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God."

Conclusion

The concept of contaminated articles in the Bible serves as a profound reminder of the holiness required by God and the provision He has made for cleansing through Christ. While the Old Testament laws provided a framework for understanding purity, the New Testament reveals the fulfillment of these laws in the person and work of Jesus, who offers true and lasting purification for all who believe.