–February 17, 2020–

The passages in Leviticus mention the phrase “without blemish” thirteen times. This concept of purity is not exclusive to Leviticus either. Its significance is reiterated throughout the Old Testament and New Testament. In Genesis, the conflict between Cain and Abel is partially characterized by the quality of the gifts they offered to God. The gifts Abel offered were of a higher quality, requiring effort, while Cain’s were effortless. Additionally, one can argue that Cain’s offerings were blemished by his selfish intentions to claim glory for himself, making his offerings less desirable in the eyes of the Lord. Furthermore, in the Gospels, Jesus Christ is described as an unblemished lamb meant to be sacrificed for the sake of humanity. Suffice to say, purity is a quality that is incredibly important to God. This begs the question, what is purity and what sets apart something that is pure from being impure?

As discussed by Mary Douglas, there are certain characteristics that are associated with purity and impurity that are consistent throughout the Bible. Wholeness, integrity, and cleanliness are associated with purity, while perversion, hybridization, and filthiness are associated with impurity. Why would we want something to be pure? This does not seem to be asking for a lot. When we go to a grocery store and pick out a hamburger patty, we hope that our purchase is not rotten or diseased. It is common to expect that the product in which you are investing is top quality. It is a similar case with God. Humanity is made in the image and likeness of God; therefore, it is expected that they will maintain the same standards of quality as Him. Humanity offering sacrifices to God is like God’s investment in humanity paying off. If his investment returns in less than ideal conditions, it is a poor investment.