Purified

There were no exceptions and no excuses. Everyone had to be purified. The standard was a burnt offering of a year-old lamb, foreshadowing Jesus as the “Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). Also, those too poor to bring a lamb could offer “a young pigeon or a turtledove” as a sin offering.

No one was left out. If a family could not afford a lamb, they could offer two turtledoves or pigeons. Mary and Joseph obeyed this provision when they offered “a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons” as Jesus was presented in the Temple (Luke 2:22-24).

Purification was central to life for the Israelites. No one could approach God without being purified from sin. When David was weighed down with sin, he cried out, “Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin” (Psalm 51:2). He came to God, crying, “Purify me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow” (Psalm 51:7). He asked God to “create in me a clean heart” (Psalm 51:10).

Believers are taught that we are to “draw near to God and He will draw near to you”— we are to cleanse our hands and purify our hearts (James 4:8).

Don’t be weighed down by sin, burdens, guilt, fear, or worry. God can make you clean right now. Remember, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).