Articles and Notes
Purification After Childbirth
By
Terry Moore
and
Art Braidic
Jesus Christ said, “Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.” Certainly this indicates that law still stands as written today. However, certain aspects of the law and the prophets were fulfilled by Jesus Christ when He accomplished His transcendent atonement for mankind, and this required a change in the administration of the law (Heb. 7:12).
For example, in the past the law required that the Holy of Holies could only be entered by the high priest once a year at which time he would make several animal sacrifices for himself and the people (Lev. 16). This is no longer required as the author of Hebrews states:
The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing: Which was a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience; Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation. But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? (Hebrews 9:8-14)
Thus, we see that this aspect of the law continued until Christ fulfilled it at the time of reformation. It must be understood that this term “reformation” does not refer to the “restitution of all things” that will take place in the millennium. This word actually means “the correction” or “the rectification.” In other words, these aspects of the law stood until Christ fulfilled them, and by His doing so, a “course correction” was made.
For this reason, after Christ’s sacrifice and His ascension to the throne in heaven, He replaced the high priest (Heb. 3:1). His sacrifice the physical sacrifices no longer necessary, and did away with the Levitical temple, its priests, and the various washings for purification.
This does not mean that there is no longer any value in these ordinances. These statutes and judgments given to Israel, and recorded in the book of Leviticus, continue to be of great value. They outline physical and spiritual principles that give us a profound understanding of cleanliness and moral ethics in life—principles we should live by.
In this context, some married couples have asked the following question concerning the joyful, anticipated birth of a child. “Are we to abide by the laws of purification stated in Leviticus 12:1-8?” In answering this question, let’s review the account where God spoke directly to Moses.
And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, If a woman have conceived seed, and born a man child: then she shall be unclean seven days; according to the days of the separation for her infirmity shall she be unclean. And in the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised. And she shall then continue in the blood of her purifying three and thirty days; she shall touch no hallowed thing, nor come into the sanctuary, until the days of her purifying be fulfilled. But if she bear a maid child, then she shall be unclean two weeks, as in her separation: and she shall continue in the blood of her purifying threescore and six days. And when the days of her purifying are fulfilled, for a son, or for a daughter, she shall bring a lamb of the first year for a burnt offering, and a young pigeon, or a turtledove, for a sin offering, unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, unto the priest: Who shall offer it before the LORD, and make an atonement for her; and she shall be cleansed from the issue of her blood. This is the law for her that hath born a male or a female. And if she be not able to bring a lamb, then she shall bring two turtles, or two young pigeons; the one for the burnt offering, and the other for a sin offering: and the priest shall make an atonement for her, and she shall be clean (Leviticus 12:1-8).
As we examine the verses above, there are several aspects of this ordinance that do not, and cannot, apply to Christians living today. There are in fact six reasons that demonstrate why this purification ceremony is no longer applicable.
The first thing to understand is the context of this passage. These are ordinances directly connected with attending a temple service being performed under the Levitical priesthood—the environment in which the priests ministered to God. Therefore, this ordinance of women after giving birth specifically required them to refrain from attending the temple service until the allotted time had been fulfilled. This ordinance does not apply to attending meetings of any other kind.
A second point is that this ordinance is directly related to circumcision. Church leaders judged the act of circumcision as being no longer necessary (Acts 15). Since, this act is a direct part of the purification ritual, the rest of the ceremony is therefore also no longer necessary.
The third reason is that this ordinance is intimately connected to the sacrifice of animals which is no longer required at this time. Jesus is our sacrifice and we are not required to take the lives of animals in order to provide a means for forgiveness of sins and atonement to God. Christ did this for us and instead of an animal sacrifice, we are required to be a living sacrifice as we daily give up parts of our life to Him in obedience and service (Rom. 12:1-2).
A fourth point is that this ordinance is a ceremonial law having to do with physical cleanliness. We are clean through Christ’s sacrifice and washed from our sins through baptism and by His blood (Rev. 1:5). Therefore we no longer need this physical ceremony to make us clean.
The fifth reason is that there is a distinction made between a male and a female child in this ordinance. The statute indicates that the mother shall be unclean for 7 plus 33 days if the child is a male, and 14 plus 66 days if it is a female. In this Old Covenant ordinance, there seems to be a preference towards the male. However, the New Testament states that there is no longer a difference between male and female, Jew or Gentile, when coming to God.
For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise (Galatians 3:26-29).
Christ has made it possible for all to come unto Him. There is no distinction between race and gender. If we are dedicated to Him, then spiritually, we are of Abraham’s seed and will receive the promise made to Israel.
A sixth reason that this ordinance is not required today is that, it is a part of the washing and purification rites performed under the Levitical priesthood. Since we are not under the Levites, and Christ is now our High Priest, these purification rites are not required. This is spelled out in Hebrews chapter 9 as shown above.
The issue for Christians today is not purification of our flesh by ritual washings and sacrifices. We are to be washed by Christ’s blood so that we have a pure conscience. This is the purification that God seeks, not physical purification.
These various laws of purification and animal sacrifices were never a part of God’s intended meaning for us, or even for ancient Israel. Because physical Israel was to foreshadow spiritual Israel—the Church—God had planned that each head of the Israelite household was to be a type of priest (I Cor. 10:11; Exo. 19:6; I Pet. 2:9). After the people sinned with the golden calf, God instituted the Levitical system of priests as a constant reminder of sin to the people. Regarding the sacrificial law, Paul explains:
Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator (Galatians 3:19).
God gave the Israelites a sacrificial system and the laws of purification as learning tools. As Paul writes in the book of Galatians, they were a schoolmaster to teach Israel the need for being clean and demonstrate the terrible cost of sin.
Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster (Galatians 3:24-25).
By these verses we realize that the laws pertained to the Levitical system was a guide to lead us in understanding what was required of Christ, and ourselves, after He came. Now that Christ has come and fulfilled what these sacrificial purification laws portrayed, He has made them obsolete.
However, the fact that they are no longer directly applicable does not mean there is no value in them. There is always the enduring moral principle in all of God’s laws. And while some may not be required of us today, there is an aspect of them that can, and should, be applied where appropriate.
We have been purified by Jesus Christ and we are to offer ourselves as a sacrifice daily—striving to become a Priest in His Kingdom. In addition, this Old Covenant Levitical ordinance helps us to understand the need for cleanliness. There is a need for separation when illness and disease is upon us, and when blood has been involved to prevent the spread of infection.
In this, there is also a need for the mother to stay home for a time in order to insure that she is healthy and has fully recuperated before any stressful or tiring activity is engaged. Thus, this ordinance, while not required as an official observance, reveals principles of health and safety that serve as an inspired guide for any new mother.