Clean hands in the new testament
In the New Testament, the concept of "clean hands" is not as prominent as it is in the Old Testament, where it is often associated with ritual purity and the need for ceremonial cleansing. However, there are still several passages that mention the importance of having "clean hands" or being "pure in heart" in a spiritual sense.
Here are a few examples:
- Matthew 5:8 - "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God." In this passage, Jesus is teaching about the importance of having a pure heart, which is often translated as "clean hands" in some translations.
- Acts 15:9 - "He made no distinction between us and them, cleansing their hearts by faith." In this passage, Peter is speaking about the inclusion of Gentiles (non-Jews) in the early Christian church, and how God has cleansed their hearts through faith.
- 1 Timothy 2:8 - "I want men everywhere to lift up holy hands in prayer, without anger or disputing." In this passage, Paul is encouraging believers to pray with "holy hands," which implies a sense of spiritual purity and reverence.
- Hebrews 10:22 - "Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water." In this passage, the author is encouraging believers to draw near to God with a sincere heart, and to have their consciences cleansed through faith.
In general, the concept of "clean hands" in the New Testament is more focused on the idea of spiritual purity and the need for believers to be cleansed from sin and guilt, rather than ritual purity and ceremonial cleansing.