Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; And having an high priest over the house of God; Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. ~ Hebrews 10:19-22

What is this washing of our bodies of which the writer of Hebrews speaks? The easiest explanation is that it refers to water baptism, but does it?

If the text had simply said, “our bodies washed with water,” baptism would be more plausible, but it doesn’t actually say that. It says, “our bodies washed with pure water.”

The description of pure water as a reference to water baptism is a little difficult for me, especially in view of the fact that  Jesus was baptized in the Jordan river, and rivers like the Jordan can be muddy.

Also, the New Testament doesn’t actually depict baptism as a washing. Baptism is symbolic of a burial. In Romans 6, Paul writes, Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. ~ Romans 6:4

Peter tells us in his letters that water baptism is the pledge of a clear conscience toward God, and not the actual cleansing of the body. 

The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ… ~1 Peter 3;21

Baptism is as an act of obedience proclaiming that we have died to the old life, which is being buried by baptism, and we are now going to follow Christ by walking in the newness of life by the same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead.

I think there is a powerful truth in what the writer of Hebrews is telling us that is often missed. That is why we must approach the text with everything in mind that we have learned from the epistle about Christ, the finished work of Christ, and his ministry as our Great High Priest.

The word washed in this text comes from the Hebrew word, louó, meaning to wash, bathe. It is only used 4 other times in the New Testament. One of those is found in John 13:10.

Let’s examine John 13:10 within its context by reading verses 3-10, and consider how it might shed some light for us as to the meaning of the Hebrews text.

Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he was come from God, and went to God; He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself. After that he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded. Then cometh he to Simon Peter: and Peter saith unto him, Lord, dost thou wash my feet? Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter. Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me. Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head. Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all. ~ John 13:3-10

That last line, ye are clean, but not all is a reference to Judas, who betrayed Jesus. Take note that Jesus says, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter.  Though he was Lord of all, Jesus had served the disciples by washing their feet. This washing did not mean that their feet only was clean, but that their whole person had been washed because it was Jesus who had taken the towel and served them. 

He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean…

The writer of Hebrews guides through the High Priestly ministry of Jesus, and in doing so he shows us how Jesus fulfilled all that was foreshadowed under the Old Priesthood which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation. ~ Hebrews 9:10

He follows this by saying, 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 9:11-14

Notice that he mentions the blood of bulls and of goats and the ashes of an heifer. Under the Old Testament, when the Levites were consecrated for ministry service, they were consecrated by the water of purification (Numbers 8:7) which was also called the water for separation (Numbers 19:9).

This water was composed of running water that was poured into a vessel with the ashes of a red heifer (Numbers 19). This water served as a means of ritual cleansing for the entire congregation in cases such as when someone had touched a dead body.

The Hebrew word for running, aka running water (Numbers 19:17) is chay, which means, Alive, living, life. This water was known as Living water.

Through the finished work of Christ we are sanctified, washed and cleansed, and this happens by the Spirit of the Lord (Titus 3:5), and as our Great High Priest Jesus ever lives to make intercession for us, providing a continuous cleansing from sin for our conscience by his blood, and a continuous washing of our bodies as the temple of His Holy Spirit. 

Paul tells the Corinthians that our bodies are members of Christ (1 Corinthians 6:15), and to the Thessalonians, he says, the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. ~ 1 Thessalonians 5:23

Paul also speaks of the washing of water by the word in his letter to the Ephesians, and Jesus said to his disciples,
Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. ~ John 15:3

Our bodies belong to God and Christ, and though they are currently in a state of daily decaying, we have the hope that our bodies will one day experience resurrection power. Until then, we can rest in Jesus who ministers as our Great High Priest to wash us and make us clean in his presence. Because he has purified our hearts by his own blood, our bodies can be washed for service and as the house for the indwelling of his Holy Spirit.

Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.

May the Lord open our eyes to see, our ears to hear, and our hearts to understand. Blessings…