How long were the Old Testament washings and ordinances enforced?
The Old Testament washings and carnal ordinances were imposed only until the time of the Reformation. They stood in meats, drinks, and washings, which the Greek calls baptisms. These were symbolic, temporary regulations, not able to remove sin, and they ended when the Reformation came.
Les teaches that the Old Testament washings and ordinances were imposed on Israel only until the time of the Reformation. He explains that the sacrificial lamb, the sprinkling of blood, and approaching a holy God on holy ground were all symbolic back then, standing only in meats, drinks, washings, and carnal ordinances. The Greek word translated 'washings' is baptism, so these were baptisms—ceremonial cleansings. The Jew was perfectly aware of what John was doing: it indicated a cleansing, even though the water could not do it. The water could not take away sin, but it was a symbolic gesture indicating a need for a spiritual cleansing.
Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation.
What were the Old Testament ceremonial pictures limited to until the time of the Reformation?
The Old Testament ceremonial pictures were limited to meats, drinks, washings (baptisms), and carnal ordinances. Hebrews 9:10 says these symbolic practices—the sacrificial lamb, sprinkling of blood, and approaching a holy God—were imposed on them until the time of the Reformation.
What is the Greek word behind the English word 'washings' in Hebrews 9:10?
The Greek word translated “washings” in Hebrews 9:10 is baptism. If translators had rendered it as they did elsewhere in the New Testament, the verse would read “meats, and drinks, and baptisms.” It pictured a cleansing, though water itself could not take away sin.
More Questions
What is the Greek word translated 'washings' in Hebrews 9:10?
The Greek word translated 'washings' in Hebrews 9:10 is the word for baptism; if translated consistently, the verse would read 'baptisms.'
What did the writer of Hebrews say about the Old Testament ceremonies being symbolic and temporary?
The old-covenant sacrificial lamb, blood sprinkling, and the approach to a holy God were symbolic practices that consisted only of meats, drinks, washings, and carnal ordinances imposed until the time of the Reformation.