Having realized that the human body is currently mortal and subject to decay, it is wisdom to CARE FOR YOUR BODY. The Bible teaches that.
In Ephesians 5, Paul uses the imagery of how a man cares for his physical body to teach how Christ cares for the Church and how husbands should love their wives.
Ephesians 5:25-29 (NKJV)
25 Husbands, LOVE YOUR WIVES, just as Christ also LOVED the church and gave Himself for her, 26 that He might SANCTIFY and CLEANSE her with the WASHING OF WATER by the word, 27 that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having SPOT or WRINKLE or ANY SUCH THING, but that she should be HOLY and WITHOUT BLEMISH. 28 So husbands ought to love their own wives AS THEIR OWN BODIES; he who loves his wife loves himself. 29 For NO ONE EVER HATED HIS OWN FLESH, but NOURISHES and CHERISHES it, just as the Lord does the church.
Although Paul’s primary concern here is ecclesiology (the Church) and family life, we may glean very important truths about caring for our PHYSICAL BODIES from the same:
• Christ loves His body (the Church), we are to love ours (vs. 25).
• Christ cleansed His Church (from all spiritual spots and blemishes) with the water of the Word, we are to cleanse our spots and blemishes with physical water and soap (vv. 26-27).
• No one should hate his flesh (vs. 29). The word “hated” here translates the Greek word “miseó” (μισέω). It means to treat lightly, with disdain; to disregard to esteem little.
The flesh (body) is to be nourished and cherished. The word “nourishes” translates the Greek word “ektrephei” (ἐκτρέφει). It means to nurture, feed; to give it what it needs to grow and mature.
The word “cherishes” translates the Greek word “thalpei” (θάλπει). It literally means “to warm.” It means to foster (give tender care to). This is how man OUGHT to treat his flesh, how Christ treats His Church and how a man ought to treat his wife!
Observe the words Paul uses: Nourishes, does not hate, cherishes. These are words which denote care for the physical body—this is how we should show care for our bodies.
You cannot afford to treat your body lightly. The Bible teaches otherwise! In fact, things like illicit, indiscriminate sex dishonours your body which is God’s temple.
1 Corinthians 6:15-20 (NKJV)
15 Do you not know that YOUR BODIES ARE MEMBERS OF CHRIST? Shall I then take the MEMBERS OF CHRIST and make them MEMBERS OF A HARLOT? CERTAINLY NOT! 16 Or do you not know that he who is joined to a harlot is ONE BODY with her? For “the two,” He says, “shall become one flesh.” 17 But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him. 18 FLEE SEXUAL IMMORALITY. Every sin that a man does is OUTSIDE THE BODY, but he who commits sexual immorality SINS AGAINST HIS OWN BODY. 19 Or do you not know that your body is THE TEMPLE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT who is IN YOU, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? 20 For you were bought at a price; therefore GLORIFY GOD IN YOUR BODY and in your spirit, which are God’s.
Not only does sexual immorality dishonour your body, you could also contract an STD and die! So, to grow your body to its fullest potential, nurture it. To avoid STDs, avoid illicit sex.
Now, imagine if someone disregards his body and continues in indiscriminate sex. When he eventually comes down with an STD, can he ask, “Why didn’t God protect me?” Of course not! God expected him to walk in wisdom. So how do you KEEP your health sound? Simple, by using common sense!
Here are more practical examples to further illustrate this point:
• A person healed of a lung disease who continues to smoke might come down with the same disease (or even worse) AGAIN.
When he does, he can’t ask “Why wasn’t my healing permanent?” He should know that his body is still mortal. If the body is left susceptible, it can come down with the SAME sickness AGAIN! Wise steps must be taken to KEEP your healing.
• A songstress who makes an habit of yelling, who does not warm up her vocal cords regularly or stay hydrated etc will soon lose her voice. She should not mistake what God’s power does for what SHE should do!
• A man healed of cirrhosis of the liver who continues his chronic abuse of alcoholic beverages could damage his liver again.
• A person healed of an eye defect stands the risk of developing another if he continuously stares at bright screens (e.g. phone or computer screens) for prolonged periods of time.
Simple things like putting devices on Dark Mode, using antiglare technology, wearing photochromic glasses etc can prevent permanent eye damage, headaches, inability to sleep at night etc.
If he doesn’t do the needful, he would destroy his eyes yet again. Such are the ones who start blaming God for not “preventing it.” But the problem wasn’t with God in the first place. This is why many Christians end up being unnecessarily mad at God—they expect HIM to do what THEY should be doing.
• Even in issues not related to health. A person who refuses to service his car or wear seatbelts, who drives drunk etc because Psalm 91 promises the ministry of angels (vv. 11-12) is walking in folly. He might have an accident soon, resulting in loss of life or limb.
• A more common example here is in a pandemic situation.
During the worldwide lockdown (as the covid-19 virus claimed several lives), some Christians expressed their anger with the Government for quarantine and isolation laws, and for stopping public gatherings. Those Christians definitely have no Biblical basis for their actions. God’s Word instructs us to obey civic leaders (see Rom 13:1-7, 1 Peter 2:13-17).
When several people have been infected and we can’t ascertain who they are, isn’t it common sense to isolate everyone till we do? This would stop further spread of the disease!
The act of quarantining is actually found in the Bible. The Law of Moses instructed that the infected should be isolated from the congregation.
Leviticus 13:4 (NKJV)
4 But if the bright spot is white on the skin of his body, and does not appear to be deeper than the skin, and its hair has not turned white, then the priest SHALL ISOLATE the one who has the sore SEVEN DAYS.
This Law continues in vv. 45-46 of Leviticus 13, “Now the leper on whom the sore is, his clothes shall be torn and his head bare; and he shall cover his mustache, and cry, ‘Unclean! Unclean!’ He shall be unclean. All the days he has the sore he shall be unclean. He is unclean, and HE SHALL DWELL ALONE; his dwelling shall be OUTSIDE THE CAMP.”
The leper in Israel was not allowed to come amongst the people (this is quarantine). Leprosy is HIGHLY contagious. If he needed to come around people, he would have to shout “Unclean, Unclean!” so no one would come near him.
Similiarly in 2 Kings 15:5, Azariah the king was isolated, when he fell ill with leprosy, “Then the Lord struck the king, so that he was a leper until the day of his death; so he dwelt in AN ISOLATED HOUSE. And Jotham the king’s son was over the royal house, judging the people of the land.” So even political leaders were not excused from this law.
Those who had a contagious disease were not allowed to live with others. They were kept in a separate house.
2 Chronicles 26:21 (NKJV)
21 King Uzziah was a leper until the day of his death. HE DWELT IN AN ISOLATED HOUSE, BECAUSE HE WAS A LEPER; for he was CUT OFF FROM the house of the Lord. Then Jotham his son was over the king’s house, judging the people of the land.
The anger at temporary restrictions on gatherings is therefore unnecessary.
Some other simple things like washing your hands and using face masks, especially after touching the sick (or being in a crowd where several sick persons might be) is also found in Scripture.
Leviticus 15:1-12 (NKJV)
1 And the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying, 2 “Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: ‘When any man HAS A DISCHARGE FROM HIS BODY, his discharge is unclean. 3 And this shall be his uncleanness in regard to his discharge—whether his body runs with his discharge, or his body is stopped up by his discharge, it is his uncleanness. 4 EVERY BED IS UNCLEAN ON WHICH HE WHO HAS THE DISCHARGE LIES, and EVERYTHING ON WHICH HE SITS SHALL BE UNCLEAN. 5 And WHOEVER TOUCHES HIS BED shall WASH HIS CLOTHES and BATHE IN WATER, and be unclean until evening. 6 He who SITS on anything on which he who has the discharge sat shall WASH HIS CLOTHES and BATHE IN WATER, and be unclean until evening. 7 And he who TOUCHES THE BODY of him who has the discharge shall WASH HIS CLOTHES and BATHE IN WATER, and be unclean until evening. 8 If he who has the discharge SPITS on him who is clean, then he shall WASH HIS CLOTHES and BATHE IN WATER, and be unclean until evening. 9 Any SADDLE on which he who has the discharge RIDES shall be UNCLEAN. 10 Whoever TOUCHES ANYTHING that was UNDER HIM shall be unclean until evening. He who carries any of those things shall WASH HIS CLOTHES and BATHE IN WATER, and be UNCLEAN until evening. 11 And whomever the one who has the discharge touches, and HAS NOT RINSED HIS HANDS IN WATER (this is hand sanitization, in today’s world), he SHALL WASH HIS CLOTHES and BATHE IN WATER, and be unclean until evening. 12 The vessel of earth (clay pots) that he who has the discharge TOUCHES shall BE BROKEN, and every vessel of wood shall be RINSED IN WATER.
This might appear too harsh, but the rationale behind these laws was to prevent the spread of diseases.
Isn’t it interesting that God told Israel He was their Healer (Exo 15:26), yet they followed the basic laws of hygiene? Thus, being circumspect (health-wise) does not mean you don’t trust God! You can have both faith and good hygiene.
Do you see therefore, that the Bible teaches using common sense to prevent the spread of diseases. This how to KEEP your healing and health.
But didn’t Jesus condemn hygiene in Mark 7?
Mark 7:1-4 (NKJV)
1 Then the Pharisees and some of the scribes came together to Him, having come from Jerusalem. 2 Now when they saw some of His disciples eat bread with DEFILED, that is, with UNWASHED HANDS, they FOUND FAULT. 3 For the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat UNLESS they WASH THEIR HANDS in A SPECIAL WAY, holding the TRADITION OF THE ELDERS. 4 When they come from the marketplace, THEY DO NOT EAT UNLESS THEY WASH. And there are MANY OTHER THINGS which THEY HAVE RECEIVED and hold, like the WASHING of CUPS, pitchers, copper vessels, and couches.
At surface value, this appears to be good hygiene. The Pharisees seem to be concerned with cleanliness. There is nothing wrong in washing your hands or utensils.
But Jesus found fault with what they did. What was the issue here? Vv. 5-8 tell the reader:
5 Then the Pharisees and scribes asked Him, “Why do Your disciples not walk according to the TRADITION OF THE ELDERS, but eat bread with unwashed hands?” 6 He answered and said to them, “Well did Isaiah prophesy of you HYPOCRITES, as it is written:
‘This people honors Me WITH THEIR LIPS, but their HEART is far from Me. 7 And IN VAIN THEY WORSHIP ME, teaching as DOCTRINES the COMMANDMENTS OF MEN.’ (quoting Isaiah 29:13) 8 For LAYING ASIDE the COMMANDMENT of God, you hold the TRADITION OF MEN —the washing of pitchers and cups, and many other such things you do.”
This was the problem—they were using personal hygiene as worship, as a way to be justified before God! Washing one’s hands is good, but washing one’s hands sure does not make one righteous—the Pharisees taught that it did! So they were being legalistic and hypocritical; their “worship” was also for eyeservice, to have a good reputation before the people.
Jesus is clear that physical impurities cannot corrupt/defile a man spiritually, in vv. 14-23:
14 When He had called all the multitude to Himself, He said to them, “Hear Me, everyone, and understand: 15 There is nothing that ENTERS A MAN FROM OUTSIDE which can DEFILE HIM (spiritually); but the things which come out of him, those are the things that defile a man (spiritually). 16 If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear!” 17 When He had entered a house away from the crowd, His disciples asked Him concerning the parable. 18 So He said to them, “Are you thus without understanding also? Do you not perceive that whatever enters a man from outside cannot defile him, 19 because it DOES NOT ENTER HIS HEART (his spirit or inner being) but his STOMACH, and is ELIMINATED, thus PURIFYING ALL FOODS?” 20 And He said, “What comes out of a man, that defiles a man. 21 For from within, out of the HEART OF MEN, proceed EVIL THOUGHTS, adulteries, fornications, murders, 22 thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness. 23 All these evil things come from WITHIN and defile a man.”
Physically, one can eat things that make him defiled! A person can get food poisoning from eating decaying food. But this ends in the body, having no influence on the moral state of the person (his spirit).
So Jesus was not condemning the Pharisees for good hygiene. But using good hygiene AS A MEANS to be justified before God was erroneous. Their motives were altogether wrong. This is Jesus’ point here.
Feeding.
Another area where wisdom is required is in feeding. The Scriptures teach us even concerning what we are to eat and especially HOW we are to eat.
A Christian must not be a glutton.
Proverbs 23:20-21 (NKJV)
20 Do not mix with WINEBIBBERS, or with GLUTTONOUS EATERS OF MEAT 21 For the DRUNKARD and the GLUTTON will come to poverty, and drowsiness will clothe a man with rags.
If peradventure, you are healed of a cardiovascular disease, but you maintain an unhealthy lifestyle afterwards (i.e. by excessive consumption of greasy foods, not exercising regularly etc), you may develop similiar problem AGAIN, and even die from it.
You must be therefore be careful. Remember, even the healed body is still mortal. The wise person who has been healed does EVERYTHING, both physically and spiritually, to REMAIN healed!
© Josh Banks Ministries. 2022.
