Leviticus 6-7

“Also the flesh that touches anything unclean shall not be eaten; it shall be burned with fire” (7:19).  Unclean objects and people, in the Old Testament, had the power to transfer that uncleanness to others.  Unclean people (who had broken some ritual law, like touching a dead body) could not share in the peace offering meal (the sacrificed, roasted meat).  The categories of unclean/clean forced people to live thoughtfully, reinforcing their identity as “holy”, set apart from other cultures.

Jesus touched dead bodies, lepers, and sinful people.  His holiness can’t be damaged; instead we are the ones set free and transformed.