Katharos (adjective): clean (literally or figuratively); pure; free from sin or guilt
This summer, I was challenged to research and preach on a “Great Word” with “Big Ideas”. This blog post arose out of my preparation for that sermon….
Katharos is a Greek word that had rich meaning before becoming a Christian word, which has only evolved into more depth as application of the word has expanded. The classical, traditional meaning is simply “clean”, and even more simply, “Physically clean”. In the Old testament, it is use more in this manner, and particularly as it refers to “ceremonial cleanliness”. For example, the religious leaders had to be clean to approach the alter of God, to be cleansed to be fit for the service of God.
In scripture, this meaning of Katharos is used to describe animal sacrifices “without blemish”, that is, physically perfect. Katharos was used in Matthew 27:59 to describe the cloths used to wrap Jesus’ body in. Talk about a sacrifice without blemish! But I’ll get to Him later…
Who may ascend the mountain of the Lord? Who may stand in his holy place? The one who has clean hands and a pure heart… Psalm 24:3-5
This original meaning and use of Katharos is reflected in the first part of the Psalm – Clean Hands. Quite literal at first – that is, hands free from dirt and in germs. Washing our hands is very important, especially during Flu season! I saw a cartoon on the internet of two youngsters walking down the school hallway. One says to the other “I must be growing up. I’ve caught myself washing my hands without being told to!”
Health officials recommend that we wash our hands for 20 seconds. A trick the elementary school teacher often uses is to have kids sing the ABCs while washing. Maybe as adults, and as Christians, we could use an alternative song? Maybe one that alludes to the more figurative meaning of “clean”? How about the hymn “Sanctuary”? We need only sing the first two lines (as the slow tempo) to achieve 20 seconds.
Lord prepare me to be sanctuary
Pure and holy, tried and true
With thanksgiving, I’ll be a living
Sanctuary for You
While we wash our hands, let’s desire to be Katharos – clean, pure, holy, tried, and true!
Now back to the evolution of the meaning of Katharos… as the “clean” translation started to become more figurative instead of literal, Katharos had more specific uses such as:
- Corn that had been winnowed and cleansed of all chaff
- An army which had been purified of all cowardly and undisciplined soldiers
- Any items without a contamination
- Moral purity – ceasing to do evil
The evolution of the meaning and use of the word Katharos shows a deepening consciousness of what God demanded in these times. People began by thinking of an outward washing, a ritualistic practice, and ended by realizing God was really looking for a clean moral character.
Jesus’s act of washing the disciple’s feet in John 13 demonstrates a bit of the literal and the figurative translation of “cleanliness”. Jesus actually washes their feet, making them clean, free from dirt. As he does so, he delivers this message “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me…” which foretold of the spiritual cleansing He would accomplish for his followers through his death on the Cross. The Message delivers Jesus words this way: “My concern you understand, is holiness, not hygiene”.
Jesus’ words remind us that the only way to achieve a spiritual cleanliness, that is to be cleansed of sin, is through the blood shed on the Cross.
The more figurative use of “clean” led to the more frequent translation for Katharos to the English word “Pure”.
In this meaning, Katharos is an adjective used to describe water, wind, sun, metals, and even feelings. It is also used to describe a person who is free from debt, as well as one who is free from guilt. The apostle Paul used it to describe himself in Acts 20:26 when he claimed: “I am innocent of the blood of all men.”
Katharos can mean pure in blood, genuine, morally clean, or a saying whose authenticity cannot be doubted. Katharos is the origin of the word “Karat”, which measures the purity of gold – 24 Karats being the purest. The meaning of Katharos has various nuances depending on the word it is paired with, the word it is describing.
The English word “pure” also has a variety of definitions: unmixed from any other matter; free from dust, dirt, or taint; free from harshness or roughness; free from what weakens or pollutes; containing nothing that does not properly belong; free from moral fault or guilt; ritually clean; having exactly the talents or skills needed for a particular role; free from sin.
Several scriptures use Katharos when describing the pure and clean state of the heart and conscious being.
Love comes from a pure heart. 1 Timothy 1:5
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Matthew 5:8
Charles Spurgeon: True religion is heart-work. We may wash the outside of the cup and the platter as long as we please, but if the inward parts be filthy, we are filthy altogether in the sight of God, for our hearts are more truly ourselves than our hands are; the very life of our being lies in the inner nature, and hence the imperative need of purity within.
What does this mean, to be “pure in heart”? Or to have a “pure heart”? How do we achieve this “purity within” Charles Spurgeon talked about?
One of the saints said, “to be pure in heart is to desire only one thing.” What is the central desire of my life? Is it to see God? Is it to live in the shadow of that hope? The pure in heart don’t care what others say – about cultural values or social expectations. Their aim in life is to reflect God’s life in theirs, to mirror His concerns in theirs, to make God’s heart the sole object of their own heart.
The “pure in heart” are those who possess a heart with single vision; a heart that recognizes, understands and comprehends the truth of the gospel.
Pure hearts have no desire to show how clever they are, no desire to win arguments. Their only desire is to help and to lead others nearer to God. Pure hearts are moved by the love of truth and the love for others.
Being pure in heart involves having a singleness of heart toward God. A pure heart has no hypocrisy, no deceit, no hidden motives. The pure heart is marked by transparency and an uncompromising desire to please God in all things.
After hearing all that, is it even possible to obtain, achieve, attain a pure heart? Most certainly I cannot “achieve” a pure heart on my own.
The heart can only be purified by God’s Holy Spirit – my role is to ask for the Spirit to enter into my heart, to surrender to His work in my heart. He must come upon me and overshadow me. And when this happens, then my heart is changed, but never before that. So, I need to put down the “heart scrub brush” and instead, focus on yielding to the Holy Spirit. Of accepting the gift of cleansing only He can provide.
The only way I can be truly pure in heart is to give my life to Jesus and ask Him to do the internal cleansing work…and then get up and put my clean hands to work doing His work!
“Who may ascend the mountain of the Lord? Who may stand in his holy place? The one who has clean hands and a pure heart…”
John Wesley’s notes on this verse bring together these translations of “clean” and “Pure”. John took having “katharos” hands and heart as having actions, conversations, thoughts, and affections that are holy, unblameable, and ordered according to God’s word.
Another scripture verse that combines the two topics – clean hands and pure hearts, comes from James:
Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. James 4:8
James is demanding a moral reform which encompasses both the outward conduct (clean hands) and the inner desires (pure hearts).
Clean hands + Pure Hearts = To be Katharos in words (lips), deeds (hands), thoughts (mind), and emotions (heart).
One striking image comes to mind: Jesus.
He is the deepest, richest meaning of this great word “Katharos”. Look back at the various definitions and meanings of Katharos and Pure, and ask, does this describe Jesus?
- Ceremonial clean
- Unblemished
- Fit to approach God
- Fit for the service of God
- Free from sin
- Morally clean
- Innocent of any crime
- One whose authenticity cannot be doubted
- Having exactly the talents or skills needed for a particular role
- Single-minded
- Unmixed motives
Jesus showed us a “pure heart” during his earthly life: He strived to know God, discern the Father’s will and carry it out. He lived by the words “Thy Will Be Done”.
Jesus was and is “Katharos” in every sense of the word.
As I continue to struggle with understanding this word, and it’s deep meaning, I just picture Christ, with His clean hands, and His pure heart.