God Warns Against Mixture - Soul Choice Ministries

The Old Testament provides us with an interesting illustration of how God warned His people against mixture. Did you know that there are three reasons why God forbade the mixing of two different garments in the Old Testament? One has to do with the priests’ service to God.

The second has to do with a type and shadow of our salvation to come.

The third has to do with marriage and fellowship for that time period and for today.

God forbade the people of Israel and the priests from mixing wool with linen. What is the reason?

First, the priests, when entering the temple, had to live a morally pure life, obey God’s Word, refrain from any sin, perform any sacrifice required for their sins and the sins of the people, and wash and bathe before entering. They had to wear spotless and clean linen garments. If they were not obedient in all these things, they would drop over dead once they entered. It was very serious. God is holy, and only certain chosen men of the priesthood could approach Him in a very strict way.

The mixing of wool and linen garments would cause a person to sweat. Sweat cannot come into God’s presence. This lets us know how holy God is, in that He will not even allow a drop of sweat, dirt, or any uncleanness in His presence.

Here are two verses regarding their garments.

Leviticus 19:1, 19 “Neither shall a garment mingled of linen and woolen come upon thee.”

Ezekiel 44:15–18 “But the priests the Levites, the sons of Zadok, that kept the charge of my sanctuary… they shall be clothed with linen garments; and no wool shall come upon them… they shall not gird themselves with anything that causeth sweat.”

This practice only covered man’s sin, as it could not wash away sins. Only the shed blood of Jesus on the cross could accomplish that, as Hebrews 9:22 states. This is why it took Jesus, who was perfectly spotless in every way, to pay for our sins. He became the perfect sacrifice for us.

The second reason was that wool represents the works of the law, which man cannot keep. Works produce the sweat or effort of the individual trying to keep the law, which we cannot do. Linen represents the right standing of the saints, which is given by the grace of God in the New Testament.

This grace we cannot earn, thereby containing no sweat or effort on our part. God suffered in our place for our sins, thereby freeing us from trying to keep the law by our own efforts. When we accept what Jesus has done for us as a gift, then there are no works, no effort on our part, and therefore no sweat.

Unger’s Commentary, regarding Ezekiel 44:17–18, page 1593: “Linen garments, they will commemorate the righteousness of Christ imputed to the believer—priests wore linen. Wool causing perspiration, figuratively represents self-righteousness, in the realm of either faith or works, and hence produces that which is unclean and unacceptable in the eyes of an infinite Holy God.” We also see that linen was considered of value in the Old Testament.

Genesis 41:42 “And Pharaoh took off his ring from his hand, put it upon Joseph’s hand, and arrayed him in vestures of fine linen, and put a gold chain about his neck.”

The temple curtain was also made of linen, again showing that access to God was made by grace, not works. We cannot reach up to God by our own efforts. He must reach down to us and give us grace.

The third reason: It is symbolic of not being unequally yoked. Meaning, Christians are not to mix with the world or compromise their faith and marry an unbeliever. This was also a requirement by God with the people of Israel.

This mixing of wool as works and linen as grace applies to a Christian and a non-Christian. Christians are not to be unequally yoked. When getting married, both the man and woman need to be believers in Jesus Christ, both being of linen. This is crucial. You do not want to marry an unbeliever in hopes that they will change. They may never change, and they could greatly hinder your walk with God.

I knew one married couple, and the man was not a believer. He forbade his wife to attend church, forbade her to tithe, and even kept her from seeing her Christian friends. We should also be equally yoked in even our beliefs as Christians. For instance, some take the Word of God allegorically, yet the Bible expects us to take it literally. This makes an enormous difference. You can be a Christian but be deceived in some area and be in error by not taking literally what the Word of God says.

For instance, God said He made the earth in six days, but those who take things allegorically say it was six eons of time. If you allegorize the Bible, you never know what it really means, as you interpret it to fit your beliefs. No, He said six days; He means what He says. It was six 24-hour periods, just as He tells us to work for six days as He did.

Many Christians live by their feelings instead of what the Bible instructs us to do. Discuss in depth what you both believe BEFORE you say, “I do!”

2 Corinthians 6:14 “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness, and what communion hath light with darkness?”

Believer’s Bible Commentary, page 156: “God is a God of separation, and in these physical examples He was teaching His people to separate themselves from sin and defilement.”

This means Christians should not spend time on a regular basis with unsaved people. This does not mean you never talk to or see an unbeliever. We influence them, but do not have regular fellowship with them, as they could pull us away from a full commitment to the Lord.

Ezra 10:11 — “Separate yourselves from the peoples of the land…”
Psalm 1:1 — “Blessed is the man that walketh not in the councel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful…”
Second Corinthians 6:17 — “Come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you.”
Ephesians 5:1–7 — “Be ye followers of God… no unclean person, nor idolater… hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God… be ye not partakers with them.”
Second John 1:9–11 — “Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not this doctrine, receive him not into your house…”
Revelation 18:4 — “Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins…”

Let us, as Christians, obey God in all areas and be wise in our associations.

If you have never asked God to forgive you of your sins, we urge you to do so now. Invite Jesus into your heart to be your Lord and Savior. To be a member of His family is not only the wisest decision you could ever make, as you will escape an eternity in hell, but also will give you peace and direction for your life. It is the most fulfilling life you could possibly imagine. God loves you but gives you the free will to choose.

God’s instructions and commands are always for our good. They are to protect us, and not to restrict us. We can adhere to them and be blessed, or we can disobey them and suffer the consequences.