Haggaiنموونە

Haggai is given two questions to ask the priests concerning purity. Essentially, the question is if something clean touches something unclean, does it become unclean? The answer is yes, if something clean comes into contact with something unclean it is contaminated.

This analogy is then applied to the people, that if they are unclean and offer a clean offering to the Lord, it is made unclean by contact with them. However, a promise is made that from “this day on” the people will be blessed as they begin the work of building this Temple. Why? Because it is in this very Temple where the Messiah will reverse the process laid out here. He is going to reach out, as one completely pure, and make the unclean become clean.

Lepers, prostitutes, tax collectors, gentiles, and even dead bodies, are going to be touched by Jesus and be made clean. With the foundation of this Temple, events are being put in motion that will change the course of history.