CHAPTER 19. GOD REQUIRES HIS PEOPLE TO BE HOLY. Having spoken of what God requires of His people especially as regards sexual relations which had a vital place in a patriarchal society, God now moves on to remind them that they are to be holy in every way. They must not be spiritually skin-diseased... [ Continue Reading ]
VARIOUS HOLINESS REQUIREMENTS (LEVITICUS 19:3). Rightness Of Attitude Towards God and Generosity Towards One's Neighbours (Leviticus 19:3). Leviticus 19:3 “You (p) shall fear every man his mother, and his father; and you (p) shall keep my sabbaths. I am Yahweh your God.” They are to show godly a... [ Continue Reading ]
THE REQUIREMENT FOR FULL HONESTY TOWARDS ONE'S NEIGHBOUR (LEVITICUS 19:11). Leviticus 19:11 “You (p) shall not steal; neither shall you deal falsely, nor lie one to another.” As well as generosity, honesty is required. Three aspects of honesty are in mind here, avoiding stealing, avoiding cheatin... [ Continue Reading ]
THE REQUIREMENT TO ENSURE FAIRNESS AND COMPASSION (LEVITICUS 19:14). Leviticus 19:14 “You (s) shall not curse the deaf, nor put a stumblingblock before the blind, but you shall fear your God. I am Yahweh.' They were not to take advantage of the weak and helpless. To deliberately shout comments at... [ Continue Reading ]
FURTHER REQUIREMENTS FOR GOD'S PEOPLE. The Non-mixing of Kinds (Leviticus 19:19). We have already had cause to see in Leviticus 11 the principle of the separation of living things, now this is more specifically applied. A blurring of distinctions can be harmful to society. This is illustrated fro... [ Continue Reading ]
CARE FOR TREES (LEVITICUS 19:23). Leviticus 19:23 “And when you shall come into the land, and shall have planted all manner of trees for food, then you shall count its fruit thereof as their uncircumcision, three years shall they be as uncircumcised to you, it shall not be eaten.” When they arri... [ Continue Reading ]
BANS IN RELIGIOUS MATTERS: WARNINGS AGAINST PAGAN PRACTISES (LEVITICUS 19:26). There now follow in the name of Yahweh a number of provisions banning various aspects connected with ‘other-worldly' practises which were forbidden. They were to look to Yahweh and Yahweh alone, and He was against these... [ Continue Reading ]
THE IMPORTANCE OF A RIGHT ATTITUDE TOWARDS YAHWEH (LEVITICUS 19:30). Leviticus 19:30 “You shall keep my sabbaths, and reverence my sanctuary. I am Yahweh.” Indeed rather than sinking to the depths of the other nations they should look to exalt Yahweh. The regulations had begun with a reference t... [ Continue Reading ]
THE NEED TO HONOUR THE ELDERLY (LEVITICUS 19:32). Leviticus 19:32 “You shall rise up before the hoary head, and honour the face of the old man, and you shall fear your God. I am Yahweh.” Honouring the old is something also required of His people. They are to be treated with the honour due to tho... [ Continue Reading ]
THE RIGHT ATTITUDE TOWARDS THE RESIDENT ALIEN (LEVITICUS 19:33). Leviticus 19:33 “And if a stranger sojourn with you in your land, you shall not do him wrong. The stranger who sojourns with you shall be to you as the home-born among you, and you shall love him as yourself; for you were sojourners... [ Continue Reading ]
THE IMPORTANCE OF JUSTICE AND HONESTY (LEVITICUS 19:35). Leviticus 19:35 “You shall do no unrighteousness in judgment, in measures of length, of weight, or of quantity. Just balances, just weights, a just ephah, and a just hin, shall you have. I am Yahweh your God, who brought you out of the land... [ Continue Reading ]
THE FINAL COMMAND (LEVITICUS 19:37). Leviticus 19:37 “And you shall observe all my statutes, and all my ordinances, and do them: I am Yahweh.” So are they to observe all His statutes and ordinances, and are to do them. This is the requirement of Yahweh. We are all very good at ‘observing' His st... [ Continue Reading ]