Leviticus 19:2 “Speak to the entire assembly of Israel and say to them: ‘Be holy because I, the Lord your God, am holy.
What does it mean to be “holy”? Holiness was as much social as sacrificial in the Old Testament. Holiness was a part of daily life; to be like God in holiness was a priority. It mattered how one lived. Leviticus 19 is a compilation of the most important holiness laws and is a kind of “mini” Torah. Many of the laws are paralleled in Ezekiel’s condemnation of the Hebrews of his day (Ezekiel 22:6-12).
While Christians are not under the Old Covenant, the principles behind the holiness laws remain. The apostle Peter quoted Leviticus 19:2 in his first letter. 1 Peter 1:15-17 says:But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; 16 for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.” 17 Since you call on a Father who judges each person’s work impartially, live out your time as foreigners here in reverent fear. To be holy is to be set apart from sin and impurity, and set apart to God. The complete moral perfection of God, whose eyes are too pure to look on evil (Habakkuk 1:13), should move His people to strive for moral purity. In other words, it matters how we live out our time on earth. It matters because the unbelieving world is watching. Remember the words of Jesus in Matthew 12:33… for a tree is recognized by its fruit.
Praying everyone has a great week and look forward to seeing you this Wednesday.
In Christ,
Gary T. and family