19 Leviticus – Standards of Holiness

19 Leviticus – Standards of Holiness (Ethics)

Leviticus 19 (Many notes from Lunsford, J. Leviticus 101)

15 of the 37 verses contain the phrase, “I am the LORD.” Half add, “your God”.

All of this is pre-King. Again, God is working to eliminate a slave mentality and teach them how to live a holy lifestyle. They have no King to judge and rule over them. They are to rule and judge over themselves. Even as Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 9:17a “But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection:”

As you recall, in Chapter 17, God gave laws pertaining to a holy lifestyle. In chapter 18 He gave laws concerning holiness in marriage. Now in chapter 19, He will show us laws concerning holiness of behavior towards God and our fellow man. Watch for YE SHALL / THOU SHALL.

Leviticus 19:1-8:

And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 2 Speak unto all the congregation of the children of Israel, and say unto them, Ye shall be holy: for I the LORD your God am holy.

· Every Law given to every person

· Right out of the gate, God says, “Ye shall be holy: for I the LORD your God am holy.”

o It’s a command, not a suggestion

o “Be ye holy” was God’s way of saying don’t be like the Egyptians where I brought your from and don’t be like the Canaanites where you are going.

o It’s the same commandment for us. Furthermore, we now have the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. How can we not be holy?

o 1 Peter 1:15-16 But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; 16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.

How to be holy:

· V.3 Honour thy father and thy mother. Exodus 20:12

· V.4 Thou shall have not other God before me. Exodus 20:3

· V.5-8 God re-emphasizes the importance of following His instruction in offering the Peace offering.

Leviticus 19:9-18

How to regard your fellow brethren

· V.9-10 When gleaning, leave something for the poor

o This should go beyond giving to a charity

· V.11 Don’t steal, and don’t lie about each other

· V.12 Don’t take the Lord’s name in vain. Exodus 20:7

· V.13 A days wage for a day’s work – People live day by day

· V.14 Don’t be a brat

· V.15 Do unto other’s as you would have them do unto you

· V.16 Don’t gossip

· V.17-18 Love thy neighbor as thyself

Jesus’ response to such can be found in Matthew 22:34-40 TURN AND READ

Leviticus 19:19-31 More Do’s and Don’ts

“Ye shall keep my statutes.” God is teaching PURITY/HOLINESS in everything. 2 Corinthians 2:17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord…

Let’s be careful to consider God’s statues and NOT consider them silly or not applicable to us.

· Don’t cross breed animals

· Don’t mingle seed

· Avoid fornication and adultery

· Remember, the land had vomited out the inhabitants. It needs to be purged and then offered to GOD.

· Don’t eat blood

· Careful how you cut your hair – look like God’s people – be ye separate…

· Don’t mar your body – no tattoos or other markings

· Don’t prostitute your daughter – for your livelihood (for any reason, but this has happened)

· Keep the Sabbath

· Don’t engage familiar spirits and wizardry

Galatians 5:19-21 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

Leviticus 19:32-37 Lastly

· Give honor to the elderly

· “Ye shall do no unrighteousness”

In closing… 2 Speak unto all the congregation of the children of Israel, and say unto them, Ye shall be holy: for I the LORD your God am holy. 37 Therefore shall ye observe all my statutes, and all my judgments, and do them: I am the LORD.

He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God? Micha 6:8.