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Leviticus and Holiness
The giving of the Law began at Mt. Sinai when Moses received the Ten Commandments (Exodus 19-20). However, this was just the beginning. The specifics of God’s requirements, both for priests and all the people, were revealed also. Leviticus contains many of these specifics regarding God’s Law.
Perhaps the most significant passage of Leviticus is found in chapter 11, verses 44-45. It captures the essence of God’s purposes in giving the Law: “For I am the LORD your God. Consecrate yourselves therefore, and be holy, for I am holy. And you shall not make yourselves unclean with any of the swarming things that swarm on the earth. For I am the LORD who brought you up from the land of Egypt to be your God; thus you shall be holy, for I am holy” (NASB).
God’s intent for the people was that they be a holy nation. To be what God wanted, they had to keep the Law as He instructed them. However, it was not just a list of commandments God wanted them to keep. He wanted their hearts. He wanted them to love Him as He loved them.
This point is expressed in the fact that they were to love God with all their hearts (Deut. 6:4-6). Jesus said that this was the greatest of the commandments, since everything else hinged on it (Matt. 22:34-40).
Today, God wants us to be holy, also (1 Pet. 1:13-16). We are a special people given spiritual blessings through Christ. By following the will of God, we, too, can be holy because of what the Lord has done on our behalf.
Discussion
1. What was God’s purpose in giving the Law to the children of Israel?
2. What does it mean to be “holy”? Why is this such an important feature of the Law?
3. What did Jesus say was the greatest of the commandments? Why is this commandment greater than all the others?
4. How can we be holy today? On what basis can sinners become holy people?