Leviticus 19:17-37
And you shall observe all my statutes and all my rules, and do them: I am the Lord. – Leviticus 19:37
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When Jesus was asked by the Pharisees, “Which is the greatest commandment in the law?”, he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbour as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets” (Mt 22: 36-40).
Indeed, all the laws in Leviticus 19 can be categorised under either of these two great commandments. But in today’s passage, there are some laws that still do apply to us modern Christians, and some laws that don’t. For example, the law banning the harvest of fruits for the first three years seems irrelevant to us because we are not entering into the Promised Land. But the laws of honouring elders, treating foreigners fairly, and being honest in business dealings still apply to us. How then does one go about differentiating which laws apply to us today?
Let’s take the case of the law against tattooing our bodies (v.28). First, we note the context of the command includes a list of prohibitions that all have to do with pagan rituals of worship and honouring of the dead—eating flesh with blood, interpreting omens and fortunes, shaving hair and beard, and cutting one’s body.
A curious youth (who may be considering getting a tattoo) may ask, “But tattoos now don’t carry such pagan religious meanings anymore. Doesn’t that mean it’s all right to do it today?”
As readers of Scripture, we must also note the larger context of this law, which is the call to holiness, set-apart-ness. So this youth must ask him/herself and answer honestly: Why do I want to get a tattoo? How does getting a tattoo help me express my love for God and for neighbour? How will it help my counter-cultural witness to non-believers?
Today, tattoos are a form of self-expression, a way of beautifying one’s physical body, but this does not reconcile well with Christ’s call to deny oneself. As such, it may also provide no real help in one’s expressing or growing in love for God or for neighbour. In fact, tattoos for aesthetic purposes are quite likely to be a following of the world’s idea of coolness or beauty, rather than being countered to its values. So, it may not help our goal of being set apart or holy as God’s distinct people.
Our discouraged youth may counter: “But Christians put on make up and colour their hair. Aren’t those also following the world’s standard of beauty?”
Yes, they are! Our young person is catching on to the logic of the argument. When we look at God’s commands from the framework of holiness and God’s desire for us as his people, it is easier to discern which apply to us and which don’t. It’s not so much the act in itself but the effects of it on our goal to be holy that determine whether we should do them. Furthermore, in the case of tattoos, as opposed to other aesthetic treatments, it is permanent and that should bear some weight in one’s decision.
The important thing to remember is this: Our God is a living God and he still speaks to us today. So, whenever we are unsure how to obey his commands, we can come to him and ask him directly. We do not need to try and figure this out on our own. He personally guides us in the path of holiness.
Reflection:
In obeying God, are you walking and talking with him in the process or are you just trying to reason it out on our own? What are some specific cases of obedience you are struggling with, whether it is okay to do something or not? Today spend some time talking to God, asking him directly about it. Take encouragement from James 1:5: “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.”
Prayer:
Living God, your commands are sometimes too mysterious for me to interpret and too difficult to apply into my life, but I also confess that other times I simply lack self-discipline. Thank you for giving me your Spirit who not only helps me understand your word and how to apply it, but also gives me the strength to live out my love for you in my everyday decisions. Keep me close to you today. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Click to read
When Jesus was asked by the Pharisees, “Which is the greatest commandment in the law?”, he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbour as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets” (Mt 22: 36-40).
Indeed, all the laws in Leviticus 19 can be categorised under either of these two great commandments. But in today’s passage, there are some laws that still do apply to us modern Christians, and some laws that don’t. For example, the law banning the harvest of fruits for the first three years seems irrelevant to us because we are not entering into the Promised Land. But the laws of honouring elders, treating foreigners fairly, and being honest in business dealings still apply to us. How then does one go about differentiating which laws apply to us today?
Let’s take the case of the law against tattooing our bodies (v.28). First, we note the context of the command includes a list of prohibitions that all have to do with pagan rituals of worship and honouring of the dead—eating flesh with blood, interpreting omens and fortunes, shaving hair and beard, and cutting one’s body.
A curious youth (who may be considering getting a tattoo) may ask, “But tattoos now don’t carry such pagan religious meanings anymore. Doesn’t that mean it’s all right to do it today?”
As readers of Scripture, we must also note the larger context of this law, which is the call to holiness, set-apart-ness. So this youth must ask him/herself and answer honestly: Why do I want to get a tattoo? How does getting a tattoo help me express my love for God and for neighbour? How will it help my counter-cultural witness to non-believers?
Today, tattoos are a form of self-expression, a way of beautifying one’s physical body, but this does not reconcile well with Christ’s call to deny oneself. As such, it may also provide no real help in one’s expressing or growing in love for God or for neighbour. In fact, tattoos for aesthetic purposes are quite likely to be a following of the world’s idea of coolness or beauty, rather than being countered to its values. So, it may not help our goal of being set apart or holy as God’s distinct people.
Our discouraged youth may counter: “But Christians put on make up and colour their hair. Aren’t those also following the world’s standard of beauty?”
Yes, they are! Our young person is catching on to the logic of the argument. When we look at God’s commands from the framework of holiness and God’s desire for us as his people, it is easier to discern which apply to us and which don’t. It’s not so much the act in itself but the effects of it on our goal to be holy that determine whether we should do them. Furthermore, in the case of tattoos, as opposed to other aesthetic treatments, it is permanent and that should bear some weight in one’s decision.
The important thing to remember is this: Our God is a living God and he still speaks to us today. So, whenever we are unsure how to obey his commands, we can come to him and ask him directly. We do not need to try and figure this out on our own. He personally guides us in the path of holiness.
Reflection:
In obeying God, are you walking and talking with him in the process or are you just trying to reason it out on our own? What are some specific cases of obedience you are struggling with, whether it is okay to do something or not? Today spend some time talking to God, asking him directly about it. Take encouragement from James 1:5: “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.”
Prayer:
Living God, your commands are sometimes too mysterious for me to interpret and too difficult to apply into my life, but I also confess that other times I simply lack self-discipline. Thank you for giving me your Spirit who not only helps me understand your word and how to apply it, but also gives me the strength to live out my love for you in my everyday decisions. Keep me close to you today. In Jesus’ name, Amen.