Leviticus 19 begins with God telling Moses, “Speak to the entire assembly of Israel and say to them: ‘Be holy because I, the Lord your God, am holy.” The Bible usually uses the word “holy” as a description of God or places and things that relate to God. However, the word is used in Leviticus in much the same way as Jesus used the word “perfect” in his Sermon on the Mount, when he said, “Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” (Mt. 5:48).
Both words, “holy” and “perfect” beg the question, What does being holy or perfect look like? But that is probably the wrong question. If we listen carefully to this reading in Leviticus and to the teachings of Jesus, we soon discover that the words “holy” and “perfect” have much more to do with how we act rather than how we look.
In Leviticus 19 the command to “Be holy because I, the Lord your God, am holy” is followed by a listing of specific instructions about living together in community. This immediately undermines the popular notion that to “be holy” means separating myself from others and living isolated as a hermit or monk. Instead, being holy has everything to do with how I relate to and act toward others in my community and world.
Specific instruction is given about not harvesting the fields and vineyards bare, but to leave the gleanings for the poor. Another instruction forbids stealing and lying. Yet another warns against taking advantage of people who are deaf or blind. Furthermore, justice is to be administered impartially, and people should not slander, nor seek vengeance against one another. God then sums up these instructions with the command “but love your neighbor as yourself” followed bythe phrase “I am the LORD.”
This leads me to believe that God’s command to love one’s neighbor as oneself is to be observed because loving one’s neighbor is the essence of being holy. The Scriptures show and tell us that God is all about love, “God is love.” And then when we become his people, this divine quality is gifted to us. And it is God’s intention that we stamp upon our society and community this God-like imprint by living together in community with sharing, caring love.
When Jesus was asked by a Pharisee lawyer about which commandment was the greatest, Jesus answered by quoting directly from Leviticus 19:18, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul and mind,” and, “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Jesus said that upon these two commandments hang all the rest of the Hebrew Scriptures (Matthew 22:40).
Jesus again quoted this verse in his conversation with the rich, young ruler when he asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?” (Matthew 19:19); and it is quoted in his parable of the Good Samaritan when the law expert asked, “And who is my neighbor?” (Luke 10:27).
Likewise, the apostles Paul and James quoted this verse from Leviticus in their letters. Read Romans 13:9-10, Galatians 5:13-14, and James 2:8-9. Some commentators think that the book of James is a sermon based-on Leviticus 19.
Furthermore, in his Sermon on the Mount, Jesus broadens this command to also include our enemy. “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven” and concludes with this command “Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” (Matthew 5:43-47).
Undoubtedly, to “be holy” or “perfect” cannot be rolled up into a single pious activity or be reduced to a way of dressing. Neither can it be expressed by lugging a Bible with you everywhere you go. Nor does regular church attendance by itself make you a holy person.
Rather, the imprint of God that he commands us to make upon our society happens only by our attitudes and actions of kindness, justice, mercy, generosity and compassion. From God’s perspective, loving our neighbor, and even our enemy, is the essence of holiness.
As Christians, we often find it easy to embrace the love of neighbor in our faith statements but struggle when it comes to actual practice, especially when that “neighbor” represents a social, cultural, or political offense to us; and it is even more difficult if the “neighbor” becomes the enemy.
And yet, in all of Jesus’ life and teachings, he intentionally destroyed any excuse for divisive and conditional response to his command “love your neighbor as yourself.” Yes, God daily calls us to “Be holy because I, the Lord your God, am holy.” I know I must do better. What about you?
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“Healing Rays of Righteousness” – February 10, 2021
Ray M. Geigley
Healing Rays of Righteousness 
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