Leviticus 19:1 - Meaning and Application

Moses was ordered to give this summary of the law to all the people of Israel, not just to Aaron and his sons, but to the whole congregation (Leviticus 19:2). Everyone needed to know their duty. Even in the older time of the law, no religion could truly be from God if it praised ignorance. Moses was to make God’s statutes known throughout the camp, and likely he did this in groups, over time, until all the people had heard them.

Many of these commands had already been given before, but they needed to be repeated so the people would remember them. Instruction must be given again and again, line by line, and even that is still not enough. In these verses, the Lord teaches that His people must be holy, because He is holy (Leviticus 19:2). Israel was set apart from other nations by special laws and customs, and this was meant to teach them to turn away from the world and sin, and to belong fully to God.

That same call belongs to Christians now. We are to be holy because God is holy (1 Peter 1:15, 1 Peter 1:16). We follow the holy Jesus, so we must, as far as our human weakness allows, be devoted to God’s honor and shaped by His will. Israel was made holy through symbols and shadows (Leviticus 20:8), but we are made holy through the truth, the reality those shadows pointed to (John 17:17; Titus 2:14).

The Lord also required children to obey their parents: “You shall fear your mother and your father” (Leviticus 19:3). This fear is the same as the honor commanded in the fifth commandment. It includes inward respect, outward courtesy, obedience to lawful commands, and a desire to please parents and avoid hurting them. It also means not speaking against them or treating them lightly, but providing for them when needed and showing them proper regard.

This duty does not end when a child grows up. Every person, even one who is wise or highly placed, must still honor his parents because they are his parents. The mother is named first here, which is unusual, to show that honor is due to both parents alike. If the father has died, the mother still deserves reverence and obedience.

The command is joined with, “and keep my sabbaths” (Leviticus 19:3). If God’s law protects the honor of parents, then parents must use their authority to protect the honor of God, especially His Sabbaths. The fourth commandment places much of that responsibility on parents: “you, and your son, and your daughter.” Many young people have been ruined by scorning their parents and treating the Sabbath lightly. These two commands are joined here at the start of this summary for good reason. Children who honor their parents and keep the Sabbath holy give hopeful signs of a good life ahead. The reason for both commands is the same: “I am the Lord your God.”

God alone is to be worshiped, and not through images (Leviticus 19:4). The people must not turn to idols, to things that are empty and worthless, gods that are no gods at all. They must not turn away from the true God to false ones, from the mighty God to powerless ones, or from the God who makes people holy and happy to those who deceive and ruin them. They must not even look to them with desire, much less give them their hearts. They must not make gods for themselves out of their own ideas, or try to worship the Creator through molten images. They are God’s workmanship, so they should not be foolish enough to worship gods made by their own hands. Molten gods are mentioned especially because of the molten calf.

The Lord also repeated the law about peace offerings, that they must be offered and eaten according to His command (Leviticus 19:5-8). There seems to have been a special reason for repeating this law rather than another. The people’s part in the peace offering was the eating of it, and this was done under the priests’ eye. Some may have kept the leftover meat too long, as Israel once did with the manna (Exodus 16:20), and so this warning was needed; see also the earlier law (Leviticus 7:16-18). God wants His work done at the right time.

Even if the sacrifice was offered correctly, it was not accepted if it was not eaten correctly. In the same way, if ministers do their part, it does not help if the people fail in theirs. There is still work to do after our spiritual sacrifices, in the proper use and growth of what we have offered to God. If that is neglected, all is useless.

The people were also commanded to leave some of their harvest and grape crop for the poor (Leviticus 19:9, Leviticus 19:10). Works of devotion must always be joined with works of kindness, as far as our ability allows. When they gathered grain, they were to leave part of the field uncut. The Jewish teachers said this should be a sixtieth part of the field. They were also to leave the gleanings and the small grape clusters that were missed at first.

This law is not binding now in its exact form, but it still teaches useful lessons. First, we must not be greedy or cling to every small thing we can claim. Second, we should be glad to see the poor fed and refreshed from the fruit of our labor. We should not think anything is lost if it goes to the poor, nor wasted because it no longer belongs to us. Third, times of joy, like harvest time, are fitting times for generosity. When we rejoice before God, the poor should share in that joy, and when we bless God with thankful hearts, they may bless us in return.