Leviticus 19

Leviticus 19:1

B. Laws of Everyday Life (Chap. 19)19:1-25 The basis of all holiness is found in the words “I the LORD your God am holy” (v. 2). Various laws for the conduct of the people are here laid down, as follows: Mother and father were to be revered (v. 3)the fifth commandment. God’s Sabbaths were to be observed (v. 3)the fourth commandment. Idolatry was prohibited (v. 4)the second commandment. Eating of the peace offering on the third day was forbidden (vv. 5-8). In harvesting a field, the owner was to leave some grain in the corners for the poor and strangers (vv. 9, 10). Field crops and grapes are mentioned as examples, not as a complete list. Stealing, cheating, and lying were forbidden (v. 11)the eighth commandment. Swearing by the Name of . . . God to a false statement was outlawed (v. 12)the third commandment. Defrauding, robbing, or withholding wages were prohibited (v. 13). Cursing the deaf or causing the blind to stumble were condemned (v. 14). The people were to express their reverence for Jehovah by their respect for one another (Lev_25:17). The handicapped (v. 14), the aged (v. 32), and the poor (Lev_25:26, Lev_25:43) were all to be treated with kindness by those who feared the Lord. Showing partiality in judgment was forbidden (v. 15). Slander and plotting against the life of a neighbor were prohibited (v. 16). Hatred of one’s brother was forbidden: “You shall surely rebuke your neighbor, and not bear sin because of him” (v. 17). Matters should be dealt with openly and frankly lest they become the cause of inward animosity leading to outward sin. Vengeance or bearing of grudges was prohibited (v. 18). The second part of verse 18, loving your neighbor as yourself, is the summation of the whole law (Gal_5:14). Jesus said it was the second-greatest command (Mar_12:31). The greatest command is found in Deu_6:4-5. Verse 19 is generally understood to forbid the interbreeding of animals that results in mules. Livestock here means beasts in general. Also, sowing a field with different kinds of seed, or wearing a garment of mixed linen and wool was forbidden. God is a God of separation, and in these physical examples He was teaching His people to separate themselves from sin and defilement. If a man had illicit relations with a slave-girl betrothed to another man, both were scourged and he was required to bring a trespass offering (vv. 20-22). When settled in Canaan, the Israelites were not to pick the fruit of their trees for three years. The fruit of the fourth year was to be offered to the LORD, and in the fifth year the fruit could be eaten (vv. 23-25). Perhaps the fruit of the fourth year went to the Levites or, as one commentator suggests, was eaten before the Lord as part of the second tithe. 19:26-37 Other forbidden practices were: eating of flesh from which the blood had not been drained (v. 26a); practicing witchcraft (v. 26b); trimming the hair in accordance with idolatrous practices (v. 27); making cuttings in one’s flesh as an expression of mourning for the dead (v. 28a); making marks on the body as the heathen did (v. 28b); making one’s daughter become a prostitute, as was common in pagan worship (v. 29); breaking of the Sabbath (v. 30); consulting mediums or familiar spirits (v. 31). Honor was to be shown to the aged (v. 32), and strangers were to be treated with kindness and hospitality (vv. 33, 34). Honest business practices were enjoined (vv. 35-37).