Leviticus Chapters 19 -20 are pretty cut and dry like we read in Chapter 18 yesterday. Don't do this....and these are the consequences if you do. I like to read them in the Nlt version because it really makes it easy to understand. None of those big words that we can pretend we don't understand and wiggle our way out of a don't or two. It's pretty simple.
But im sure there are some of you sitting there thinking what's the point. They're Old Testament laws, they don't even apply to us anymore...well I'm glad you thought that because today we're gonna break it down.
I have heard over the years time and time again "Jesus came, died for our sins and ripped the veil so Old Testament Law doesn't apply to us anymore" and that's not completely true..
There are 3 kinds of categories in New Testament Law. Did you know that? I didn't really til I started to study this very question. I just thought the law was law. If he said do it than we do..But there are 3.
🌟 Ceremonial laws -sacrifices, temple rituals, dietary restrictions
🌟 Civil laws- how Israel functioned as a nation
🌟 Moral laws- how to live as God’s holy people
When Jesus came he fulfilled the ceremonial law. That's why we don't have to sacrifice anymore. He was the final sacrifice. But the moral side of the law reflects Gods character and God hasn't changed, He never will.
So when we look at Leviticus 19 with this understanding it is actually relevant and still applys to our lives.
🌟 Don't steal
🌟 Don't lie
🌟 Don't defraud
🌟 Pay workers fairly
🌟 Don't curse the deaf
🌟 Don't show favoritism
🌟 Don't gossip
🌟 Don't hate your brother in your heart
🌟 Love your neighbor as yourself
(And more)
Sound familiar?
Because Jesus literally quotes Leviticus 19:18 in the Gospels. When He gives the two greatest commandments, Love God and love your neighbor, He's pulling straight from Leviticus.
So if we throw out Leviticus 19 completely, we'd be throwing out the very command Jesus said.
We are not under the law but we are led by the Spirit. Under the Old Covenant You obeyed the law to remain in covenant blessing.
Under the New Covenant You are saved by grace through faith and the Holy Spirit writes the law on your heart. It shifts from external actions to internal transformation. You don't avoid stealing because you're afraid of being stoned. You avoid stealing because the Spirit has changed your heart. That's a huge difference.
When God starts talking about holiness, about integrity, about how we treat people, about not mixing Egypt with the promise it's deeper than just don't do this.It starts exposing heart stuff. And I don't know about you, but when I hear "Be holy because I am holy," something in me still flinches a little. There's this old wiring that wants to panic and think, Am I doing enough? Am I getting it right? Am I about to mess this up? But that's the part of me that used to think holiness meant pressure.
But walking through this journey I’m seeing something different. Holiness isn't God waiting to punish me. It's God protecting what He's building in me. And Chapter 20 shows us the consequences. It's heavy and It's serious. It should be. Sin is destructive. It wrecks families. It fractures communities. It erodes hearts slowly if we let it.
But the difference for us now is that Jesus already carried the weight of the penalty.
So when I read these chapters today, I'm not reading them through fear anymore. He took what I deserved. And now the Spirit lives inside me to help me actually live this out.
Leviticus isn't about control. It's about consecration. It's about being set apart not to look religious but to reflect Him. And the closer I walk with Him, the less I want to wiggle around the don'ts. And it's not because I'm scared. But because I trust Him.It doesn't cancel out holiness. It makes you want it more
And that's where this gets real.
Because then the question isn't Does this still apply to us...
The question is....
Does my life reflect the God who lives in me?
Love Pastor Mandy
Ark of Hope Ministry
Daily Reading Leviticus 19-20
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