Leviticus 19:3

"“Speak to all the congregation of the children of Israel, and tell them, ‘You shall be holy; for I, the LORD your God, am holy."

Key Reflection

Leviticus 19:3 commands the Israelites to strive for holiness, both individually and corporately. This injunction is deeply rooted in the idea that as God's chosen people, they must reflect His divine nature and set themselves apart from the surrounding nations, living according to God’s standards and commandments. The call to holiness was not merely an external ritual but a transformative process that involved every aspect of life, ensuring a holy relationship with both God and their fellow Israelites.

From the Scholars: Barnes' Notes

CompareExodus 20:8,Exodus 20:12;Exodus 31:13-14. The two laws repeated here are the only laws in the Decalogue which assume a positive shape, all the others being introduced by the formula, “Thou shalt not.” These express two great central points, the first belonging to natural law and the second to positive law, in the maintenance of the well-being of the social body of which Yahweh was the acknowledged king.

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