February 22 - Leviticus 19:9-35

do not ... do not ... do not ... do not ... do not ... do not ...

do not ... do not ... do not ... do not ... do not ... do not ... do not ...

do not ... do not ... do not ... do not ... do not ... do not ... do not ...

do not ... do not ... do not ... do not ... do not ...

Leviticus 19:9-35

 

Today is one of the few places that match unbelievers stereotype about the Bible. Have you ever heard someone say, "The Bible is just a bunch of rules?" Well, if you read Leviticus, it might just seem like it is.

 

For the first half of this covenantal book, we were told about the sacrificial system for the forgiveness of sins. Now, "the people are instructed on how to live as a forgiven people." History calls this "the holiness code," and while, yes, it was a lot of do's and don't's, it was mostly a list of how to stay safe (holy) in a world of danger.

 

If anyone tells you that the Bible is a rule book, tell them, "In places it seems that way. But we'd do better to remember that Jesus simplified all of it to one four-letter word: Love." In fact, in Matthew 22:34-40, Jesus told us to "love the Lord with all our heart, all our soul, and all our mind ... and ... love our neighbors as ourselves."

 

By the way ... to point us away from rules and back to love, Jesus was quoting this very chapter with all the "do not's" (as well as Deut 6:5) ...

 

"Do not seek revenge.

Do not bear a grudge against anyone.

Rather, love your neighbor as yourself."

Leviticus 19:18

 

Isn't it cool how Jesus goes to the middle of a bunch of rules and reminds us that's it's all about love.

 

In Christ's Love,

a guy who loves finding a pearl

in the midst of passages about not eating swine