“Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord.” (Leviticus 19:18)
The editor’s title for the section in Leviticus from 17:1 thru 26:46 is ‘Instructions for Holy Living’.
While we are no longer bound by the Mosaic Law as current Jews are, we are still to live lives that are examples to the world of the love our God has for all of mankind. We are to forgive and not hold a grudge. We are to never seek vengeance on another, but rather show mercy. We are to show love to our neighbors. Our neighbors, as the below note tells us, are not limited to those within our community of faith, but rather those who are alien to our beliefs. Therefore, we are to show love to all. As an outcropping of that love, we are to exhibit patience, compassion, mercy and grace. It isn’t always easy, especially in the face of ridicule or ignorance; however, the scriptures are clear, we are to show all men the same level of love and mercy.
Let’s clarify the whole Mosaic Law deal with regards to our having to obey it. We are not bound to it and that it true, but when we receive Christ, having our sins expunged, we are to begin to live differently. As we draw close to God, we learn what it means to truly serve Him. In our efforts to serve Him we invariably end up living out the Mosaic Law even though it is not required of us. We are not bound to it as if it were some sort of ball and chain holding us back or weighing us down. We are able to freely live as Christ would have us live, according to the precepts which line up to the will of God. These precepts are based on love, mercy, grace and forgiveness. We don’t have to make a yearly sacrifice to God any longer, but rather, are to be show the world what it means to live in obedience to God’s word. There must be a standard of living for us to follow. The only one, in my mind, that is constant and worthy of adhering to is the Word of God, which maps out our course. To know it is to read it and reading it should compel us to live it. We are not to be door mats for the world to have their way with us, but rather examples of the love God has for those who are lost and floundering in this life.
WALK WITH THE KING TODAY AND BE A BLESSING!
NOTE: Leviticus is part of the material Yahweh revealed to Moses on Mount Sinai.
NOTE: A “neighbor” was anyone with whom there was contact, whether Israelite (v. 17) or alien (v. 34; Matthew 22:39-40; Romans 13:9). [ Both notes taken from the Asbury Bible Commentary ]
