Kedoshim
Holy Ones
“Holiness and the Golden Rule”
Leviticus 19:1-20:27
Amos 9:7-15 (A);
Ezekiel 20:2-20 (S)
excerpted from TorahScope, Volume I
The overriding theme of Kedoshim begins and closes with the admonition for Israel to be holy. Found within these bookends is a list of important rules which promote the pursuit of holiness. These range from simple ways to handle the harvest,[1] labor,[2] and foreign relations,[3] to restrictions about the occult[4] and deviant sexual activity.[5] This wide variety of instructions has all been designed to sanctify God’s people unto Himself. Our parashah for this week begins and closes with the following verses, clearly requiring holiness:
- “The LORD spoke to Moses, saying, ‘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”’” (Leviticus 19:1-2, WMB).
- “You shall be holy to me, for I, the LORD, am holy, and have set you apart from the peoples, that you should be mine” (Leviticus 20:26, WMB).
As one reflects upon the various commandments detailed in Kedoshim, a sense of protection from the wickedness of the sinful world in which we live should come to mind. Even though the thought of participating in many of these activities should never have been considered by us as born again Believers—the sad reality is that these depraved activities do occur in many civilizations today, and not only those of the ancient past. And, even in the largely Judeo-Protestant culture of the West, the laxity of moral codes and basic human ethics has been fostering some proliferation, of many of these formerly illegal actions, in various degrees. One could readily conclude from observing the society which surrounds us, that we are approaching the Last Days which Paul warned Timothy about. As he informed his student,
“But know this: that in the last days, grievous times will come. For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, fierce, not lovers of good, traitors, headstrong, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, holding a form of godliness but having denied its power. Turn away from these, also” (2 Timothy 3:1-5, WMB).
When you take a look at this list of how human beings will behave in the Last Days, you can readily detect that each of these despicable characteristics is almost part and parcel with people ignoring the list of commandments detailed in Kedoshim. But rather than focus on all of the negative aspects of Kedoshim this week, I would instead like you to consider one small section of our reading which relates to the actions among the people, brethren, and neighbors of Israel. The positive commandments about how people should treat their neighbors is something quite significant to the rest of the Biblical story, as demonstrating love and respect for others is definitive evidence how God’s people are indeed pursuing holiness and a proper walk with Him. The Torah instructs,
“You shall do no injustice in judgment. You shall not be partial to the poor, nor show favoritism to the great; but you shall judge your neighbor in righteousness. You shall not go around as a slanderer among your people. You shall not endanger the life of your neighbor. I am the LORD. You shall not hate your brother in your heart. You shall surely rebuke your neighbor, and not bear sin because of him. You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children of your people; but you shall love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD” (Leviticus 19:15-18, WMB).
The Biblical requirement for people to treat their neighbors, and fellow brothers and sisters—with love, respect, and forbearance—is something which is sorely needed not only among those who believe in Jesus in the Christian community, but most especially within our still-maturing Messianic community of faith. Sadly, it has been my experience that many people who profess to be pursuing a Torah-based lifestyle, often struggle with adhering to the basic commandments of how God’s people are to properly relate to their neighbors. This is very troubling, because unlike some of the more obscure commandments buried in the Torah which are easy to overlook, perhaps with little or no reference made in the Messianic Scriptures, both Yeshua and the Apostles amplified how God’s people should treat their neighbors. Leviticus 19:18 is one of the most recognizable Torah verses quoted in the New Testament.[6] Perhaps the most quoted reference where Leviticus 19:18 appeared is in the Synoptic Gospels, where Yeshua was asked what the greatest commandment in the Torah was. He logically appealed to the Shema (Deuteronomy 6:4-5) and to the need for people to love their neighbors:
“Yeshua answered, ‘The greatest is: “Hear, Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.” This is the first commandment. The second is like this: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” There is no other commandment greater than these.’ The scribe said to him, ‘Truly, Rabbi, you have said well that he is one, and there is none other but he; and to love him with all the heart, with all the understanding, all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbor as himself, is more important than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.’ When Yeshua saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, ‘You are not far from God’s Kingdom’”(Mark 12:29-34, WMB).
“‘Rabbi, which is the greatest commandment in the law?’ Yeshua said to him, ‘“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.” This is the first and great commandment. A second likewise is this, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” The whole Torah and the Prophets depend on these two commandments’” (Matthew 22:36-40, WMB).
“Behold, a certain Torah scholar stood up and tested him, saying, ‘Rabbi, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?’ He said to him, ‘What is written in the Torah? How do you read it?’ He answered, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.’ He said to him, ‘You have answered correctly. Do this, and you will live’” (Luke 10:25-28, WMB).
There are some slight differences between the questions asked among these three accounts, but the same basic answer was given. The concept of loving God with all of one’s heart, mind, soul, and strength is paramount in order to consider the thrust of the Torah’s instruction. The requirement to love one’s neighbor is the second greatest of the Torah’s commandments, and is a benchmark to see if the first greatest commandment is really being followed. After all, it has been observed that if you love an invisible God, then what about your neighbor who is visible? One has the opportunity to display love for a seen neighbor, by the same actions which should be made toward an unseen God.
Loving our Neighbors
As you dig deeper into our Torah portion, you will detect how Leviticus 19:15-18 has a more explicit way of extending love for neighbor. First, you should note how God admonished His people to judge fairly, as circumstances would arise in life which require them to make decisions or rulings:
“You shall do no injustice in judgment. You shall not be partial to the poor, nor show favoritism to the great; but you shall judge your neighbor in righteousness” (Leviticus 19:15, WMB).
The Prophet Zechariah clarified how impartiality was critical to administering proper justice:
“‘These are the things that you shall do: speak every man the truth with his neighbor. Execute the judgment of truth and peace in your gates, and let none of you devise evil in your hearts against his neighbor, and love no false oath; for all these are things that I hate,’ says the LORD” (Zechariah 8:16-17, WMB).
It is clear that if one judges with evil present in the heart, that one will be opposing the Lord and His established ways. Those who judge with evil motives will demonstrate themselves to be those who do not truly love God and neighbor.
A second major principle seen in our parashah addresses the chronic problem of human slander. As God instructed Ancient Israel,
“You shall not go around as a slanderer among your people. You shall not endanger the life of your neighbor. I am the LORD” (Leviticus 19:16, WMB).
There is nothing more damaging to a person, short of physical harm, than the wickedness of defaming someone by slander and gossip. Sadly, this is one of the most prevalent sins in the contemporary Body of Messiah—either Christian or Messianic. Notably, the Jewish theological tradition is well aware of the damage which an evil tongue can bring to the faith community, and specific prayers are to be offered each day from the siddur against speaking guile.[7]
The Biblical admonition against slander is coupled with the command to not “stand aside while your fellow’s blood is shed” (Leviticus 19:16, NJPS). With this being the case, how should any of us react when we hear our neighbor’s name or character being slandered or murdered? Would it not make sense to stand up for a brother or sister, and prevent one’s character from being assassinated? Sadly, many Believers today largely do not know how to employ these commands in real life situations. We would benefit greatly if we simply came to the defense of someone who is slandered.
Following this, the concept of harboring hatred in the heart for one’s neighbor is considered. God commanded,
“You shall not hate your brother in your heart. You shall surely rebuke your neighbor, and not bear sin because of him” (Leviticus 19:17, WMB).
We have all heard our fellow Believers in Messiah talk about the intentions of the human heart. Here in the Torah text, the Lord amplified the issue about what might occur in the heart. It is very clear how His people are not supposed to hate their fellow, but by including b’levavekha or “in your heart” with the command, the need to take this seriously is intensified. The need to not hate one’s fellow is also quite severe, as it is something which had to be commented on later by the Apostles. Consider what the Apostle John candidly said:
“He who says he is in the light and hates his brother is in the darkness even until now. He who loves his brother remains in the light, and there is no occasion for stumbling in him. But he who hates his brother is in the darkness, and walks in the darkness, and doesn’t know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes” (1 John 2:9-11, WMB).
If anyone holds any hatred toward a brother or sister, such a person should check to see whether or not he or she is living in darkness. While we might struggle with negative feelings toward non-Believers at times, we have no legitimate reason to hold continual malice toward anyone in the community of faith. The reality of life may be that we will have disagreements with fellow Believers, but such disagreements need to be tempered with love and respect, and if we have to rebuke or admonish someone—then it needs to be done tactfully. The Torah’s instruction gives a very solemn warning about reproving one’s neighbor without incurring sin (Leviticus 19:17b). The Apostle Paul further amplified how to lovingly rebuke a brother or sister in the Lord:
“Don’t receive an accusation against an elder except at the word of two or three witnesses. Those who sin, reprove in the sight of all, that the rest also may be in fear. I command you in the sight of God, and the Lord Yeshua the Messiah, and the chosen angels, that you observe these things without prejudice, doing nothing by partiality. Lay hands hastily on no one. Don’t be a participant in other people’s sins. Keep yourself pure” (1 Timothy 5:19-22, WMB).
Paul gave Timothy instruction about how to properly handle a problem with an elder in the congregation. If one had to rebuke an elder, then the key was to do it soberly and without falling into sin. Too often, though, people level charges against others for the slightest provocation and the most ridiculous reasons. In this account, as should be practiced with others, the necessity for multiple witnesses to a charge must be observed. Claiming something without legitimate proof, will lead to slander and character defamation. The sin of a spirit of partiality was sternly warned against—because obviously, if one has ought in the heart, then one will not be able to be impartial and objective in your deliberations and cross-examinations.
Finally, while love for neighbor is one of the most important commandments in the Torah, notice how the concept of loving is coupled with the prohibition against taking “revenge” (NIV) against one’s neighbor:
“You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children of your people; but you shall love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD” (Leviticus 19:18, WMB).
The Apostle Paul taught that if someone committed wrong, that repaying evil with evil would not achieve anything. Rather, evil must be overcome with doing good:
“Repay no one evil for evil. Respect what is honorable in the sight of all men. If it is possible, as much as it is up to you, be at peace with all men. Don’t seek revenge yourselves, beloved, but give place to God’s wrath. For it is written, ‘Vengeance belongs to me; I will repay [Leviticus 19:18], says the Lord.’ Therefore ‘If your enemy is hungry, feed him. If he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in doing so, you will heap coals of fire on his head [Proverbs 25:21-22].’ Don’t be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good” (Romans 12:17-21, WMB).
Paul linked Leviticus 19:18, which we are having to consider in our Torah portion, with a well-known proverb:
“If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat. If he is thirsty, give him water to drink; for you will heap coals of fire on his head, and the LORD will reward you” (Proverbs 25:21-22, WMB).
The Final Measure
When you consider the referenced verses in Kedoshim, they lay the foundation for one of the most important commandments in the Holy Writ. Many refer to this as the Golden Rule: “Therefore, whatever you desire for men to do to you, you shall also do to them; for this is the Torah and the Prophets” (Matthew 7:12, WMB; cf. Luke 6:31; 10:25-28). After loving God, His people are supposed to love their neighbors as they should love themselves. So, as you meditate upon Kedoshim this week, you might ask yourself just how well you are loving your neighbor.
If married, do you consider your spouse to be your closest neighbor? Are you looking out for his or her needs? Are you putting his or her needs ahead of yours? Are you trying to find new ways to serve him or her, and make your relationship better? Are you coming to the defense of him or her when he or she is being wronged? The list of what husbands and wives can do for one another can go on and on. What about your close family members or friends? What about your colleagues at work? The point is, when considering the closest and most familiar of relationships, you need to exercise love by being sensitive to others’ needs, and always be trying to help people in unexpected ways.
Here is a real sobering thought which I would like you meditate upon: imagine the Golden Rule like a measuring rod which determines your degree of holiness. If you are honest with yourself, you may think that you are not very holy. When analyzing our interactions with various “neighbors” over the years, just about all of us can recall times when we were impartial in judgment. We spoke without thinking. How about those times when we actually committed slander? What about times we hated someone in our hearts, because of something done to us? Is it possible that we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves? Where might we need to make restitution?
If you take the time to do some introspection, you might conclude that this is a very well-needed spiritual exercise. You might realize that obedience to the second greatest commandment is more theory than reality in your life. But this is why the faithful Torah student is blessed. Every year we have the opportunity to let the Spirit of the Most High instruct us about loving our neighbors. And, we have the Spirit to convict us where we need to change, cry out for help, and in changing we can then serve as a positive example to others. The Lord bids us to be holy in more than just outward doings, but in the heart attitude which we carry inside of us!
Do you remember how Yeshua, when addressing His followers, dealt with the “loving your neighbors” issue? He raised it to a much higher level! In fact, He taught that His followers were to love their enemies and to pray for those who persecuted them:
“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who mistreat you and persecute you, that you may be children of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the just and the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Don’t even the tax collectors do the same? If you only greet your friends, what more do you do than others? Don’t even the tax collectors do the same? Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect” (Matthew 5:43-48, WMB).
There is no Biblical commandment anywhere which instructs God’s people to hate their enemies, although hatred for enemies is something which is quite common to the human condition. But the Dead Sea Scrolls did, in fact, include an injunction that hating enemies was acceptable:
“He is to teach them both to love all the Children of Light—each commensurate with his rightful place in the council of God—and to hate all the Children of Darkness, each commensurate with his guilt and the vengeance due him from God” (1QS 1.9-11).[8]
To combat this shameful problem, Yeshua concluded His admonition by instructing His listeners that they needed to be perfect, just as their Father was perfect. Of course, such a degree of perfection can only be obtained from supernatural work of God within a redeemed heart.
Do you have a redeemed heart? Have you appropriated the shed blood of the Messiah, being forgiven of your sins? Do you walk in the holiness which the Lord has required of His people—by demonstrating love and mercy toward others? I hope that you truly are of the redeemed, and you are reflecting such redemption to all those you encounter and meet. May His name and works be revered beyond measure!
NOTES
[1] Leviticus 19:9-10, 23-25.
[2] Leviticus 19:13.
[3] Leviticus 19:33-34.
[4] Leviticus 19:26; 20:1-8, 27.
[5] Leviticus 20:10-26.
[6] Mark 12:31; Matthew 19:19; Luke 10:27; Romans 13:9; Galatians 5:14; James 2:8.
[7] Joseph H. Hertz, ed., The Authorised Daily Prayer Book, revised (New York: Bloch Publishing Company, 1960), pp 25-29; Nosson Scherman and Meir Zlotowitz, eds., Complete ArtScroll Siddur, Nusach Sefard (Brooklyn: Mesorah Publications, 1985), 23.
[8] Michael Wise, Martin Abegg, Jr., and Edward Cook, trans., The Dead Sea Scrolls: A New Translation (San Francisco: HarperCollins, 1996), 127.
