Leviticus 20:26 And you shall be holy to me: for I the LORD am holy, and have severed you from other people, that you should be mine. There are three ways in which we may take these words. First, as simply the statement of a fact; the Lord, speaking in prophecy, says you shall be holy; you cannot help being holy, for you belong to God. He has chosen you. Thus every saved one becomes dedicated; and whatever is dedicated is "holy"; and, therefore, you being dedicated, you must be "holy." Another interpretation might be (still prophetically), "You shall be holy." The Lord God Omnipotent shall see to that. But then the promise bears upon that word "your." "Your God." If He is really your God, the God you have chosen, the God you have loved, the God you have served, the Cod really in your heart, your God, then He will take care and make you holy. But though both these interpretations of the verse are admissible, and true, and comforting, I think it is evident that they are not the meaning which is chiefly intended. "Shall" is not meant to be a future tense, but the imperative mood, It is very frequent in the Bible; a strong imperative, a positive law to be holy. "Ye shall be holy," and for this reason above all others, "because the Lord your God is holy." The creature must be like his Creator; the child must be like his Father; the scholar must be like his Master; the sinner must be like his Saviour. "Ye shall be holy." It is your first duty to be "holy." The reasons why we should be "holy" are very many. We are made capable of holiness. That is a great fact. Our former convictions and feelings point us to holiness. We have to do with "holy" things. Everything that we see, and everything we touch is "holy." God has provided a way by which we may be "holy." Holiness, even in this world, is the highest happiness, and we are made fit for and trained for a holy world beyond — a holy eternity. But besides and above all this our best and highest reason for anything is always what we find in God Himself. "Ye shall be holy: for I the Lord your God am holy." It was God's primary principle at man's creation. "Let Us make man in Our image, after Our likeness." Therefore God made man "holy." And when man lost his holiness, God, being very jealous about it, immediately proceeded to provide a way by which we could recover it. But what is holiness? The Greek word for "holiness" is compounded of two words which mean "without earth," free from earthliness. Or we may take holiness to be that which has God for its Author, and God for its end; or that which matches with God, and is fitted for His service and His glory. Or sanctified purity. Or, as we have seen, that which resembles God, and is dedicated to His service and His glory. A reflection of Himself, or one or other of His attributes. A reflection of His holiness. Now the great and all-important question is, How is "holiness" to be attained? How do we, who are so very far off from holiness, become holy? In its great outline, I should say the answer is this: First, you must be, and realise that you are, a member of Christ; a Christian. Made so by your baptism, and your membership ratified and confirmed by the solemn words and vows which you yourself have made, and the many inward feelings in your own heart, and the many communications which you have had with God from time to time. Being, then, a member of Christ, and Christ your Head, the Holy Spirit, which was poured upon you at baptism, must hold His true place in your heart. The great work lies all within the Trinity. The Father gives you to the Son, the Son gives you to the Holy Ghost, the Holy Ghost gives you back to the Son changed and sanctified. Sanctified, but still a poor sinner. And the Son cleanses you with His blood, and clothes you with His own righteousness, and gives you back to the Father, through Him and in Him holy, holy enough for heaven, holy enough to stand in God's holy presence. (Jas. Vaughan, M. A.) Parallel Verses KJV: And ye shall be holy unto me: for I the LORD am holy, and have severed you from other people, that ye should be mine. |
    |