Dictionary of Bible Themes God's people are called to holiness, which involves being distinct from other people. In the OT, this is seen in the command to separate from other nations and from everything that can compromise commitment to the LORD. In the NT believers are called to distance themselves from the ways and values of the world, which can be dishonouring to God and destructive to obedience to him. Leviticus 20:23-26Israel is to be set apart from other nations See also Exodus 33:15-16Leviticus 15:31; 18:29-30 Deuteronomy 7:1-6; 23:9-14 Ezra 9:1-2,10-12 Isaiah 52:11 Leviticus 11:46-47 Common things are designated clean or unclean by ritual law See also Clean and unclean animals Leviticus 11:1-23Mark 7:14-19 Acts 10:14 pp Dt 14:3-20 Leviticus 13:2-3; 14:2Infectious skin diseases Leviticus 13:47-49; 14:33-36Mildew Leviticus 12:2; 15:2Bodily discharges Leviticus 5:2-3; 11:31-40; 21:1,11Corpses Leviticus 10:10-11What is holy must be kept separate Ezekiel 44:23The Israelites must distinguish between the holy and the common Acts 21:28See also Contact with the profane desecrates the holy Jeremiah 51:51Numbers 5:1-3 Ezra 10:10-11 Unclean people and things must be removed See also Leviticus 7:22-27; 13:45-46; 19:5-8Numbers 19:13,20 Deuteronomy 23:10-14 2 Chronicles 26:21 Leviticus 7:20-21; 22:3-6 Unclean people are not to approach what is sacred Leviticus 5:14-16The holy must be treated with respect Unintentional defilement of the holy carries a penalty Leviticus 22:1-2See also Warnings against contempt for the holy Exodus 19:10-13; 28:42-43; 30:18-21; 31:14-15Numbers 4:15,17-20 Hebrews 10:28-29 Leviticus 10:1-2 Numbers 16:1-7,18-35 Examples of contempt for the holy 1 Samuel 6:19-202 Samuel 6:6-7 Ezekiel 22:26,31 Acts 5:1-10 John 15:19 Christians are called to be separate from the ways of the world James 4:41 Peter 2:9-11 See also John 17:14-162 Corinthians 6:14-7:1 2 Timothy 2:19 James 1:27 See also 4026 world, God's creation5763 attitudes, positive to God 5812 concealment 7342 cleanliness 7344 curtain 7426 ritual washing 7428 Sabbath 8207 commitment 8341 separation 8848 worldliness |
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