121_What is holiness?

Lev 21:1-9 And the Lord said to Moses, “Speak to the priests, the sons of Aaron, and say to them, No one shall make himself unclean for the dead among his people, 2 except for his closest relatives, his mother, his father, his son, his daughter, his brother, 3 or his virgin sister (who is near to him because she has had no husband; for her he may make himself unclean). 4 He shall not make himself unclean as a husband among his people and so profane himself. 5 They shall not make bald patches on their heads, nor shave off the edges of their beards, nor make any cuts on their body. 6 They shall be holy to their God and not profane the name of their God. For they offer the Lord’s food offerings, the bread of their God; therefore they shall be holy. 7 They shall not marry a prostitute or a woman who has been defiled, neither shall they marry a woman divorced from her husband, for the priest is holy to his God. 8 You shall sanctify him, for he offers the bread of your God. He shall be holy to you, for I, the Lord, who sanctify you, am holy. 9 And the daughter of any priest, if she profanes herself by whoring, profanes her father; she shall be burned with fire.

Chapters like Leviticus 21 & 22 primarily refer to the Old Testament priests of Aaron’s line. There were several ways in which the priests could be defiled. For instance, touching a dead body, having a physical blemish, and marrying outside the prescribed categories. At first sight, they seem to have little to do with us. Yet they are of great relevance to us as well. The Lord stated, Matt 5:17-18 “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.”

The scribes and the Pharisees often accused the Lord and his disciples of not keeping the law of Moses. But the Lord repeatedly showed them the meaning of the law, not from his own imagination or thinking, but from the scriptures themselves. They were hung up on the words of the law rather than understanding its revelation of God’s mind and heart. Therefore, they could not recognize Jesus as Messiah, and as the fulfillment of the law.

They made some basic errors in interpreting the law. Firstly, they thought that they were the spiritual elite, holier than the people, because of their high standard of ceremonial cleanliness. But actually, the higher standard of separation from all that was unclean for the priests and Levites was simply because they were called to bear the iniquity of the people before God. A greater task meant greater responsibility but not greater intrinsic holiness. “To whom much is given, much is required.” (cf. Luke 12:48).

The Lord exposed this attitude in the parable of Pharisee and the tax collector in Luke 18:10-12 “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed[a] thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’ ”

It was through grace that Aaron’s family was appointed to be priests. They were to live by and teach the people the law of the Lord, as those who wore the badge “Holiness to the Lord.” They were to demonstrate and teach truth, justice and mercy. In their daily ministry to God in the Tabernacle, they bore the iniquity of the people. They prevented unnecessary deaths by serving God in the prescribed manner, offering gifts and sacrifices on behalf of the people and making atonement for them, and interceding for them.

This meant they had first to offer themselves to the Lord in their hearts, through their training and ordination. Their careful adherence to the outward ceremonies and practices of priesthood was among the first steps whereby the Lord made clear the meaning of holiness to the untrained eyes and hearts of the Israelites.

Here was the second mistake of the religious leaders of Jesus’ time. They thought that holiness lay in being ceremonially blameless, separate from all that defiled. They were utterly regardless of their hearts. They rebuked others for eating with “unwashed hands” (cf. Mark 7:1ff.), eating with “sinners” (Mark 2:15-16), and allowing them to touch him, but they were hypocrites, ruthless and ambitious people. The Lord declared their true state, Matt 12:7 “If you had known what this means, ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the guiltless.” Blind in heart, they were unholy, separated from his heart by their injustice, indifference, and unrighteousness.

These passages repeat the phrase “I am the one who sanctifies.” Holiness is not achieved by keeping the laws of defilement. Those laws were merely a primer to teach faith and obedience from a humble heart that trembles at his word. The priests confessed their own sinfulness every time they sacrificed their own sin offerings. The only reason they could keep on serving was that the God of holiness imparts holiness to those who obey him in faith.

Therefore, Ps 32:1 declares, “Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven,
whose sin is covered.
2 Blessed is the man against whom the Lord counts no iniquity,
and in whose spirit there is no deceit.”

However, the consecrated priests had to keep themselves from defilement. There is a world of difference between avoiding defilement because a holy God has loved and chosen you, and avoiding defilement so that you can earn holiness. This was the outstanding error of the scribes and Pharisees. They confused the cause with the effect. They thought that they were holy because they kept the ceremonial law. They did not accept the way of faith that cheerfully rests in God’s salvation while eagerly seeking to please him.

Haggai asks this question, ‘Ask now the priests for a ruling: If a man carries holy meat in the fold of his garment, and touches bread with this fold, or cooked food, wine, oil, or any other food, will it become holy?’” And the priests answered and said, “No.” Then Haggai said, “If one who is unclean from a corpse touches any of these, will the latter become unclean?” And the priests answered and said, “It will become unclean.” Holiness cannot be transmitted, since it is a living quality of faith. But defilement is contagious.

Let us beware of these mistakes. Let us avoid the self-righteousness that comes from seeking external conformity with the Law but ignore the deeper poverty of the heart – with its covetousness, ambition, and pride. We are not holier than others because we are God’s people. Our forgiveness and cleansing are gifts of God’s grace. His revelation of grace does not make us greater, it only magnifies his mercy. Let us then separate ourselves from the filth of the flesh and spirit, trusting our Father’s promises.

2 Cor 6: 17 to 7: 1 “As God has said: “I will dwell with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be My people.” 17“Therefore come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you.” 18 “I will be a Father to you, and you will be My sons and daughters,” says the Lord Almighty. Therefore, beloved, since we have these promises, let us cleanse ourselves from everything that defiles body and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.”

The religious elite saw and heard the Lord Jesus but rejected his words because they were satisfied with the pride and independence of self-righteousness. They did not feel that they needed mercy; surely, they felt, they had earned God’s blessings. They were worthy of God’s reward, and did not need grace. The service of God was a right to high status and not a place of service.

Let us cling in heart to the Lord who sanctifies us, that our lives of love, faith, and quiet obedience, may reflect his holiness in all humility and wisdom. God bless.