Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. (Philippians 2:6)
The LORD also said to Moses, “Give the following instructions to the entire community of Israel. You must be holy because I, the LORD your God, am holy. [. . .]
“Do not steal.
“Do not deceive or cheat one another.
“Do not bring shame on the name of your God by using it to swear falsely. I am the LORD.
“Do not defraud or rob your neighbor.
“Do not make your hired workers wait until the next day to receive their pay.
“Do not insult the deaf or cause the blind to stumble. You must fear your God; I am the LORD.
“Do not twist justice in legal matters by favoring the poor or being partial to the rich and powerful. Always judge people fairly.
“Do not spread slanderous gossip among your people.
“Do not stand idly by when your neighbor’s life is threatened. I am the LORD.
“Do not nurse hatred in your heart for any of your relatives. Confront people directly so you will not be held guilty for their sin.
“Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against a fellow Israelite, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD.” (Leviticus 19:1–2, 11–18 NLT)
The recurring command, “Be holy, for I am holy,” serves as the motto of the Book of Leviticus, echoing throughout its chapters. Holiness is often thought of as piety or moral integrity—a careful organization of one’s life around certain principles. We might picture a holy person as someone who chooses isolation to devote time to God, equating strict devotion with holiness.
However, the holiness presented in Leviticus 19 is not about withdrawing from the world but about engaging with it. The chapter opens with a call to be holy as God is holy, then lays out two pictures of what that means. The first section describes how God is to be worshipped, focusing on sacrifices and ritual. The second section, beginning after verse 8, shifts to responsibility for caring for the needy. This section repeatedly reinforces the laws with the phrase, “I am Yahweh your God,” emphasizing that God’s character sets the standard for human behavior. Each law is tied to God’s identity, confirming: “This is who I am, and this is why you are.” The chapter concludes with, “Observe my statutes and my rules and do them. I am Yahweh.”
By combining laws for ritual with statutes for social care, Leviticus redefines holiness—not as an abstract or mystical idea that leads to detachment but as a way of seeing God in all things and worshipping God through everyday actions, especially in how we treat others.
Jesus later echoes this theme in his ministry. When describing who is welcomed into his Kingdom, Jesus does not focus on personal piety or isolation. Instead, he defines holiness by how people treat their fellow humans—especially those who are hurting, vulnerable, or defenseless. For Jesus, the proof of holiness is not found in internal righteousness but in outward acts of justice and compassion. In other words, Jesus views the heart through the actions of the individual; holiness is demonstrated in how we act toward others.
Zach McAlack is the lead pastor of Table of Life Church in Easton, Pennsylvania.