On the Way
“Speak to all the congregation of the sons of Israel and say to them, ‘You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy.’” Leviticus 19:2 NASB
You shall be holy – How we have abused this verse! It is cited in Matthew (5:48 in the Greek version, not exactly what it says in Hebrew). We have been taught that Yeshua preached that the goal of a religious life is holiness and that anything less than perfect holiness is sin. Oh, what trauma we have caused for all who fell under that burden! Because we didn’t pay attention to the Hebrew grammar or the meaning of qādôš.
In the past we have examined the forensic meaning of qādôš by noting the work of Matthew Wilson ( October 4, 2017 Today’s Word) CLICK HERE). We discovered that the larger definition of qādôš is not “set apart” but rather “devoted.” That means this crucial passage in Leviticus should be read as God’s desire for reciprocity. We are to be as devoted to Him as He is to us. It’s not about being perfect. It’s about being committed.
With that in mind, we need to take a look at the grammar. John Walton points out that the verb tense in Leviticus 19:2 is an imperfect form/indicative, not an imperative.[1] That has a startling implication. God is not commanding perfection or holiness. Walton suggests that the verse should be read, “You are holy because I am holy.” In other words, according to Walton, this is a declaration of the character of His chosen people, not a command for ethical improvement. It is not something we achieve but something we are, based entirely on the declaration of God. God declares Israel qādôš because Israel is chosen. This helps us see two critical corrections. First, God is not judging us on some standard of perfection. Holiness is not commanded. Devotion (the real idea of holiness) is an imperfect verb, that is, a continuous progressive activity not yet completed. It’s what we are while we are on the way. Second, where we are at this precise moment does not negate God’s choice nor God’s declaration. Israel is God’s “holy” chosen one, simply because He says so. That there are members of the nation of Israel who do not reciprocate God’s devotion does not erase God’s commitment to the nation. It might affect those individuals but it does not destroy the “holiness” of Israel. “On the way” toward YHVH is what qādôš is all about.
You are hereby exempt from the burden of holy perfection! Thank God!
Topical Index: qādôš, holy, devotion, perfection, Leviticus 19:2
[1] John Walton’s “Lost World Conference” in Seattle, Sept 7-8, on YouTube
