YOU SHALL BE HOLY (Part 6 of 7)

I. What is Holiness?
II. Holiness is a Behavior Not a Covering
III. Teaching Holiness Through the Laws of Cleanliness
IV. The Consequences of Not Being Holy
V. The Challenge for the 21st Century Church
VI. You Are a Temple: The Call to Live as a Holy Person
VII. Do Not Wear Clothes of Wool and Linen Woven Together

YOU ARE A TEMPLE: THE CALL TO LIVE AS A HOLY PERSON

Now comes the most difficult part of the chapter. How do believers demonstrate holiness, especially those who have taken a position that the commandments no longer apply? To paraphrase Peter, “What sort of people are believers and how are believers demonstrating holy conduct and godliness?” (2 Pet 3:11).  In simple terms, what actions make the Christian unique and different from the rest of the world that will prevent believers from melting into the mass of humanity?

Since believers are often compared to the temple (1 Cor 6:19), let us take a few minutes to look at the temple and the articles in the temple. Every object that was dedicated for use in the temple became “HOLY TO THE LORD.” These words were engraved on the golden plate worn on Aaron’s forehead, (Ex 28:36). The phrase both reminded Aaron of the gravity of his responsibility to represent the people before God and the nature of the clothing he was wearing. The phrase “HOLY TO THE LORD” may also have been inscribed on other articles used in the temple to remind the user of their sacredness. Once an article of clothing or a vessel in the temple had been set apart for the LORD, it had to be handled in a manner that reflected the sanctification of the article. Remember, to be made “HOLY” is to set a person or object apart for the service of the LORD, (Lev 20:26).

When God commanded Moses to make implements for the temple, He gave specific instructions that those implements could not be carried beyond the boundary of the temple because they had been made holy. The articles in the temple became sanctified, as Jesus spoke, “What is more important, the gold or the temple that sanctified the gold?” (Matt 23:17). Once an article is made holy, it can not be used for a common purpose. Elizabeth never said to Zacharias, the father of John the Baptist, “Could you pick up a few extra dishes from the temple while you are serving next week? We are having company the week after you return.” We know what happen to one man who took the vessels and utensils from the temple and employed them for common use; he was “weighed on the scales and found wanting,” (Dan 5:27).

As part of their inheritance, the priests received a portion from the altar of certain grain and animal offerings. Because these offerings had become holy by contacting the altar, the priests were commanded to take the offerings and “eat it in a holy place” (Lev 10:13), “for it is most holy,” (Lev 10:12). In other words, animals that were offered up on the altar, had to be eaten in the temple complex, with the exception of the Passover Lamb. Earthenware that had been used in the temple, but subsequently became contaminated was broken rather than relegated to a service outside of the temple, (Lev 11:32). While vessels of gold, silver and bronze could be washed (baptized) to restore their sanctification, washing was insufficient to restore common pottery because it was porous and could absorb contaminates.

Everything in the temple was Holy, was to remain Holy, and could not be taken beyond the boundary of the temple into an area that was not Holy. The phrase “be holy, because I am holy” predominately occurs in the book of Leviticus to remind the priests that their actions must reflect the nature of their calling and the environment of their service. The zeal of Jesus to overturn the money-changer tables reflects His desire to maintain the sanctity of the temple.

The scriptures tell us that Jesus “would not permit anyone to carry merchandise through the temple,” (Mark 11:16). Apparently people traveled through the temple as a short cut to get from one side of Jerusalem to the other. In doing this, people diminished the sanctity of the temple by constantly mingling the common objects of life with the holy temple, ignoring the word of God to establish a “divide between the holy and the profane,” (Ezek 42:20). The imagery is unmistakable for believers. Believers are called “priests” (Rev 1:6), made holy by the blood of Jesus. The life of each believer should reflect this sanctified state. A life that constantly mixes the holy and the common profanes the name of the LORD, (Ezek 36:20-23).

When John tells us that “and nothing unclean, and no one who practices abomination and lying, shall ever come into it, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb's book of life,” (Rev 21:27), he is painting a picture of how the New Jerusalem will operate in a sanctified state like the temple. God Himself will dwell in the New Jerusalem and all the people who live there along with all the articles contained in the city will be “HOLY TO THE LORD.” The words of John are supported by Zechariah who wrote,

"In that day there will be inscribed on the bells of the horses, “HOLY TO THE LORD.” And the cooking pots in the LORD'S house will be like the bowls before the altar. 21 And every cooking pot in Jerusalem and in Judah will be holy to the LORD of hosts; and all who sacrifice will come and take of them and boil in them. And there will no longer be a Canaanite in the house of the LORD of hosts in that day." (Zech 14:20-21)

The phrase “HOLY TO THE LORD” is the same phrase inscribed on the head-piece worn by the High Priest and written on articles used in the temple. To inscribe this phrase, “on the bells of the horses," (Zech 14:2), requires horses to be located in a Holy place. Horses were generally not allowed in the temple complex. Inscribing “HOLY TO THE LORD” on the bells worn by horses implies that Holiness will extend beyond the temple complex to encompass all of Jerusalem. This understanding is supported by the words of Zechariah who told us that “every cooking pot in Jerusalem and in Judah will be holy to the LORD of host.”

Just as in the vision of John, Zechariah is telling the reader of a future time when not only the temple, but all of Jerusalem will be 'HOLY TO THE LORD.'  Isaiah also foresaw this future time and wrote, “Those who are left in Zion, who remain in Jerusalem, will be called holy, all who are recorded among the living in Jerusalem,” (Isa 4:3).

The first century Jew went to great lengths to maintain the cleanliness laws, which are analogous to a condition of holiness. Devout Jews avoided people who were unclean and pressured their acquaintances to do the same. This position resulted in the criticism against Jesus for “eating with sinners and tax collectors” (Mark 2:16)(Matt 9:10)(Luke 5:30). Such people were generally unclean because they continually contacted unclean articles, people, and they did not worship in the prescribed manners.

This practice continues even today in the Orthodox Jewish community and runs contrary to our perception of social norms. Many people are offended by the apparent “standoffish” nature of Jewish people, not appreciating that they are trying to maintain a level of holiness because Jews, and Gentile believers, are both commanded to,

“Be Holy, for I Am Holy.’” (1 Peter 1:15-16)(Lev 19:20-21)

Maybe believers need to be a little more “standoffish” and practice some of the standards of holiness established by scripture and practiced by our forefathers. In a song of David, after the LORD had defeated his enemies, David said, “The LORD has rewarded me according to my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands,” (2 Sam 12:21). David understood that the blessings of the LORD were related to the holiness of David. Paul called believers to maintain a sanctified condition before God saying,.

"Therefore, I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship." (Rom 12:1)

"Just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before Him." (Eph 1:4)(Col 1:22)(Heb 3:1)

“Therefore, ‘Come out from their midst and be separate,’ says the LORD. ‘And do not touch what is unclean; and I will welcome you. And I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to Me,’ says the LORD Almighty,” (2 Cor 6:17-18).

If not greater obedience to the commandments, how will a believer achieve holiness.

(to be continued - Scott)