Leviticus 19:17-18
True holiness rejects hatred and vengeance and expresses itself in love for others.
17 “ ‘You shall not hate your brother in your heart. You shall surely rebuke your neighbor, and not bear sin because of him.
18 “ ‘You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children of your people; but you shall love your neighbor as yourself. I am Yahweh.
True holiness rejects hatred and vengeance and expresses itself in love for others.
This passage commands Israel to reject internal hatred, practice honest rebuke, and abandon vengeance in favor of loving one’s neighbor.
Leviticus 19 unfolds the command, 'Be holy because I, the LORD your God, am holy,' through concrete patterns of worship, family honor, economic mercy, truthful speech, just judgment, and neighbor protection. Verses 17-18 stand near the theological and ethical center of the chapter. They move from public justice in verses 15-16 into the heart-level demands of covenant life, showing that holiness governs both the courtroom and the conscience, both speech and settled resentment.
Israel is being instructed at Sinai as a redeemed covenant people whose life must reflect the holiness of the LORD among the nations.
Be Holy Because I Am Holy: Covenant Life Before God and Neighbor
Because the LORD is holy, His redeemed people must embody holiness in worship, family, justice, mercy, speech, sexuality, work, land, neighbor-love, foreigner-love, and honest daily life.