Jun. 15, 2025

Leviticus 19:1-3

More than Honorable Mention

1. A Startling Command (v. 2)

A. Speak to all the congregation

B. Be HOLY!

1 Peter 1:13-16

Exodus 19:6

1 Peter 2:9

”Holiness is expressed in moral integrity.” Gordon Wenham

C. Because He Is Holy

“In the covenant God began to teach His people that He is the only being in the existence of whom that term may be justly used.” John Oswalt

“That God is holy means that he is exalted, awesome in power, glorious in appearance, pure in character. God’s holiness is contagious. Wherever his presence is, that place becomes holy.” John E. Hartley

Encounter in the Old Testament:

Isaiah 6:1-3

Consistency in the New Testament:

Revelation 4:8

Leviticus 10:10-11

Leviticus 18:1-5

2. Revere Your Mother and Father (v. 3a)

A. No Room for Exclusion

B. Reverence, but a Little Bit More

יר א ; awesome fear, be afraid; fear God; be feared, be honored; terrible; dreaded

Exodus 20:12

Ephesians 6:1-4

Leviticus 19:14

Leviticus 19:32

Matthew 15:1-9

3. AND You Shall Keep the Sabbaths (v. 3b)

A. What We Have Lost

“Subtracting a day of rest each week has had a profound effect on our lives. How could it not? One day a week adds up. Fifty-two days a year times an average life span is equal to more than eleven years. Take away eleven years of anything in a lifetime, and there will be a change. This is a law of the universe: for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. Subtract over a decade of sleep, work, or education, and the entire character of one’s existence is altered. Multiply eleven years times a third of a billion Americans, and you are looking for a lost continent of time. Unfortunately, in our society, it’s not Monday that got mislaid; it’s our Sabbath, our day of rest. If there is to be any hope for recovering the Sabbath, we must first admit that something is missing. Despite reassurances of convenience, safety, and choice, America has been conned.” ― Matthew Sleeth, 24/6: A Prescription for a Healthier, Happier Life

B. Sabbath was built into Creation

Exodus 20:8-11

Combating the idolatry of the Sabbath

Mark 2:27-28

C. These Commands Rest in the Identity of The Lord

“Rest shows us who God is. He has restraint. Restraint is refraining from doing everything that one has the power to do. We must never mistake God's restraint for weakness. The opposite is true. God shows restraint; therefore, restraint is holy.” ― Matthew Sleeth, 24/6: A Prescription for a Healthier, Happier Life

Reflection:

How do you “revere” your mother and father today?

How do you rest from your labors every week?

Follow UP in the Word through the Week…

Monday:

Read: 1 Peter 1:13-16

How would you explain “holiness” to someone else? What areas does Peter call us to holiness in?

Tuesday:

Read: Isaiah 6:1-3

Explain this encounter Isaiah has here. How does this view of God impact your daily life?

Wednesday:

Read: Revelation 4:8

How does this passage compare to yesterday’s reading? Again, how does this understanding of God impact your daily life?

Thursday:

Read: Leviticus 18:1-5

Who are the people of Israel told that they should not be like? Who instead should they be like? What application can we draw from these verses?

Friday:

Read: Exodus 20:12

How does honoring parents tie into the way we follow God? How have you seen this practiced well in life?

Saturday:

Read: Exodus 20:8-11

In a world that never slows down, how have you seen the Sabbath most constructively and effectively practiced? When do you experience rest in your life centered on Jesus?