Leviticus 11-13

“I am the Lord, who brought you up out of Egypt to be your God; therefore be holy, because I am holy” (11:45). For the Jews, being holy included avoiding moral sinfulness and also being careful to be ritually “clean,” meaning following rules about diet, childbirth practices, dealing with skin diseases, etc. Ritual cleanliness marked out the Israelites as unique and taught them to respect God in daily life. Jesus explained, however, that it was possible to obey rituals and still have a sinful heart (Mark 7).

“I am the Lord your God; consecrate yourselves and be holy, because I am holy” (11:44). We are holy not because we keep rules, but because the “blood of Jesus purifies us from all sin” (I John 1:7).