Be Flawless

From Leviticus to the Cross

And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to all the congregation of the people of Israel and say to them, You shall be holy, for I, the Lord your God, am holy. Leviticus 19:1-2

Leviticus provided Moses with details for how the worship of God should be conducted among the children of Israel, and it is detailed. Detailed in the way NASA might detail a mission to Mars, with the torque of every bolt and exacting measurements and equations of each system. A spacecraft has to be perfect, or it won't make it home. Leviticus suggests the same thing about approaching God; it has to be perfect, and Leviticus is God's guidebook or blueprint for doing it exactly right.

In fact, when the Son of God came to earth, centuries later, He echoed the same sentiment: "You, therefore, must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect." Matthew 5:48

With that, reading Leviticus could make one feel that following God is impossible. I mean, by about the tenth page, you’re absolutely overwhelmed with details and process! Everything has to be precise. Exact. And, of course, this is how the worship of God should be if you think about it, because He is God, after all.

As David sang in his 'Song of Deliverance', "As for God, His way is perfect; the word of the LORD is flawless..." 2 Samuel 22:31

Perfect. Holy. Flawless.

Even the Pharisees, who tried to follow each of God's directives in the most minute detail, never got close, and in fact missed the entire point—because it wasn’t just outward, physical perfection, or obedience, like they strived for, but internal cleanness, humility, and love from a pure heart—they missed this by miles. In fact, their outward obedience more often manifests an interior life of selfish pride, the opposite of humility. And it’s the same today, we proudly believe that we’re better than others, while inside we are full of lying, unforgiveness, pride, and the most disgusting evil.

God's plan for the children of Israel to worship Him rightly, even though He was Holy and they were not, was acceptable only through the system He devised and provided to Moses. It involved three things:

Priests.

Priests were the individuals set apart to God who conducted the sacrifices, offerings, and rituals on behalf of the nation. These were led by the High Priest, who represented the people before God. Not just anyone could waltz into the holy places of the tabernacle - only the High Priest was allowed and only under specific terms.

In the New Covenant, Jesus is our Great High Priest who was tempted in every way we are yet remained without sin, without pride, and the selfishness that trips up even the best of mankind’s intentions. (Hebrews 4:14-16). Jesus thus fulfilled the Law in Himself, something we (not even the High Priest through Israel’s history) could never do. He marked this victory with the declaration, “It is finished!” on the cross. With His crucifixion and resurrection, he conquered death, mankind's great equalizer, and became the one mediator between man and God—fulfilling the role of the Levitical High Priest.

Offerings.

Five offerings are outlined at the beginning of Leviticus as a sort of gift to God in worship, which God would receive and, in return, extend the grace and mercy needed to cover the sins of those bringing the gift.

John the Baptist rightly identified Jesus as "The Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world." (John: 1:29) Jesus fulfilled the temporary nature of the Levitical offerings with His own blood, as Peter wrote: "with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot." (1 Peter 1:19) And so now we come to God not based on a physical, temporary offering, but by faith through the life-giving fountain of Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God.

Obedience.

The Law and Commandments were directives, not suggestions, and the only way the priests could truly represent the people and God could govern as Lord and King was through the obedience of the nation, corporately and individually. It is no different in the new covenant, where we come to Jesus by faith and receive by grace His gift of salvation and forgiveness for our sins. He said over and over again, things like, "If you love me, keep my commandments." "If any man wants to follow me, let him deny himself, take up his cross and follow me."

But just like in Leviticus, we don't obey His commands because that is the end in itself; we obey as part of being changed, internally. Willingly, humbly, by love, because we want to be conformed into Jesus’ image.

Jesus was the supreme example of Holiness, and His life is what God meant when He told the children of Israel, "You shall be holy, for I, the Lord your God, am Holy."

So if I follow Jesus, does that make me perfect? Flawless? As is the directive of Leviticus? Unfortunately, not in myself, no. There will always be room, lots of room, in my case, for improvement. But as I grow in Christ, as I walk humbly in His Church, and my life begins to exhibit holiness that comes from purity of mind and motive, selfless giving, heartfelt adoration and love for God, love for all people, and remorse for sin—I will grow closer. This is the narrow path.

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.