Parasha: K’doshim – Holy Ones
VaYikra 19:1 – 20:27
“V’Yikra 19:1 And Avinu spoke to Moshe, saying, 2 Speak to all the congregation of the children of Israel, and say to them, You shall be holy: for I Avinu Elohekah am holy. 3 You shall fear every man his mother, and his father, and keep my sabbaths: I am Avinu Elohekah.
** This passage appears three times in the Scriptures. Notice that the command to “be Holy” is included with two of the ten commandments found in the Decalogue. The first mitzvah deals with how we treat others, beginning with our physical parents and the second puts us in the realm of observing “Holy Time”. We are “Holy” when we are engaged in “Holy” activities, using our mouths and limbs to fulfill one of the Torah’s mitzvoth. When we are not fulfilling one of the Torah’s mitzvoth, we are not “Holy”. At best, we are “neutral” and at worst, we are sinning. Holiness is not inherent in anyone because of their race or ethnicity. A Believer is only “Holy” when he is following the leading of the “Holy Spirit”. When he doesn’t follow the leading of the Holy Spirit, he isn’t Holy. A “space” is “Holy” when Holy people are gathered in that space to fulfill a mitzva. When the Holy people leave the space it is no longer “Holy”.
Time is only “Holy” when Avinu declares it to be “Holy”. Only Avinu has the authority to declare time “Holy”. We can share in the Holiness of time when we follow Avinu in the instructions for that particular time.
Holiness – A goal or an inherent state. “9 And do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father,’ for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham. 10 Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.” (Mt 3:9-10) We see that being a “son of Abraham” has no merit of itself. Holiness is not a spiritual state that is passed from generation to generation based on physical descendency. Holiness is a spiritual state that is achieved through physical activities.
“7 Consecrate yourselves, therefore, and be holy, for I am Avinu Elohekah. 8 Keep my statutes and do them; I am Avinu who sanctifies you.” (Le 20:7-8)
“You shall be holy to me, for I the LORD am holy and have separated you from the peoples, that you should be mine.” (Le 20:26)
“And when they go out into the outer court to the people, they shall put off the garments in which they have been ministering and lay them in the holy chambers. And they shall put on other garments, lest they transmit holiness to the people with their garments.” (Eze 44:19)
** Notice that the garments are always “holy” because of their designation of being “Holy”. They are a “Holy” garment used in a “Holy” function and being worn by a “Holy” person. They remain “Holy” after the fundtion is completed that they have been used for but the priests aren’t “holy” when they are finished performing what they are commanded to do.
** Here is something else to consider about this verse. The command teaches, “…you are to fear your father and mother. I think that we understand the primary application of this verse as referring to our physical treatment of our parents.Yeshua gives us something to think about when He teaches, “And he answered and said to them, My mother and my brothers are these which hear the word of God, and do it.” (Lu 8:21)
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