1-2 God spoke to Moses: "Speak to the congregation of
Israel. Tell them, Be holy because I,
God, your God, am holy.
9-10 "When you
harvest your land, don't harvest right up to the edges of your field
or gather the gleanings from the harvest. Don't strip your vineyard
bare or go back and pick up the fallen grapes. Leave them for the poor
and the foreigner. I am God,
your God.
11 "Don't steal.
"Don't lie.
"Don't deceive anyone.
12 "Don't swear
falsely using my name, violating the name of your God. I am
God.
13 "Don't exploit
your friend or rob him.
"Don't hold back the wages of a hired hand overnight.
14 "Don't curse
the deaf; don't put a stumbling block in front of the blind; fear your
God. I am God.
15 "Don't pervert
justice. Don't show favoritism to either the poor or the great. Judge
on the basis of what is right.
16 "Don't spread
gossip and rumors.
"Don't just stand by when your neighbor's life is in danger.
I am God.
17 "Don't secretly
hate your neighbor. If you have something against him, get it out into
the open; otherwise you are an accomplice in his guilt.
18 "Don't seek
revenge or carry a grudge against any of your people.
"Love your neighbor as yourself. I am
God. (1)
Laws. There are some ceremonial precepts in this chapter,
but most of these precepts are binding on us, for they are
explanations of the ten commandments. It is required that Israel be a
holy people, because the God of Israel is a holy God, ver. #(2). To
teach real separation from the world and the flesh, and entire
devotedness to God.
This is now the law of Christ; may the Lord bring every thought
within us into obedience to it! Children are to be obedient to their
parents, ver. #(3). The fear here required includes inward reverence
and esteem, outward respect and obedience, care to please them and to
make them easy. God only is to be worshipped, ver. #(4). Turn not from
the true God to false ones, from the God who will make you holy and
happy, to those that will deceive you, and make you for ever
miserable. Turn not your eyes to them, much less your heart.
They should leave the gleanings of their harvest and vintage for
the poor, ver. #(9). Works of piety must be always attended with works
of charity, according to our ability. We must not be covetous,
griping, and greedy of every thing we can lay claim to, nor insist
upon our right in all things. We are to be honest and true in all our
dealings, ver. #(11). Whatever we have in the world, we must see that
we get it honestly, for we cannot be truly rich, or long rich, with
that which is not so. Reverence to the sacred name of God must be
shown, ver. #(12). We must not detain what belongs to another,
particularly the wages of the hireling, ver. #(13). We must be tender
of the credit and safety of those that cannot help themselves, ver.
#(14).
Do no hurt to any, because they are unwilling or unable to avenge
themselves. We ought to take heed of doing any thing which may
occasion our weak brother to fall. The fear of God should keep us from
doing wrong things, though they will not expose us to men's anger.
Judges, and all in authority, are commanded to give judgment without
partiality, ver. #(15). To be a tale-bearer, and to sow discord among
neighbours, is as bad an office as a man can put himself into. (2)
