Leviticus 20:7,8 - Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

Bible Comments

Israel Are To Be Sanctified And Obedient (Leviticus 20:7-8).

Israel are to sanctify themselves to being holy (Leviticus 20:7) and must be obedient because Yahweh is santifying them (Leviticus 20:8).

Leviticus 20:7

“Sanctify yourselves therefore, and be you holy; for I am Yahweh your God.”

So they are rather to set themselves apart totally to Yahweh, and be holy (set apart in what they were as uniquely like Him) as He is holy, by walking in His revealed ways. For He is Yahweh their covenant God. They are to look to none other but Him, and to serve Him only.

Leviticus 20:8

“And you shall keep my statutes, and do them: I am Yahweh who sanctifies you.”

And because He is the One Who is continually sanctifying them as His people, making them holy, caring for them, watching over them, shepherding them, they are to keep in their hearts, and do, His statutes, all that He has laid down for them to do. We also may treasure His word, but the question is, do we ‘do' it? See Matthew 21:30. To hear is good, but to obey is what is demanded. Some of those statutes are now outlined.

Leviticus 20:7-8

7 Sanctify yourselves therefore, and be ye holy: for I am the LORD your God.

8 And ye shall keep my statutes, and do them: I am the LORD which sanctify you.