God calls his people to live holy lives to reflect his holy and righteous character. He gives them strict prohibitions against sins such as idolatry, disobedience to parents, sexual immorality, and occult practices. Committing these sins results in severe punishment, including the death penalty. God’s judgment against these sins reveals how seriously he takes anything that destroys life, corrupts worship, and breaks covenant faithfulness.

While they were slaves in Egypt, the Israelites lived like pagans. But God rescued them from Egypt and set them apart from godless nations to be his own. As God’s people, they were called to be holy as he is holy. Sin affects not just individuals but the whole community, bringing God’s righteous judgment.

Yet no one can meet God’s standard of holiness. This is why the gospel is good news to us: Jesus Christ took on the judgment we deserve so that we might be forgiven and made holy. We are called to live holy lives to display our new identity as a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. By the Holy Spirit, we must turn from sin and live to honor God. Leviticus 20 reminds us that God is holy, sin is very serious, and grace is costly.
Application: Lord, thank you for setting us free from sin and calling us as your people. Help me to live a holy life by the power of the Holy Spirit.
One Word: Live as God’s people