The Pulpit Commentary — Leviticus — Section 337

This, too, is a universal sin. Some nations may be more prone to it than others. The weak and the oppressed are too ready to take refuge in it; it is the resort of the feeble and the fearful. But it is also used with shameful freedom and shocking unconcern, as an instrument of gain and power. God has revealed his holy hatred of it. "Ye shall not lie." " Lying lips are abomination to the Lord;" "the Lord hateth a lying tongue" (Prov. xii. 22; vi. 17). Under the gospel of Christ, we are earnestly warned against it (Eph. iv. 25; Col. iii. 9). We are reminded that it is (1) a wrong done to our fellow-men (" we are members," etc.), and (2) closely associated with heathen habits (the "old man," etc.); and we may remember that it is (3) a habit most demoralizing to ourselves, as well as (4) something which utterly separates us from our Lord, being so contrary to his Spirit and so grievous in his sight.-C. Vers. 17, 18.-Love-its root and its fruit. Two things lend a special interest to this passage. 1. It was twice quoted by our Lord (Matt. xix. 19 and xxii. 39). 2. It shows us the Law as closer to the gospel than we are apt to think; it proves that, under the old dispensation, God was not satisfied with a mere mechanical propriety of behaviour, that he demanded rightness of feeling as well as correctness of conduct. We have- I. THE BROAD PRINCIPLE OF Gon's REQUIREMENT. Man is to "love his neighbour as himself" (ver. 18). No man, indeed, can (1) give as much time and thought to each of his neighbours as he does to himself, and no man (2) is so responsible for the state of others' hearts and the rectitude of their lives as he is for his own. But every man can and should, by power of imagination and sympathy, put himself in his brother's place; be as anxious to avoid doing injury to another as he would be unwil- ling to receive injury from another; and be as desirous of doing good to his neighbour who is in need as he would be eager to receive help from him if he himself were in distress. This is the essence of the "golden rule" (Matt. vii. 12). II. THE ROOT FROM wmcH THIS FEELING WILL SPRING. How can we do this ? it will be asked. How can we be interested in the uninteresting; love the unamfo.ble; go out in warm affection toward those who have in them so much that is repulsive?- The answer is here," I am the Lord." We must look at all men in their relation to God. 1. God is interested, Christ is interested in the worst of men, is seeking to save and raise them; do we not care for those for whom he cares so much? 2. They are all God's children; it may be his prodigal children, living in the for country, but still his sons and daughters, over whom he yearns. 3. The most unlovely of men are those for whom our Saviour bled, agonized, died. Can we be indifferent to them? 4. They were once not fnr from the kingdom, and may yet be holy citizens of the kingdom of God. When we look at our fellow-men in the light of their relation to God, to Jesus Christ, we can see that in them which shines through all that is repelling, and which attracts us to their side that we may win and bless them. III. THE l"RUIT8 WHICH HOLY LOVE WILL BEAR. There are two suggested in the text. 1. Forbearance; "not hating our brother in our heart," "not avenging or bearing any grudge against" him. Without the restraints and impulses of piety we are under irresistible temptation to do this. Unreasonable dislike on our brother's part,. injustice, ingratitude, unkindness, inconsiderateness, features of character which are antipathetic to our own,-these things and such things as these are provocative of ill will, dislike, enmity, resentment, even revenge on our part. But if we remember and realize our brother's relation to the common Father and Saviour, we shall rise to the noble height of forbearance; we shall have the love which "bcareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things" (1 Cor. xiii. 7). 2. Resto- ration by remonstrance; "Thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy neighbour, and not suffer sin upon him." Instead of nursing end nourishing our indignation, allowing our brother to go on in the wrong, and permitting ourselves to become resentful as well as indignant, we shall offer the remonstrance of affection; we shall "reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering" X2 'l'im. iv. 2). We shall try to win our brother back to that path of truth or righteousness which he has forsaken; so shall we "gain our brother" (Matt. xviii. 16), instead of "suffering sin upon him." This is the conquest of love, the crown of charity.-C. 302 TIIE BOOK OF LEVITICUS. [ CH. XIL 1-37.