Chapter Note Matthew Henry Commentary (Complete)
L E V I T C U S
CHAP. XIX.
Some ceremonial precepts there are in this chapter, but most of them are moral. One would wonder that when some of the lighter matters of the law are greatly enlarged upon (witness two long chapters concerning the leprosy) many of the weightier matters are put into a little compass: divers of the single verses of this chapter contain whole laws concerning judgment and mercy; for these are things which are manifest in every man's conscience; men's own thoughts are able to explain these, and to comment upon them. I. The laws of this chapter, which were peculiar to the Jews, are, 1. Concerning their peace-offerings, Leviticus 19:5 - 8 . 2. Concerning the gleanings of their fields, Leviticus 19:9 ; Leviticus 19:10 . 3. Against mixtures of their cattle, seed, and cloth, Leviticus 19:19 . 4. Concerning their trees, Leviticus 19:23 - 25 . 5. Against some superstitious usages, Leviticus 19:26 - 28 . But, II. Most of these precepts are binding on us, for they are expositions of most of the ten commandments. 1. Here is the preface to the ten commandments, "I am the Lord," repeated fifteen times. 2. A sum of the ten commandments. All the first table in this, "Be you holy," Leviticus 19:2 . All the second table in this, "Thou shalt love thy neighbour" Leviticus 19:18 ), and an answer to the question, "Who is my neighbour?" Leviticus 19:33 ; Leviticus 19:34 . 3. Something of each commandment. (1.) The first commandment implied in that which is often repeated here, "I am your God." And here is a prohibition of enchantment Leviticus 19:26 ) and witchcraft Leviticus 19:31 ), which make a god of the devil. (2.) Idolatry, against the second commandment, is forbidden, Leviticus 19:4 . (3.) Profanation of God's name, against the third, Leviticus 19:12 . (4.) Sabbath-sanctification is pressed, Leviticus 19:3 ; Leviticus 19:30 . (5.) Children are required to honour their parents Leviticus 19:3 ), and the aged, Leviticus 19:32 . (6.) Hatred and revenge are here forbidden, against the sixth commandment, Leviticus 19:17 ; Leviticus 19:18 . (7.) Adultery Leviticus 19:20 - 22 ), and whoredom, Leviticus 19:29 . (8.) Justice is here required in judgment Leviticus 19:15 ), theft forbidden Leviticus 19:11 ), fraud and withholding dues Leviticus 19:13 ), and false weights, Leviticus 19:35 ; Leviticus 19:36 . (9.) Lying, Leviticus 19:11 . Slandering, Leviticus 19:14 . Tale-bearing, and false-witness bearing, Leviticus 19:16 . (10.) The tenth commandment laying a restraint upon the heart, so does that Leviticus 19:17 ), "Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thy heart." And here is a solemn charge to observe all these statutes, Leviticus 19:37 . Now these are things which need not much help for the understanding of them, but require constant care and watchfulness for the observing of them. "A good understanding have all those that do these commandments."
Book Note Matthew Henry Commentary (Complete)
AN
EXPOSITION,
W I T H P R A C T I C A L O B S E R V A T I O N S,
OF THE THIRD BOOK OF MOSES, CALLED
L E V I T I C U S.
T HERE is nothing historical in all this book of Leviticus except the account which it gives us of the consecration of the priesthood Leviticus 8:1 - 9Leviticus 8:1 - 9 ), of the punishment of Nadab and Abihu, by the hand of God, for offering strange fire Leviticus 10:1 - 20Leviticus 10:1 - 20 ), and of Shelomith's son, by the hand of the magistrate, for blasphemy Leviticus 24:1 - 23Leviticus 24:1 - 23 ). All the rest of the book is taken up with the laws, chiefly the ecclesiastical laws, which God gave to Israel by Moses, concerning their sacrifices and offerings, their meats and drinks, and divers washings, and the other peculiarities by which God set that people apart for himself, and distinguished them from other nations, all which were shadows of good things to come, which are realized and superseded by the gospel of Christ. We call the book Leviticus, from the Septuagint, because it contains the laws and ordinances of the levitical priesthood (as it is called, Hebrews 7:11 ), and the ministrations of it. The Levites were principally charged with these institutions, both to do their part and to teach the people theirs. We read, in the close of the foregoing book, of the setting up of the tabernacle, which was to be the place of worship; and, as that was framed according to the pattern, so must the ordinances of worship be, which were there to be administered. In these the divine appointment was as particular as in the former, and must be as punctually observed. The remaining record of these abrogated laws is of use to us, for the strengthening of our faith in Jesus Christ, as the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world, and for the increase of our thankfulness to God, that by him we are freed from the yoke of the ceremonial law, and live in the times of reformation.
