Read & Study the Bible Online - Bible Portal

Leviticus 19:11-36 - Homilies By W. Clarkson

Integrity.

The Jews have always been considered a cunning and crafty race; they have been credited with a willingness to overreach in business dealings. Men would rather have transactions with others than with them, lest they should find themselves worsted in the bargain. This suspicion may be well founded; but if it be so, it ought to be remembered that it is the consequence of the long and cruel disadvantages under which they have suffered, and is not clue to anything in their own blood or to any defect in their venerable Law. From the beginning they have been as strictly charged to live honourable and upright lives before man as to engage regularly in the worship of God. They have been as much bound to integrity of conduct as to devoutness of spirit. In these few verses we find them called to—

I. INTEGRITY IN DAILY TRANSACTIONS HONESTY . "Ye shall not steal, neither deal falsely" ( Leviticus 19:11 ). "Thou shalt not defraud thy neighbour, neither rob him" ( Leviticus 19:13 ; see Leviticus 19:35 , Leviticus 19:36 ). Nothing could be more explicit than this, nothing more comprehensive in suggestion. No member of the Hebrew commonwealth could

The words of the Law are clear and strong, going straight to the understanding and to the conscience. Every man amongst them must have known, as every one amongst us knows well, that dishonesty is sin in the sight of God.

II. INTEGRITY IN OFFICIAL DUTY JUSTICE . ( Leviticus 19:15 .) It is a pitiful thought that, in every nation, justice has been open to corruption; that men placed in honourable posts in order to do justice between man and man have either sold it to the highest bidder or surrendered and betrayed it from craven fear. God's clear word condemns such rank injustice, and his high displeasure follows the perpetrator of it. He who undertakes to judge his fellows must do so in the fear of God, and if he swerves from his integrity in his public acts, he must lay his account with heaven if not with man.

III. INTEGRITY IN WORD TRUTH . "Ye shall not lie one to another" ( Leviticus 19:11 ).

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" ( Proverbs 12:22 ; Proverbs 6:17 ). Under the gospel of Christ, we are earnestly warned against it ( Ephesians 4:25 ; Colossians 3:9 ). We are reminded that it is

Be the first to react on this!

Scroll to Top

Group of Brands