Of Cattle, Seeds, and Cloths...
Leviticus 19:19 offers the following priestly instruction: “You are to keep My statutes. You shall not breed together two kinds of your cattle; you shall not sow your field with two kinds of seed, nor wear a garment upon you of two kinds of material mixed together.” At first glance, the command does not appear to fit into the rest of the verses, as the most of the surrounding passages, which address violations of a particular morals; however, v. 19 fits well with the overarching principle: “You shall be holy, for I the LORD your God am holy” (v. 2).
The prohibition of mixing cattle, seeds, and cloths ultimately had to do with the ceremonial aspects of the Law. The IVP Bible Background Commentary: Old Testament notes “some mixtures were considered to be reserved for sacred use. The parallel passage in Deuteronomy 22:9-11 makes it clear that this is the issue in Israel as well. The mixture of wool and linen was used in the tabernacle and in the high priest’s out garments, and it was thus reserved for sacred use. This interpretation is also current in the Dead Sea Scrolls (4QMMT).” [1] Since the worship of God in the tabernacle was to be holy, one needed to make sure that even the very cloth of priestly garments were consecrated for the glory of Yahweh.
Although the reasons behind prohibiting the mixing of cattle and seeds are elusive to modern readers, keep in mind that “whatever explanations are adduced for these injunctions, it seems clear that the emphasis was upon maintaining a state of holiness to the Lord. When God began His work of creation, He separated light from darkness and dry land from ocean. Man can follow in God’s footsteps by observing the same general principle of separation. The chosen people had been taken out of all other nations to be God’s special possession, and if they were to fulfill their destiny it was incumbent upon them to maintain their spiritual, moral, and social distinctiveness.” [2]
As for the ceremonial, civil, and moral aspects of the Law in relationship to Leviticus 19, Christians need not continue a consecrated priesthood for ceremonial worship through animal sacrifices in a tabernacle or temple, which involves instructions on distinguishing between priestly garments for worship, and common wear for everything else. On the other hand, Christians who are sinners saved by grace are taught, “as obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance, but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; because it is written, ‘YOU SHALL BE HOLY, FOR I AM HOLY’ ” (1 Pet. 1:14-16). They are to consecrate their own lives as worshippers of God. They are to glorify God in all that they do.
1. John H. Walton, Victor H. Matthews, & Mark W. Chavalas, The IVP Bible Background Commentary: Old Testament (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2000) 133.
2. R.K. Harrison, Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries, vol. 3, ed. D.J. Wiseman (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1980), 200.
The prohibition of mixing cattle, seeds, and cloths ultimately had to do with the ceremonial aspects of the Law. The IVP Bible Background Commentary: Old Testament notes “some mixtures were considered to be reserved for sacred use. The parallel passage in Deuteronomy 22:9-11 makes it clear that this is the issue in Israel as well. The mixture of wool and linen was used in the tabernacle and in the high priest’s out garments, and it was thus reserved for sacred use. This interpretation is also current in the Dead Sea Scrolls (4QMMT).” [1] Since the worship of God in the tabernacle was to be holy, one needed to make sure that even the very cloth of priestly garments were consecrated for the glory of Yahweh.
Although the reasons behind prohibiting the mixing of cattle and seeds are elusive to modern readers, keep in mind that “whatever explanations are adduced for these injunctions, it seems clear that the emphasis was upon maintaining a state of holiness to the Lord. When God began His work of creation, He separated light from darkness and dry land from ocean. Man can follow in God’s footsteps by observing the same general principle of separation. The chosen people had been taken out of all other nations to be God’s special possession, and if they were to fulfill their destiny it was incumbent upon them to maintain their spiritual, moral, and social distinctiveness.” [2]
As for the ceremonial, civil, and moral aspects of the Law in relationship to Leviticus 19, Christians need not continue a consecrated priesthood for ceremonial worship through animal sacrifices in a tabernacle or temple, which involves instructions on distinguishing between priestly garments for worship, and common wear for everything else. On the other hand, Christians who are sinners saved by grace are taught, “as obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance, but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; because it is written, ‘YOU SHALL BE HOLY, FOR I AM HOLY’ ” (1 Pet. 1:14-16). They are to consecrate their own lives as worshippers of God. They are to glorify God in all that they do.
1. John H. Walton, Victor H. Matthews, & Mark W. Chavalas, The IVP Bible Background Commentary: Old Testament (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2000) 133.
2. R.K. Harrison, Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries, vol. 3, ed. D.J. Wiseman (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1980), 200.
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