提要
這是聖經中有關律法極重要的一章。從上帝要摩西將這些話「曉諭以色列全會眾」就可看出其重要性。這是上帝第二次用以上的字眼來吩咐摩西；第一次出現在指示他們守逾越節時（出12：3）。第二節也告訴我們上帝頒佈這些律例、命令的主要理由，以及順服的動機：「你們要聖潔，因為我耶和華你們的上帝是聖潔的。」律法是以上帝的聖潔為基礎，以色列人也一再的被要求在生活中表現出聖潔的榜樣。
本章強調耶和華是以色列的上帝。「我是耶和華你們的上帝」這句話共出現了十五次。上帝強調這點的目的是要表達祂的權柄，並使以色列人對自己的身分有深刻的印象：他們是上帝的百姓，要在這個世界上代表祂。他們也要清楚的向其他國家表現出他們的與眾不同──他們是被分別出來屬上帝的子民。因此不可與異教的國家攙雜（19：19說明了這個原則），也不能像他們一樣剃頭及鬍鬚的周圍（19：27）。以色列人被禁止模仿異教徒刺青、哀悼時用刀劃身的習俗（19：28），和使地充滿罪惡、破壞家庭組織的淫行。
本章特別重申了十誡中的七誡：第三節提到（1）孝敬父母和（2）守安息日。第四節──（3）不可偏向虛無的神（除我以外不可有別神）和（4）不可鑄造神像。第十一節──（5）不可偷盜；（6）不可欺騙、說謊。第十二節──（7）不可指著我的名起假誓，也不可褻瀆上帝的名。還有一節也暗示了另兩條誡命：十八節的「不可報仇」暗示了不可殺人；「不可埋怨」暗示不可貪戀他人之物。剩下一條未提到的「不可姦淫」則是上一章和下一章全部的重點。這九章聖經對今天的我們有很多教訓，因它們是與人的道德有關。上帝所頒佈的這些道德律從未改變。十誡對今日仍舊有效。
遵守上帝誡命和保持聖潔的關鍵何在﹖耶穌回答法利賽人有關律法中最大誡命的話就是答案。祂引用今天的鑰節作為第二大的誡命。首要誡命是：「你要盡心、盡性、盡意愛主你的上帝」（太22：36~39；參申6：5）。如果一個人用他的全人來愛上帝，自然就會順服上帝（結果也會帶來聖潔、純正）和愛他的鄰舍。耶穌說，持守這兩項總括一切的最大誡命，最終結果就是永生（路10：25~28）。在路加福音裡，律法師還問耶穌：「誰是我的鄰舍呢﹖」好撒瑪利亞人的比喻很明顯的說明了鄰舍的定義，就是你所接觸到的任何人，不只是那些住在你附近的人（路10：29~37）。耶穌不只教我們新的功課，祂也發揚了舊約的真精神。
耶穌的登山寶訓闡揚了利未記十九章的許多內容。上帝關心社會中每一個人的福祉（我們也應如此），也關心救恩的傳播。為了照顧窮人和客旅，上帝命令他們，要讓這些有需要的人在他們田地的四角收集剩下和收割時遺落的莊稼（19：9~10；參得2：1~7）。同時，在本章上帝也敦促以色列民行公平（13節）、尊敬所有的人，包括殘障、老人、和外地來的人（14、32~34節）。對所有的人都應一律公平（15節）、作生意要誠實不欺（16、35~36節）、並要愛人如己，包括愛外地人（16~18、34節）。
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Overview
This is a very important chapter among those dealing with the Law. This is evident by the Lord’s command for Moses to tell these words to “all the congregation of the children of Israel.” This is only the second time the Lord said these specific words; the first was with the instructions of the Passover (Es.12:3). Also, in verse two we are given the main reason for the precepts and the motivation for obedience: “You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy”. These laws are based on the fact of God’s holiness, which they were repeatedly told to exemplify.
This chapter emphasizes that the Lord (Yahweh) is the God of Israel. The phrase, “I am the Lord your God”, occurs 15 times here. This is stressed to express His authority and to impress on the Israelites that they were His people and were to represent Him. They were also to clearly show other nations they were different and separated unto God. As such they were not to mix with other heathen nations (illustrated in 19:19), nor even be like them in the way they cut their hair and beards (19:27). They were forbidden participation in the common heathen practices of being tattooed, cutting themselves during a period of mourning (19:28), and prostitution which causes the land to be full of wickedness as well as breaking down the family unit.
Within this chapter, seven of the ten commandments are specifically reiterated: We find in verse 3, (1) honor your parents; and (2) keep the Sabbath. In verse 4 – (3) do not turn to idols (have no other gods before me); and (4) do not make “molded gods”. In verse 11 we find (5) do no steal; (6) do not “deal falsely, nor lie”; and in verse 12 – (7) do not swear by God’s name falsely, not profane His name. There are also two other commandments implied throughout this chapter: in verse 18 – do not take vengeance, implying not to murder; and do not “bear any grudge”, implying not to covet. The only one remaining is the commandment, “do not commit adultery”, and it is thoroughly dealt with in the previous and following chapters. So we can see that these chapters have much to say to us today, for they concern morality, and these laws of God have never changed. The ten commandments are still valid for today.
What is the key to keeping the Lord commandments and keeping ourselves pure? Jesus answered this with His response to the question concerning the greatest commandment in the Law. He quoted the last phrase of our key verse as the second greatest, the first being, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind” (Matt. 22:23-39; cf. Deut. 6:5). If one loves God with all his being, the natural outcome is obedience to Him (resulting in purity or holiness) and love for his neighbor. Jesus expressed that the long-range outcome of these two great commandments, which sum up all others, is eternal life (Luke 10:25-28). It is evident from His response with the parable of the Good Samaritan that a neighbor is defined as anyone with whom one comes in contact, not just those who live nearby (Luke 10:29-27). Jesus not only taught new things, but reflected the true spirit of the Old Covenant as well.
Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount reflects much of what we read in Leviticus 19. God is concerned with the well being of each individual in society, and we should be too, as well as being concerned about sharing the message of salvation. To care for the poor and the traveler, God commanded that the edges of the harvest and the gleanings remain for these needy people to gather (19:9, 10; cf. Ruth 2:1-7). In this chapter, the people are encouraged to practice economic fairness (v.13) and respect all people including the handicapped, senior citizens, and strangers (vv.14, 32, 33-34). There should be equal justice for all (v.15), truthfulness and honesty in business affairs (vv.16, 35-36), and brotherly love for all, including the foreigner (vv.16-18, 34).
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