Leviticus 19 & the New Testament — a responsive creed
You must be holy because I, Yahweh your God, am holy.
Live as God’s obedient children. Don’t slip back into your old ways of living to satisfy your own desires. Be holy in everything you do, just as God who chose you is holy.
Do not harvest the grain along the edges of your fields, and do not pick up what the harvesters drop. Do not strip every last bunch of grapes from the vines, and do not pick up the grapes that fall to the ground. Leave them for the poor and the foreigners living among you.
There was a believer in Joppa named Tabitha. She was always doing kind things for others and helping the poor.
Do not stand idly by when your neighbor’s life is threatened.
When he saw the man, he felt compassion for him. Going over to him, the Samaritan soothed his wounds and bandaged them. Then he put the man on his own donkey and took him to an inn, where he took care of him.
Do not nurse hatred in your heart. Confront people directly so you will not be held guilty for their sin. Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge, but love your neighbor as yourself.
Use your freedom to serve one another in love. For the whole law can be summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” But if you are always biting and devouring one another, watch out! Beware of destroying one another.
Do not practice fortune-telling or witchcraft. Do not defile yourselves by turning to mediums or to those who consult the spirits of the dead.
Many who became believers confessed their sinful practices. A number of them who had been practicing sorcery brought their incantation books and burned them at a public bonfire.
Do not defile your daughter by making her a prostitute, or the land will be filled with prostitution and wickedness.
Those who indulge in sexual sin will not inherit the Kingdom of God.
Stand up in the presence of the elderly, and show respect for the aged.
Never speak harshly to an older man, but appeal to him respectfully as you would to your own father.
Do not use dishonest standards when measuring length, weight, or volume. Your scales and weights must be accurate. Your containers for measuring dry materials or liquids must be accurate.
Lord, if I have cheated people on their taxes, I will give them back four times as much.
