Misquoted - "Tattoo Taboo" - Leviticus 19:28 - Mike Maglish

LifeSpring Christian Church Sermons

Tattoo Taboo
Leviticus 19:28
Mike Maglish

Part of Misquoted - Context is Key

June 29, 2023

You shall not make any cuts on your body for the dead or tattoo yourselves: I am the Lord. —Leviticus 19:27-28

What we think: Christians cannot get tattoos.

Who were the Levites?

“Those who performed subordinate services associated with public worship. In this capacity, Levites were musicians, gate keepers, guardians, Temple officials, judges, and craftsmen.” —(Encyclopedia Britannica)

At that time the Lord set apart the tribe of Levi to carry the ark of the covenant of the Lord to stand before the Lord to minister to him and to bless in his name, to this day. 9 Therefore Levi has no portion or inheritance with his brothers. The Lord is his inheritance, as the Lord your God said to him. —Deuteronomy 10:7-9“You shall keep my statutes. You shall not let your cattle breed with a different kind. You shall not sow your field with two kinds of seed, nor shall you wear a garment of cloth made of two kinds of material. —Leviticus 19:19“When you come into the land and plant any kind of tree for food, then you shall regard its fruit as forbidden. Three years it shall be forbidden to you; it must not be eaten. 24 And in the fourth year all its fruit shall be holy, an offering of praise to the Lord. 25 But in the fifth year you may eat of its fruit, to increase its yield for you: I am the Lord your God. —Leviticus 19:23-25You shall not round off the hair on your temples or mar the edges of your beard. —Leviticus 19:27“You shall therefore keep all my statutes and all my rules and do them, that the land where I am bringing you to live may not vomit you out. 23 And you shall not walk in the customs of the nation that I am driving out before you, for they did all these things, and therefore I detested them. 24 But I have said to you, ‘You shall inherit their land, and I will give it to you to possess, a land flowing with milk and honey.’ I am the Lord your God, who has separated you from the peoples. —Leviticus 20:22-24

God commands his people to be set apart.

αγιασμός = Sanctified

This one will say, ‘I am the Lord’s,’
another will call on the name of Jacob,
and another will write on his hand, ‘The Lord’s,’
and name himself by the name of Israel. —Isaiah 44:5Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is mine; 6 and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ —Exodus 19:5-6Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is mine; 6 and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ —Exodus 19:5-6>

1 Chronicles 20:2-5

1 Peter 2:9-10

Christ makes us God’s treasured possession.

Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, 20 for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body. —1 Corinthian 6:19-20Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. —Romans 12:2

Takeaway: We are to be set apart for Christ.

Are you?