The Lord wants His people to be holy because He is holy. For this reason they should love their neighbour, hold no grudges against them. St. Paul writes to the Corinthian community reminding them that they are temples of God and that the Holy Spirit lives in them. This is God's gift and anyone who destroys them, will be treated harshly. Jesus presents His way of life. Earlier, one's lifestyle was based on justice but now it is based on love. Here Jesus calls on His followers for a greater and more perfect way of living.
As children of God we are His temples and His Spirit dwells in us. On no account should we destroy His temple and thereby lose its holiness. Therefore we should live in love with our brothers, sisters and neighbours. In order to remain holy we should also love. There was a time when people lived unjust lives. Then during the period of Moses it was turned to justice. But today Jesus demands that our love should extend far beyond merely being just and anyone who lives in love lives in God and God too lives in him, and in him there is holiness. This is the type of holiness that is called for in this writting.
Moses asking his people to be holy as God is holy. In order that life be worthy of God, they are exhorted to love their neighbour too. They should not hate their brother nor bear any grudge against him. This implies that it is not just a matter of not doing any evil against our neighbor but even those which we ought: but do not do in order to save our brother also matter. In other words we should not only do no harm against our neighbour but even go to the extent of doing something to save him. All these should be done for the love of our neighbor, thereby preserving the holiness of our lives.
We are the temples of God and that the Holy Spirit lives in us. Therefore we ought to protect this temple lest God destroys us. God's temple is holy and the Holy Spirit lives in it. That is the reason why we should be holy in our lives. We should not rely on human efforts or on our powers alone to attain this holiness, but place ourselves totally in the hands of God. God's glory should shine in us forever.
Christ's call is for people to live in love. Therefore it is a call for love beyond justice. This is quite clear from what Jesus said: "You have heard that it was said, 'eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth' but I say to you, do not resist one who is evil, but if anyone strike you on the right cheek turn to him the other side also: and if anyone would sue you to take your coat, let him take your cloak as well; and if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. Give to him who begs from you and do not refuse him who would borrow from you." This is the perfect way of living that is found in the life of Christ. Now He wants us to imitate Him and be holy as He is.
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