Lev. 19:28 “You shall not make any cuts on your body for the dead or tattoo yourselves: I am the LORD.”
Analysis:
In verse 1 of the chapter the Lord tells Moses his reason for giving all of the commands—to be holy. This is the greater context for verse 28; however you interpret and apply it you must recognize holiness as the reason for its placement here. The or in the statement indicates that both of these statements, cuts on the body and tattoos, are a prohibition against the same thing. Gary Demarest states, “Verses 27-28 are generally taken to refer to cultic morning[1] practices in pagan culture.”[2] Therefore, we can see that the condemning of cutting the body and tattooing was in order to set the Israelites apart from pagan cultures.[3] God intended for his people to be holy and set apart, a notion seen also, in the New Testament. Peter wrote, “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession…” (1 Pet. 2:9 ESV). In order to apply this verse, we must consider this larger purpose and apply that to our lives today.
Application:
Some have proposed that these practices are acceptable for Christians today if it is for a nonreligious reason.[4] However, this application does not seem adequate for American culture today.[5] I believe that it is permissible for American[6] Christians to get tattoos. However, one should seriously consider how the tattoo will or will not set them apart from the culture, as well as, the motivation behind getting one. I do not condemn tattooing of Christians, but I do not think it is best for most to get them. If we continue to act more and more like unbelievers then they will not be able to distinguish us from the rest. We should make lifestyle choices that set us apart from the culture, not ones that make us indistinguishable from every other person.
[1] See also R.K. Harrison, Leviticus: An Introduction and Commentary (TOTC 3; Downers Grove, IL: The Tyndale Press, 1967), 201 and Roy E. Gane, Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy (ZIBBC 1: Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2009) 315.
[2] Gary. W. Demarest, Leviticus (TCC 3; Waco, TX: Word Books Publisher, 1986), 225.
[3] William W. Klein and Craig L. Blomberg and Robert L. Hubbard Jr., Introduction to Biblical Interpretation (Nashville, TN: 2004), 347.
[4] Ibid., 348.
[5] It could be adequate, if religious was more clearly defined. I took it to mean associated with a religion or other cultic practices.
[6] The application will vary for each culture. Cultures that parallel the pagan cultures of Moses’ time should follow this more literally.