Leviticus 20:25, 26  “You must therefore make a distinction between ceremonially clean and unclean animals, and between clean and unclean birds. You must not defile yourselves by eating any unclean animal or bird or creature that scurries along the ground. I have identified them as being unclean for you. You must be holy because I, the Lord, am holy. I have set you apart from all other people to be my very own.” (NLT)

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Words have meaning. Words have meaning in context. It is wise to pay attention to the meaning, context, and connotation of words. Connotation is how words stimulate thinking or shape feelings. 

Proverbs 25:11 says, 

Timely advice is lovely,
   like golden apples in a silver basket.

Truth is clearly and succinctly delivered here, presented with a loveliness that sticks to a person’s heart and mind. 

Also, ponder Ecclesiastes 6:11:

“The more words you speak, the less they mean. So what good are they?”

A few good words are often better than a few good men. 

The verse above from Leviticus says, “You must therefore make a distinction . . .” (New Living Translation)

“Therefore you are to distinguish . . .” (Christian Standard Bible)

The Message says, “I am GOD, your God, who has distinguished you from the nations. So live like it: Distinguish between ritually clean and unclean animals and birds.”

We are given directions to distinguish one thing or group from another like God our Father does. To distinguish is different than to discriminate. Discrimination is “the unjust or prejudicial treatment of different categories of people, especially on the grounds of ethnicity, age, sex, or disability.” (Oxford Languages [https://bit.ly/4giESPz](https://bit.ly/4giESPz))

Distinguishing one thing from another is helpful and good. Discriminating is not. The ideas are related but not the same. 

God chose Israel to fulfill what he called Abraham to be and do. God said he would use him and his descendants to bless the whole world. In the Exodus from Egypt to the Promised Land, he made clear how they were distinct from other people groups. 

The laws we see handed to Israel during these years show how God was taking a mob of former slaves and turning them into a nation to bless all nations, a people to bless all people groups. 

This was not about their superiority because they were comparatively small and weak. This was about God’s purpose in the world. He loves everyone and wants all people groups to know and love him in return. He often uses small things to make a big difference. 

God doesn’t hate anyone we hate. He loves them as much as he loves us. In Matthew 22:37-40, Jesus gives us a starting point and a bottom line: 

Jesus replied, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.”

Love God (and God alone).
Love everyone God loves. (And that’s everyone.)

Distinguish among people groups. Discriminate against no one. Understand the difference. Apply it appropriately. 

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I will recognize distinctions among individuals and groups and discriminate against no one. 

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Our Father, empower me to recognize and affirm the distinctions and uniqueness of individuals and groups. Deliver me from every temptation toward discrimination. Root out of my heart and mind every inclination toward discriminatory feelings and behavior. Amen.