What is the meaning of Exodus 20:26? And you must not go up • The Lord addresses Israel in the second person, signaling a direct, personal command. • Earlier verses (Exodus 20:22-25) stress that worship must conform to God’s pattern, not human invention. • Similar immediacy appears in Deuteronomy 5:32-33, where God says, “Do not turn aside to the right or to the left.” The form is the same: simple obedience. • This opening reminds us that holiness begins with hearing and heeding, not debating. to My altar • Possession is emphasized: “My altar.” Sacrifice belongs to God alone (Leviticus 17:11). • The altar represents atonement and fellowship (Exodus 29:37). By calling it “My altar,” the Lord guards its purity. • Cross reference: Joshua 22:19 warns against building a rival altar, underscoring that only God’s designated place and manner are acceptable. on steps • The instruction is not about architecture preferences; it is about protecting reverence. • In pagan temples of the day, towering ziggurats with grand staircases were common. God differentiates His worship from surrounding idolatry (Deuteronomy 12:3-4). • Practical obedience—building ramps or low approaches—would keep the priest’s focus on service, not spectacle. l est your nakedness be exposed • Physical exposure dishonors sacred space. Exodus 28:42 later commands linen undergarments “to cover their nakedness; they must be from the waist to the thighs.” • God links modesty with holiness (Leviticus 18:6; 1 Timothy 2:9-10). Even unintentional immodesty matters because worship is before the all-seeing God. • The principle extends beyond clothing: any unguarded fleshly display can distract from God’s glory (Isaiah 6:5). on it • “On it” draws the picture to the altar itself; the offense would rest right where atonement is made. • Polluting the altar by careless exposure parallels bringing unauthorized fire (Leviticus 10:1-3)—both show irreverence. • Worship must never mingle the holy with the profane (Ezekiel 44:19, 23). summary The verse calls for reverent, modest, God-directed worship. Israel must approach the Lord’s own altar without self-exalting structures or careless exposure that would profane holy service. Steps could elevate the priest and reveal nakedness, so God prescribes a simpler approach, safeguarding both modesty and humility. The same heart posture remains vital today: worship that honors God’s holiness, avoids worldly display, and covers anything that might detract from His glory. |
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