Ask a Question - or - Return to the Spiritual Warfare Forum Index

Question Title	Posted By	Question Date
Does not Leviticus 19:28 prohibit tattoos?	Jim	Wednesday, August 1, 2007
Question: Dear Bros. Ignatius, Thank you for the wonderful and very important work you do in your ministry! In regards to another question about tattoos, I always thought that Leviticus 19:28 "you shalt not make any cuttings in your flesh, for the dead, neither shall you make in yourselves any figures or marks: I am the Lord." Wouldn't this word "marks" mean tattoos, and would this not constitute a commandment against such marks? This verse infers, to me, that doing so would be idolotry which is breaking the first commandment. And if so, wouldn't that mean that tattoos are a sin? For aren't our body's on loan to us from God, and if so we shouldn't "graffiti" the body. I would presume that most people who are tattooing themselves, especially to an extreme, are obsessive people and live an alternative lifestyle mostly contrary to the Christian way, and if so wouldn't this be a slow invite to the evil one who preys on our weaknesses and obsesses? I've posted in the past. You don't have to post this if you don't see the need. I thank you again for the fight you and the others do and I pray for you and your family's continued protection by our Lord Jesus Christ against the fiend in your continued great works. jim
Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM Dear Jim: Thank you for your kind words. The passage in Leviticus 19:28 is not a commandment but a Levitical regulation referring to religious and superstitious practices that were common at the time. It is not referring to Tattoos as such as we typically think of them today. Should a modern day tattoo have superstitious or idolatrous meaning then it would be a sin. We must be careful, in general, when reading Leviticus and other books in the Old Testament. There are thousands of regulations and rules that no longer apply today. What survives are the commandments and other laws that pertain to the Two Great Commandments of loving God and loving neighbor. Thus, the Mosaic Ten Commandments still apply, the prohibition of witchcraft and mediums found in Deuteronomy and elsewhere still apply (a violation of the worship of God alone and Trust in Him). But, for example, in the same passage as the tattoo prohibition is found the following: v19b: ...nor shall there come upon you a garment of cloth made of two kinds of stuff (textiles) (I guess cotton blends are out) v26: You shall not eat any flesh with the blood in it (no more juicy medium rare steak) v27: You shall not round off the hair on your temples or mar the edges of your beard (check our hair styles) All these prohibitions were not universal commandments, but were directed against pagan customs involving magic and were designed to prevent the Jews from being affected by the superstitions and magical practices (of which includes the tattoo) of the time. As mentioned in a previous post, tattoos are not inherently sinful as long as they do not depict something blasphemous, vulgar, sacrilegious, occultic, or otherwise something contrary to Catholic Teaching. There is a real issue of vanity, however. Ostentatious displays are contrary to the Catholic Teaching on modesty and humility. Even if a tattoo is not publicly visible, it can still be motivated by immodesty and ostentatious demeanor. Anyone seeking a tattoo needs to closely examine themselves and their motivations first. God Bless, Bro. Ignatius Mary For information on how to receive help see our Help page. We suggest that before contacting us directly for help you try the Seven Steps to Self-Deliverance. These self-help steps will often resolve the problem. Also our Spiritual Warfare Prayer Catalog contains many prayers that may be helpful. If needed you can ask for a Personal Consultation.

Question Title

Posted By

Question Date

Does not Leviticus 19:28 prohibit tattoos?

Jim

Wednesday, August 1, 2007

Question:

Dear Bros. Ignatius,

Thank you for the wonderful and very important work you do in your ministry!

In regards to another question about tattoos, I always thought that Leviticus 19:28 "you shalt not make any cuttings in your flesh, for the dead, neither shall you make in yourselves any figures or marks: I am the Lord."

Wouldn't this word "marks" mean tattoos, and would this not constitute a commandment against such marks? This verse infers, to me, that doing so would be idolotry which is breaking the first commandment. And if so, wouldn't that mean that tattoos are a sin?
For aren't our body's on loan to us from God, and if so we shouldn't "graffiti" the body.
I would presume that most people who are tattooing themselves, especially to an extreme, are obsessive people and live an alternative lifestyle mostly contrary to the Christian way, and if so wouldn't this be a slow invite to the evil one who preys on our weaknesses and obsesses?
I've posted in the past. You don't have to post this if you don't see the need.
I thank you again for the fight you and the others do and I pray for you and your family's continued protection by our Lord Jesus Christ against the fiend in your continued great works.

jim

Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM

Dear Jim:

Thank you for your kind words.

The passage in Leviticus 19:28 is not a commandment but a Levitical regulation referring to religious and superstitious practices that were common at the time. It is not referring to Tattoos as such as we typically think of them today. Should a modern day tattoo have superstitious or idolatrous meaning then it would be a sin.

We must be careful, in general, when reading Leviticus and other books in the Old Testament. There are thousands of regulations and rules that no longer apply today. What survives are the commandments and other laws that pertain to the Two Great Commandments of loving God and loving neighbor. Thus, the Mosaic Ten Commandments still apply, the prohibition of witchcraft and mediums found in Deuteronomy and elsewhere still apply (a violation of the worship of God alone and Trust in Him).

But, for example, in the same passage as the tattoo prohibition is found the following:

v19b: ...nor shall there come upon you a garment of cloth made of two kinds of stuff (textiles) (I guess cotton blends are out)

v26: You shall not eat any flesh with the blood in it (no more juicy medium rare steak)

v27: You shall not round off the hair on your temples or mar the edges of your beard (check our hair styles)

All these prohibitions were not universal commandments, but were directed against pagan customs involving magic and were designed to prevent the Jews from being affected by the superstitions and magical practices (of which includes the tattoo) of the time.

As mentioned in a previous post, tattoos are not inherently sinful as long as they do not depict something blasphemous, vulgar, sacrilegious, occultic, or otherwise something contrary to Catholic Teaching.

There is a real issue of vanity, however. Ostentatious displays are contrary to the Catholic Teaching on modesty and humility. Even if a tattoo is not publicly visible, it can still be motivated by immodesty and ostentatious demeanor.

Anyone seeking a tattoo needs to closely examine themselves and their motivations first.

God Bless,
Bro. Ignatius Mary

For information on how to receive help see our Help page. We suggest that before contacting us directly for help you try the Seven Steps to Self-Deliverance. These self-help steps will often resolve the problem. Also our Spiritual Warfare Prayer Catalog contains many prayers that may be helpful. If needed you can ask for a Personal Consultation.