Given by: Mathathias the priest, refusing the king's officers who urged him to sacrifice to idols. Given to: his townsmen — and everyone urged to conform against conscience.

Under a persecution that made keeping the law a capital crime, many yielded; Mathathias led the family and town who refused, trusting that faithfulness mattered more than the king's favour.

God be merciful unto us: it is not profitable for us to forsake the law, and the justices of God: We will not hearken to the words of king Antiochus, neither will we sacrifice, and transgress the commandments of our law, to go another way.

Mathathias refuses to forsake God's law and commandments even when the king commands apostasy.

1 Maccabees 2:21

Your Spirit

Loves God

Loves Neighbor

Your Body

Moral Behaviour