Text: Leviticus 20
The Idolatry, human sacrifice and immorality of the people who were in the land of Canaan, before the sons of Israel, is repeated in this chapter. However, this time it isn’t, “You shall not,” but “If you do.”
This chapter serves as a warning for the people chosen by God. The people of God are to be holy, because the Lord is holy. (Lev. 20:24) Death is always the result of sin. The Lord declared a death sentence for those who practiced child sacrifice to some god named Molech, for mediums and spiritus, for adultery, for cursing ( a curse is a death wish) father and mother, incest, and homo-sex. And many others that will result in being cut off from the people of God. If the people do not cut them off, the Lord promises to cut them off.
I believe that there are four principles that we should take from this chapter:
- All human life has value because all were created in the image of God.
- The Lord hates idolatry and the seeking other gods and spirits.
- The Lord hates all forms of sexual immorality.
- The people called by the Lord’s name should be holy.
The Christian is not commanded to put to death persons who commit these sins; however, we are to put them out of the congregation if they continue in unrepentant sin. The apostle Paul wrote to the church at Corinth, “not to associate with any so-called brother who is an immoral person, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or a swindler—not even to eat with such a one.” (1 Cor. 5:11) He also told them to not judge those outside of the church but should judge those who are inside the church. The people outside the church will be judged by God but people in the church who are living in this way, are to be put out of the church. (1 Cor. 5:12-13)
