20:14 And if a man take a wife and her mother, {f} it [is] wickedness: they shall be burnt with fire, both he and they; that there be no wickedness among you.(f) It is an abominable and detestable thing. read more
PENALTIES FOR SIN GODWARD (vv. 1-8) Chapter 19 has given many laws forbidding sin; now chapter 20 shows that law, when it is broken, demands certain penalties. These penalties were to be executed as soon as the offender's guilt was established. There were no long drawn out court cases and no appeals after one was proven guilty. Even in the days of Solomon Israel had failed to carry out these penalties promptly, so that Ecclesiastes 8:11 tells us, “Because the sentence against an evil work is... read more
PENALTIES FOR PEOPLE AND PRIESTS The twentieth chapter is of deep interest as showing what infinite wisdom and love has considered a just punishment for certain crimes. These crimes are still committed in civilized communities but a different view of their treatment seems to exist. Are human governments in modern times wiser and better than this theocracy where Jehovah ruled? Why does not this code obtain in Christian nations, since God has revealed it and such nations are supposed to... read more
What is here rehearsed concerning uncleanness, every Christian reader may say, as the apostle, of such horrible corruptions in general, let it not be once named among you as becometh saints. Ephesians 5:3 . Reader! what a humiliating thought is it, that our nature should be capable of such detestable bestiality as is here mentioned! To what a degraded state are we fallen! And observe what is said concerning such things, a man shall bear his iniquity. Gracious GOD had this been our doom forever;... read more
Alive, is not in the original; but must be understood. The Rabbins say melted lead was to be poured down the throats of the guilty. The words of Moses seem rather to refer to external fire. (Calmet) --- With them, if they both gave their consent to the crime. (Menochius) read more
10-27 These verses repeat what had been said before, but it was needful there should be line upon line. What praises we owe to God that he has taught the evil of sin, and the sure way of deliverance from it! May we have grace to adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things; may we have no fellowship with unfruitful works of darkness, but reprove them. read more
For Unlawful Marriages v. 10. And the man that committeth adultery with another man's wife, even he that committeth adultery with his neighbor's wife, who, according to Leviticus 18:20, is restricted to her husband, so far as sexual relations are concerned, 1 Corinthians 7:4-Deuteronomy :, the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death. v. 11. And the man that lieth with his father's wife, with his stepmother, hath uncovered his father's nakedness. Both of them shall surely be... read more
FOURTH SECTIONPunishment for Unholiness“Keeping Holy the Holy Congregation by Cutting off Irreparable Transgression.”—LangeLeviticus 20:1-271And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, 2Again, thou shalt say to the children of Israel, Whosoever he be of the children of Israel, or of the strangers that sojourn in Israel, that giveth any of his seed unto Molech; he shall surely be put to death: the people of the land shall stone him with stones. 3And I will set my face against that man, and will cut... read more
Once more we have a repetition of laws already enunciated with the same persistent thought of responsibility. In this section we find the death sentence associated with certain forms of disobedience, and thus the fact of responsibility is lifted into a yet more clearly defined importance and lays a new and startling emphasis on the absolute authority of God. All the words which had thus been uttered for conditioning life were definite and positive laws. They were infinitely more than general... read more
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Arno Gaebelein's Annotated Bible - Leviticus 20:1-27
3. Warnings Against Special Sins and their Penalties CHAPTER 20 1. Warning against Molech--worship and familiar spirits (Leviticus 20:1-8 ) 2. Warning against cursing parents (Leviticus 20:9 ) 3. Criminal and vile connections (Leviticus 20:10-21 ) 4. Exhortations to obedience and separation (Leviticus 20:22-27 ) This chapter reveals the justice of God in dealing with criminals. The death penalty is most prominent. It is pronounced upon the following crimes: Molech worship; dealing... read more