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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Leviticus 20

The laws which before were made are in this chapter repeated and penalties annexed to them, that those who would not be deterred from sin by the fear of God might be deterred from it by the fear of punishment. If we will not avoid such and such practices because the law has made them sin (and it is most acceptable when we go on that principle of religion), surely we shall avoid them when the law has made them death, from a principle of self-preservation. In this chapter we have, I. Many... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Leviticus 20:1-9

Moses is here directed to say that again to the children of Israel which he had in effect said before, Lev. 20:2. We are sure it was no vain repetition, but very necessary, that they might give the more earnest heed to the things that were spoken, and might believe them to be of great consequence, being so often inculcated. God speaketh once, yea, twice, and what he orders to be said again we must be willing to hear again, because for us it is safe, Phil. 3:1. I. Three sins are in these verses... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Leviticus 20:10-21

Sins against the seventh commandment are here ordered to be severely punished. These are sins which, of all others, fools are most apt to make a mock at; but God would teach those the heinousness of the guilt by the extremity of the punishment that would not otherwise be taught it. I. Lying with another man's wife was made a capital crime. The adulterer and the adulteress that had joined in the sin must fall alike under the sentence: they shall both be put to death, Lev. 20:10. Long before... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Leviticus 20:22-27

The last verse is a particular law, which comes in after the general conclusion, as if omitted in its proper place: it is for the putting of those to death that dealt with familiar spirits, Lev. 20:27. It would be an affront to God and to his lively oracles, a scandal to the country, and a temptation to ignorant bad people, to consult them, if such were known and suffered to live among them. Those that are in league with the devil have in effect made a covenant with death and an agreement with... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Leviticus 20

INTRODUCTION TO LEVITICUS 20 In this chapter several laws are, repeated, enforced with a penalty annexed to them, and the breach them made capital, to deter from it, as giving seed to Molech, Leviticus 20:1 ; going after such that have familiar spirits, or are wizards, Leviticus 20:6 ; by shunning which, and other sins, a regard would be shown to holiness, Leviticus 20:7 ; such as cursing parents, Leviticus 20:9 ; committing adultery, Leviticus 20:10 ; incestuous copulations, and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Leviticus 20:1

And the Lord spake unto Moses ,.... After he had delivered the above laws to him in the preceding chapter, he added penalties, to many of them, or declared what punishment should be inflicted on the transgressors of them: saying ; as follows. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Leviticus 20:2

Again thou shalt say to the children of Israel ,.... The body of the people by their elders, and the heads of their tribes; for the following laws were binding on them all: whosoever he be of the children of Israel, or of the strangers that sojourn in Israel ; everyone of the people of Israel, of whatsoever age, sex, or condition of life: and not they only, but the strangers and proselytes; and not the proselytes of righteousness only, but the proselytes of the gate, who, as well as... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Leviticus 20:3

And I will set my face against that man ,.... Express resentment, anger, wrath, and indignation at him, see Psalm 34:16 , and will cut him off from among his people : that is, supposing him to have been guilty of the above horrid crime, and there being not sufficient evidence given of it by witnesses, or the magistrates negligent in doing their duty; and the matter being known to God the omniscient, he, according this declaration, would deal with him himself, and cut him off out of the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Leviticus 20:4

And if the people of the land do any ways hide their eyes from the man ,.... That is, the people of the house of Israel, as the Targums of Onkelos and Jonathan; if the friends, relations, and neighbours of such a man, though they know what he is about to do, or has done, yet they shut their eyes wilfully, or look another way; or, however, wink and connive at his wickedness, and will not discover him, and bear witness against him; or if a court of judicature, before whom he comes, does not... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Leviticus 20:5

Then I will set my face against that man ,.... That man that sees him do the fact, and winks at it, or the judge that connives at him, and will not condemn him, as well as the man that has committed the iniquity: and against his family ; either the family of the witness, who could and should have testified against him, or of the judge negligent of his office, or of the man himself, whose family must be privy to so shocking an action, and were abettors of it, and aiders and assisters in... read more

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