Leviticus 20:26

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 20:26

And ye shall be holy unto me ,.... Separated from all unclean persons and things, and devoted to his service, and obedient to all his commands, and so live holy lives and conversations, according to his will, and to his honour and glory: for I the Lord am holy ; and therefore they, his people, should be like him, and imitate him, and observe those things which are agreeable to his holy nature and will, and yield a cheerful obedience to his holy precepts: and have severed you from ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Leviticus 20:1-27

The first of these penalties, burning with fire, does not mean that those on whom it was inflicted were burnt alive, but that their dead bodies were burnt after they had been stoned to death, as in the case of Achan ( Joshua 7:25 ). It is the punishment for taking a mother and daughter together into the same harem ( Leviticus 18:14 ). Stoning with stones is appointed for crimes which are at once offenses against religion and morals, viz. giving of his seed to Molech ( Leviticus... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Leviticus 20:1-27

Sin unto death. The offenses described in this chapter were mentioned before. Such is our obtuseness that we need "line upon line." Adorable is that goodness of God which takes such pains with us. We have here— I. PRESUMPTUOUS SINS AND THEIR PENALTY . 1 . Parents giving their seed to Moloch. 2 . Persons having dealings with necromancy. 3 . Children who curse their parents. 4 . Excesses in uncleanness. II. THE RESPONSIBILITY OF WITNESSES . ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Leviticus 20:1-27

Punishments assigned to presumptuous sins. I. THE LAW OF SOCIETY RESTS ON THE HIGHER LAW OF GOD . All legislation should be thus divinely sanctioned. The Bible is not a statute-book for nations, but a book of principles—to give light to the mind and heart of man as man. We must not enforce human law on Divine grounds, but we can use Divine revelation to ascertain the most satisfactory laws. II. PUNISHMENTS vary from age to age and country to country, but the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Leviticus 20:6-27

The pursuit of knowledge by right means is one of the highest and noblest occupations of the intellect of man, but the seeking after knowledge by unlawful means is so criminal as to lead God to cut off the presumptuous seeker from among his people. It was grasping after a forbidden knowledge by unrighteous means that brought death into the world ( Genesis 3:6 ). All dealing in necromancy and witchcraft involves this sin on the part of the inquirer into futurity, whether those whom they... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Leviticus 20:24-26

The Israelites are to avoid all defilement, moral and ceremonial, because they are God's own possession, separated from other people, and holy unto him. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Leviticus 20:26

The command, " Ye shall be holy unto me: for I the Lord am holy," is binding upon Christians far more strongly than on the Israelites. For— I. CHRISTIANS HAVE A POWER GIVEN THEM WHEREBY THEY CAN BE HOLY WHICH THE ISRAELITES HAD NOT . St. Paul, having declared that the final purpose of God's election and our adoption in Christ is "that we should be holy and without blame before him in love" ( Ephesians 1:4 ), goes on to say that to those who believed, on... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Leviticus 20:22-26

The ground is here again stated on which all these laws of holiness should be obeyed. See Leviticus 18:24-30 note.Leviticus 20:24Compare the margin reference.Leviticus 20:25, Leviticus 20:26The distinction between clean and unclean for the whole people, and not for any mere section of it, was one great typical mark of “the kingdom of priests, the holy nation.” See the Leviticus 11:42 note.Leviticus 20:25Any manner of living thing that creepeth - Rather, any creeping thing; that is, any vermin.... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Leviticus 20:1-27

Penalties for wrongdoing (20:1-27)The law now sets out penalties for the more serious offences outlined in Chapters 18 and 19. People who offered their children to the gods were to be stoned to death (20:1-5; for Molech see note on 18:21). Those who looked for guidance through witchcraft were guilty of rebellion against God and were to be punished by being cut off from the life of the community. A person who consulted the spirits of the dead was to be killed (6-9,27).Most of the perverse sexual... read more

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