Leviticus 20

The Explanation

Leviticus 20 is a serious chapter. God speaks to Moses and gives him a long list of rules for the people of Israel. If you read the chapter, you notice quickly: this is not a friendly chapter with cozy stories. Again and again these words come back: "shall surely be put to death."

Why is God so strict here? To understand that, you have to know what was happening around Israel. The peoples living in the land where Israel was going to live did terrible things. Some of them sacrificed their own children to a god named Molech. They actually killed their little sons and daughters in the fire, because they thought that god demanded it. God says: whoever does that among my people must die. And if the people look the other way and pretend they don't see it, God Himself will step in.

God also speaks against people who go to mediums and wizards, to people who claim to speak with the dead or predict the future. He calls that a kind of unfaithfulness. It is as if you cheat on God with someone else.

Then there is a long list of rules about family and marriage. God says clearly: within a family, certain things are not okay. A father, a mother, a brother, a sister, an aunt, they must be safe with each other. What happens between a husband and wife may not just happen with anyone. God protects families with these rules.

The chapter ends with a big reason. God says in verse 26: "You shall be holy to me, for I, Yahweh, am holy, and have set you apart from the peoples, that you should be mine."

What Does This Mean?

Reading this chapter is not easy. Maybe you think: why is God so hard? Why so many death penalties?

Two things are important here. First, God is honest about how bad certain things really are. Killing your own child, cheating in a family, seeking help from spirits instead of from God: these are things that ruin people. God does not shrug that off. He calls it by name.

Second, God wants a people that is different. The word "holy" means "set apart." Not because Israel was better, but because God chose them to show the world who He is. If Israel started doing exactly the same things as the peoples around them, no one would see any difference anymore. Then no one would learn who the true God is.

These laws are strict, and you may honestly say: I find some of this difficult to understand. That is allowed. Some things in the Bible we cannot fully figure out. But you can see what God cares about: life, family, honesty, and Him being the only God for His people.

The Common Thread

The big word in this chapter is "holy." God says: I am holy, and you must be holy too. But if you read this chapter honestly, you think: who can do that? Who lives without ever cursing, without ever being unfaithful, without ever going his own way?

That is exactly why Jesus came. Jesus lived completely holy. He kept every rule from His Father, not because He had to, but because He wanted to. And on the cross He took the punishment that people in Leviticus 20 had to bear themselves.

The strictness of this chapter shows how serious sin is. And the cross shows how serious God's love is. Both are true at the same time.

For You

You are not living in Israel three thousand years ago. You are not going to stone anyone, and you do not know anyone who serves Molech. So what do you do with a chapter like this?

You can ask yourself: am I set apart too? Do you dare to be different when everyone in your class does something that isn't right? When people gossip, when someone is teased, when there is cheating on a test? Being holy does not mean being boring or better than others. It means: belonging to God, and letting that be seen.

And when you fail, and everyone fails sometimes, you can go to Jesus. He makes holy what you cannot make holy yourself.

Talk About It

Which rule in this chapter do you find the most difficult to understand, and why?

What does it mean for you to be "set apart" for God in your own class or on your team?

Praying Together

Lord God, Your chapter is strict, and we do not understand everything. But we do understand that You take good and evil seriously. Thank You that Jesus was holy for us. Help us to belong to You, also when it is difficult. Amen.