Compare Leviticus 18:2 with Exodus 20:2. What similarities do you find? Setting the Scene Leviticus 18 introduces a detailed code of sexual ethics, while Exodus 20 opens the Ten Commandments. Yet both passages launch with the exact same declaration—“I am the LORD your God.” That shared statement anchors everything that follows. Side-by-Side Look • Leviticus 18:2 — “Speak to the Israelites and tell them: ‘I am the LORD your God.’” • Exodus 20:2 — “I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.” Key Similarities • Common Covenant Formula – Both verses use God’s personal name (LORD, Yahweh) plus “your God,” underscoring a personal, covenant relationship (cf. Genesis 17:7; Jeremiah 31:33). • Foundation Before Command – In each case, God first reveals who He is before issuing any commands. Authority flows from identity; obedience is covenant response, not mere rule-keeping (cf. Deuteronomy 6:4-5). • Exclusive Allegiance – The phrase “I am the LORD your God” implies there is no rival (cf. Isaiah 45:5). Israel’s ethics and worship are grounded in the uniqueness of Yahweh. • Redemption Motif (Implicit and Explicit) – Exodus 20:2 explicitly recalls the Exodus. Leviticus 18:3 immediately references Egypt—“You must not imitate the practices of the land of Egypt…”—linking the coming commands to the same act of deliverance that Exodus highlights. • Holiness Agenda – Both passages initiate a holiness code: Exodus 20 gives broad moral commands; Leviticus 18 specifies how holiness touches sexuality. Each code begins with the same divine self-identification to stress that holiness is relational, not abstract (cf. Leviticus 19:2; 1 Peter 1:15-16). Why This Matters • Identity Shapes Ethics – Because God redeemed Israel, He has the right to define Israel’s way of life (Titus 2:14). • Consistency Across Scripture – The same covenant logic governs both Testaments: grace precedes law; relationship precedes requirements (Ephesians 2:8-10). • Motivation for Obedience – Remembering who God is and what He has done fuels a willing, grateful obedience (Romans 12:1). Living It Out Today • Let God’s self-revelation anchor your morals. • Ground obedience in gratitude for deliverance through Christ (Colossians 1:13-14). • Uphold holiness as a relational response, never a legalistic chore. |
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