What does "put to death" in Exodus 22:19 reveal about God's holiness? Scripture Focus “Whoever lies with an animal must surely be put to death.” – Exodus 22:19 The Weight of “Put to Death” • The phrase is not hyperbole; it is a literal civil penalty given by God to Israel. • It underscores that certain sins are so incompatible with God’s character that they demand ultimate separation from the covenant community. • Death here is judicial, not personal vengeance—it reflects divine, not human, standards. God’s Holiness Defined • Holiness means absolute moral purity (Habakkuk 1:13; 1 John 1:5). • God’s holiness is also separateness—He is wholly “other” (Exodus 15:11). • Because He is holy, anything that flagrantly distorts His created order is intolerable in His presence. Why the Severe Penalty? 1. Violation of Creation Order – Bestiality blurs the Creator-creature distinction established in Genesis 1:24 – 28. 2. Corruption of Covenant Community – Israel was called to be a “kingdom of priests and a holy nation” (Exodus 19:6). Open defilement threatened the entire community’s standing before God. 3. Deterrence Against Contagious Sin – Deuteronomy 13:11 shows capital punishment served to “purge the evil” and warn others. 4. Prophetic Pointer to Final Judgment – Romans 6:23, “the wages of sin is death,” echoes the same truth: unrepentant sin ultimately meets God’s wrath. Patterns Across Scripture • Leviticus 20:15-16 repeats the death penalty for bestiality, reinforcing God’s unchanged standard. • Leviticus 18:24-30 lists sexual sins that “defile the land,” revealing that holiness encompasses even geography. • Hebrews 12:29, “our God is a consuming fire,” ties Old Testament severity to New Testament revelation. Implications for Today • God’s holiness has not diminished; His moral expectations remain (1 Peter 1:15-16). • While the church is not a theocratic state enforcing civil execution, we do practice church discipline to guard holiness (1 Corinthians 5:1-7). • The seriousness of sin drives us to value Christ’s atoning sacrifice all the more. Embracing the Hope in Christ • Jesus bore the death our sins deserved (Isaiah 53:5-6; 2 Corinthians 5:21). • In Him, believers find both cleansing and power to live holy lives (Titus 2:11-14). • Revelation 21:27 promises a future where nothing unclean will enter God’s city—perfect holiness forever. |
    |