What consequences are outlined in Leviticus 20:13 for violating God's law? Direct Consequence Named in Leviticus 20:13 • “If a man lies with a male as with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination. They must surely be put to death; their blood is upon them.” (Leviticus 20:13) • Under Israel’s civil code, capital punishment was mandated for this offense. • “Their blood is upon them” stresses full personal responsibility for the sin. Why Such a Severe Penalty? • The act is called “an abomination,” a term used for sins that undermine God-ordained order (cf. Leviticus 18:24–30). • The Holiness Code (Leviticus 17–26) guarded Israel’s purity so the LORD could dwell among His people (Leviticus 20:22–26). • The sentence served as a deterrent, emphasizing that God’s covenant community must be distinct from the surrounding nations (Deuteronomy 13:5). Witness of the Rest of Scripture • Genesis 19:4-13 – Sodom’s sin illustrates God’s judgment on persistent sexual rebellion. • Romans 1:26-27 – Paul describes same-sex relations as “dishonorable passions,” confirming God’s moral standard beyond the Mosaic era. • 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 – Those who “submit to or perform homosexual acts” remain outside God’s kingdom unless redeemed. • Jude 7 – Sodom’s example warns of “the punishment of eternal fire” for unrepentant immorality. Continuity and Fulfillment in Christ • The moral verdict against same-sex relations remains (Romans 1:32; 1 Timothy 1:9-10). • The church, however, is not authorized to enforce Mosaic civil penalties; Christ bore the law’s curse on the cross (Galatians 3:13). • Through the gospel, sinners of every kind can be washed, sanctified, and justified (1 Corinthians 6:11). |
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