How does Leviticus 20:17 connect with New Testament teachings on sexual immorality? Leviticus 20:17—The Stated Standard “If a man marries his sister, the daughter of either his father or his mother, and they see her nakedness and she sees his nakedness, it is a disgrace; they must be cut off before the people of their land. He has uncovered the nakedness of his sister; he shall bear his iniquity.” (Leviticus 20:17) Key Observations • “Disgrace” highlights the sin’s offensiveness to God and community. • “Cut off” underscores divine judgment, not merely social taboo. • Incest is singled out as sexual immorality of the gravest kind. Shared Moral Ground with the New Testament • God’s character does not change; His purity standards remain (Malachi 3:6; Hebrews 13:8). • The call to holiness in the body bridges both covenants (Leviticus 11:44 ⇄ 1 Thessalonians 4:3–4). New Testament Echoes and Expansions • 1 Corinthians 5:1—“It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that is intolerable even among pagans: A man has his father’s wife.” – Paul applies Levitical incest law to a church situation, demanding excommunication (5:2). • 1 Corinthians 6:9–10—“Neither the sexually immoral … will inherit the kingdom of God.” – The broad term “sexually immoral” (porneia) includes incest. • 1 Corinthians 6:18—“Flee from sexual immorality.” – Echoes the urgency of Leviticus’ “cut off” by urging immediate separation from sin. • Acts 15:20—The Jerusalem Council instructs Gentile believers “to abstain from sexual immorality,” placing the Levitical sexual code alongside prohibitions on idolatry and blood. • Hebrews 13:4—“God will judge the sexually immoral,” reaffirming divine accountability. Continuity of Underlying Principles • Sanctity of family relationships—sexual boundaries protect God-ordained family structure. • Holiness of the covenant community—unrepentant immorality endangers the whole body. • Personal responsibility—“he shall bear his iniquity” (Leviticus 20:17) mirrors “each of us will give an account of himself to God” (Romans 14:12). Practical Takeaways for Believers Today • Treat all sexual sin, including culturally minimized forms, with the seriousness Scripture demands. • Maintain clear, biblically defined boundaries in relationships; avoid media and situations that blur them. • Practice church discipline lovingly yet firmly when blatant immorality threatens congregational holiness (Matthew 18:15–17; 1 Corinthians 5). • Embrace God’s grace for repentance and restoration (1 Corinthians 6:11), while never lowering His moral standard. |
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