How does Leviticus 18:20 connect with the Ten Commandments on adultery? Leviticus 18:20 in Its Context • “You must not lie carnally with your neighbor’s wife and thus defile yourself with her.” (Leviticus 18:20) • Located in a chapter that lists God-given boundaries for sexual conduct, preserving Israel’s distinct holiness amid pagan cultures (vv. 1–5, 24–30). • The verse treats adultery as defilement, stressing personal and covenantal contamination, not merely social impropriety. Direct Parallels to the Seventh Commandment • Seventh Commandment: “You shall not commit adultery.” (Exodus 20:14; Deuteronomy 5:18) • Both texts: – Prohibit sexual union with someone else’s spouse. – Protect marriage as God’s ordained one-flesh covenant (Genesis 2:24). – Ground the command in God’s own character of faithfulness (Hosea 2:19-20). • Leviticus 18:20 functions as a detailed application of the broader moral principle delivered at Sinai. Why the Detail Matters • Sinai gave the moral foundation; Leviticus spells out day-to-day obedience for a redeemed people living in community. • By labeling adultery “defilement,” Leviticus underscores that sexual sin pollutes worship and the land itself (18:24-25). • The specificity guards against rationalizing sin: “neighbor’s wife” leaves no loophole. Scripture Echoes and Reinforcement • Proverbs 6:27-32 warns that adultery burns the adulterer. • Jesus deepens the command’s scope: “Everyone who looks at a woman to lust after her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” (Matthew 5:27-28) • Hebrews 13:4 affirms continuity: “Marriage should be honored by all and the marriage bed kept undefiled.” Living the Command Today • Honor the marriage covenant as sacred, mirroring Christ’s unwavering love for His church (Ephesians 5:25-32). • Guard the heart—adultery begins in unchecked desire (James 1:14-15). • Cultivate accountability and transparency within the body of believers (Galatians 6:1-2). • Celebrate faithfulness; it testifies to the holiness and reliability of the God who gave both Leviticus 18:20 and the Seventh Commandment. |
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