What is the meaning of Deuteronomy 23:18? You must not bring the wages of a prostitute • The command is direct: ill-gotten gains cannot be offered to God. Leviticus 19:29 likewise warns Israel not to degrade daughters through prostitution, showing that the practice itself is forbidden, let alone its profits. • Temple gifts were to be “without blemish” (Malachi 1:8), reflecting God’s holy character; money earned through sin carries the stain of that sin. • Acts 19:19 illustrates true repentance when former occultists burned their costly scrolls instead of funding ministry with them. God desires purity of heart over financial contribution. whether female or male • The law leaves no loophole—gender does not legitimize the act or its earnings. 1 Kings 14:24 and 2 Kings 23:7 record male shrine prostitution in Judah, condemned alongside female prostitution. • Romans 1:26-27 confirms that sexual immorality of any kind falls under divine judgment. God applies the same moral standard to everyone. into the house of the LORD your God • The “house” signifies God’s very presence; nothing unclean may enter (Psalm 24:3-4). • Deuteronomy 12:4 instructs Israel not to worship the LORD “in their way,” rejecting pagan patterns of funding temples through prostitution. • Jesus defends this holiness when He drives out merchants from the temple (Matthew 21:12-13), underscoring that motives and methods matter in worship. to fulfill any vow • Vows were voluntary promises (Deuteronomy 23:21-23). A good vow kept with corrupt money becomes a bad offering. • Proverbs 20:25 cautions against rash vows; better to withhold a gift than to corrupt it. • Ananias and Sapphira’s story (Acts 5:1-11) shows that even generosity, if tainted by deceit, incurs judgment. because both are detestable to the LORD your God • “Detestable” marks absolute rejection (Deuteronomy 18:12). God’s revulsion covers both the act of prostitution and the attempt to sanctify its proceeds. • Isaiah 61:8 affirms God’s love for justice and hatred of robbery in burnt offerings. • Revelation 21:27 envisions a future where “nothing unclean” enters the New Jerusalem, proving that holiness remains God’s standard. summary Deuteronomy 23:18 teaches that God values purity over profit, forbidding any attempt to launder immoral earnings through religious giving. Whether the prostitution is committed by a woman or a man, both the practice and its proceeds are offensive to Him. His house must remain holy, vows must be honest, and worship must reflect His righteous character. |
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