What is the meaning of Leviticus 20:11? If a man lies with his father’s wife • God names the sin plainly: sexual relations with one who belongs to one’s own father. In the Law, this act combines incest and adultery (Leviticus 18:7–8; Deuteronomy 27:20). • Such a liaison fractures the most basic earthly relationships—parent, child, and spouse—and threatens the stability of the covenant community (1 Corinthians 5:1 shows the same horror when it surfaced in Corinth). • The wording highlights consent and choice. No excuses are offered; the man “lies with” her, a deliberate act that God holds fully accountable. he has uncovered his father’s nakedness • Scripture uses “uncovering nakedness” as a respectful way to describe sexual intimacy (Genesis 9:22–23; Leviticus 18:7). To take what belongs to one’s father is to expose—not just the woman—but the father himself to humiliation. • The father’s authority and dignity, established by the fifth commandment, are violated (Exodus 20:12). • This phrase underscores that sin is never isolated. One sinful choice ripples outward, dishonoring generations and mocking God’s design for family. Both must surely be put to death • Under Israel’s theocratic law, capital punishment stressed how radically incompatible this sin was with God’s holiness (Leviticus 20:10; Deuteronomy 22:22). • The penalty fell on “both,” showing equal culpability. Rank, gender, or circumstances didn’t lessen guilt. • While the New Covenant no longer wields civil execution within the Church, the moral weight remains. The cross reveals how seriously God views sin—Christ bore the penalty so repentant sinners wouldn’t have to (Romans 3:25–26). their blood is upon them • The phrase signals personal responsibility: the offenders alone triggered the sentence (Ezekiel 18:13; Joshua 2:19). • No scapegoats, no victim-blaming, no shifting of fault. They chose; they answer. • Even today, forgiveness in Christ never cancels accountability. True repentance owns the guilt, turns from it, and trusts the Savior who “made peace through the blood of His cross” (Colossians 1:20). summary Leviticus 20:11 exposes incestuous adultery as a grave assault on family, covenant, and God’s holiness. The act dishonors father and household, merits the strictest penalty under Mosaic law, and leaves the guilty without excuse. Though the civil sanction no longer applies to the Church, the moral lesson endures: God guards marriage and family boundaries zealously, expects His people to honor them, and provides redemption through Christ for any who repent and believe. |
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