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Leviticus 20:13
- "'If a man lies with a male, as with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.
Leviticus 18:22
- 'You shall not lie with a man, as with a woman. That is an abomination."
These verses are found within the "Holiness Code." This section of Scripture emphasizes that the Israelites are to consider themselves as set apart to God from the rest of the nations. The Jews are God's "portion," His Elect (Psalm 16:5). The CONTEXT of these verses is God's prohibition that the Israelites must not engage in the practices found in the nearby fertility cult of Moloch and Ashtaroth. They were only to worship the God of Israel and only engage themselves in His rituals and rites. Look at the beginning of the chapter and you will see this clearly:
- 18:1 Yahweh said to Moses, 18:2 "Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them, 'I am Yahweh your God. 18:3 You shall not do as they do in the land of Egypt, where you lived: and you shall not do as they do in the land of Canaan, where I am bringing you; neither shall you walk in their statutes.
18:4 You shall do my ordinances, and you shall keep my statutes, and walk in them: I am Yahweh your God. 18:5 You shall therefore keep my statutes and my ordinances; which if a man does, he shall live in them: I am Yahweh.
Just as religious cults sometimes ignore the Scriptural context in order to justify their doctrines, so too well meaning Christians occasionally disregard what passages are talking about when they appear to support their positions. Such is the case here.
The God of Israel never directed the Jews to engage in ritual sex magic like the Pagan religions around them. Despite this, certain of God's people were practicing these rites. These idolatrous rituals were unacceptable to God who commands His people: "You shall do my ordinances, and you shall keep my statutes, and walk in them: I am Yahweh your God."
This is the clear context of these passages, not homosexuality.
The word abomination used here is a translation of the Hebrew word to-ay-baw which specifically refers to idolatrous practices that displease God. This word has nothing to do with sexuality, neither homosexual nor heterosexual, unless that sexuality is directly involved in the worship of other gods. Then it speaks to both equally. Hence, this prohibition is the same as Paul's concern in Romans 1 and I Corinthians 6:9. The reference here is to forbidding the fertility worship of Moloch and Ashtaroth. The Jews are to only walk in paths directed by their God.
In the following verses (6 on), many of these forbidden activities are specifically listed.
Note this clear declaration:
- "18:21 "'You shall not give any of your semen in sacrifice to Moloch; neither shall you profane the name of your God: I am Yahweh.
The word translated as semen here is zera and means: semen, virile, seed, offspring, descendants, posterity, children etc. Translators translate the word differently depending on context and person preference. In the case of these particular sacrifices to Moloch, semen was at times utilized and children were at times directly sacrificed.
Allowing ones semen or offspring to be used in Pagan rites through temple prostitution or direct sacrifice is an abomination. The worship of these gods in any manner is what is being forbidden here. The topic has nothing to do with consensual homosexuality.
Notice what the incorporation of sexuality into Pagan rites does, it 'profanes the name of God,' hence God commands the Jews to remember that He alone is their God and he alone is to be worshiped. So we read in context:
- 20:13 "'If a man lies with a male, as with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination [to-ay-baw}: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.
What exactly is Moses forbidding here? In context he is forbidding the Jews from worshiping Moloch and the other local gods in any way, including through the popular sex rites.
That this is what is being forbidden is even clearer in Leviticus 20. Note how this chapter begins:
- 20:1 Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,
20:2 "Moreover, you shall tell the children of Israel, 'Anyone of the children of Israel, or of the strangers who live as foreigners in Israel, who gives any of his seed to Molech; he shall surely be put to death. The people of the land shall stone him with stones.
20:3 I also will set my face against that person, and will cut him off from among his people because he has given of his seed to Molech, to defile my sanctuary, and to profane my holy name.
20:4 If the people of the land all hide their eyes from that person, when he gives of his seed to Molech, and don't put him to death; 20:5 then I will set my face against that man, and against his family, and will cut him off, and all who play the prostitute after him, to play the prostitute with Molech, from among their people.
Note the phrase "to play the prostitute with Moloch." This is the concern and it is presented in sexual terms because temple prostitution was particularly offensive.
Following this certain abuses are listed and then we come to verse 13, again specifically concerning the use of semen and sex magic.
Throughout their history the Israelites had a weakness for idolatry according to the Bible. This is simply another example of God seeking to control that weakness. These two verses say nothing about homosexuality.
Never doubt:
- Romans 10:12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, and is rich to all who call on him. 10:13 For, "Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved."
God's best,
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~Pastor John
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