6.2. STANDARDS AS TO SEX (Leviticus 18:1-50)

Standards set by the Lord - the standards of moral behaviour are not to be taken from the practices of worldly people who knew not the Lord. The Lord's Word is to set our standards. (Leviticus 18:3 ).

Leviticus 18:5 "'You shall therefore keep My statutes and My judgments, which if a man does, he shall live by them: I am the LORD."

By having a special redemptive relationship with the Lord His Word is relevant to us and by His working in us we are capable of keeping His Word.

With any near kin (Leviticus 18:6 ), with father (Leviticus 18:7 ), with mother (Leviticus 18:7 ), with father's wife (Leviticus 18:8 ), with sister (Leviticus 18:9 ), with son's daughter (Leviticus 18:10 ), with daughter's daughter (Leviticus 18:12 ), with mother's sister (Leviticus 18:13 ), with father's brother (Leviticus 18:14 ), with father's brother's wife (Leviticus 18:14 ), with daughter-in-law (Leviticus 18:15 ), with brother's wife (Leviticus 18:16 ). (Note exception Deuteronomy 25:5; Matthew 22:24-30 ). With woman and her daughter (Leviticus 18:17 ), with her son's daughter (Leviticus 18:17 ), with her daughter's daughter (Leviticus 18:17 ), with wife and her sister (Leviticus 18:18 ).

Dake comments : "This was to avoid such trouble as Jacob had with Rachel and Leah (Genesis 29:15 to 30:24 )."

It is also possible that this might be a prohibition of polygamy as such. God's law is intended to protect the family.

"As long as she is in her customary impurity" (Leviticus 18:19 ). There may have been some law of health in this prohibition by God. However, it is linked, for Israel, to ceremonial uncleanness.

Part of the practices of cruelty, obscenity and perversion of pagan heathen nations in the land of Canaan, when even sons and daughters were burned in the fire.

It is an abomination (Leviticus 18:22 ). Popular literature reduces unnatural sin from the moral to the psychological. The Bible never does so. Its verdict stands - it is an abomination. (Romans 1:24-27 ).

"You shall not mate with any beast ..." (Leviticus 18:23 ). This practice may have been part of heathen worship of animals - God calls it perversion.

The Canaanites defiled by these perversions were being cast out. A warning to nations and denominations that permit and treat lightly such perversions.

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QUESTIONS FOR GROUP INTERACTION

1. Is it permissible for your moral standards to be according to the practices of people who do not know the Lord (Leviticus 18:3-5; Ephesians 2:1-3 )?

2. Was it God's intention to protect the family by forbidding all incest ( Leviticus 18:6- 18 )?

3. When God prohibited homosexuality, what verdict did He pass on the practice (Leviticus 18:22; 20:13; Cf Romans 1:24-27 )?

4. Do you accept that the judgment on the Canaanites is a warning to nations and denominations that permit such perversions today (Leviticus 18:24-25 )?