Verse 4 of today’s scripture text says:
“You shall follow my rules and keep my statutes and walk in them. I am the LORD your God.”

Because of the salvation and life given us we are now able to follow God’s statutes and judgements, following God’s statutes and judgements, is not binding but freeing us from bondage of sin. It’s a way in which God brings us back from the fallenness to the order of His creation and realm of blessings.

In Genesis it begins with God’s provision, protection, security and endless supply of food given to His people, in the Garden of Eden. In Exodus we see the people of God were without security, provision, protection and food. And now in Leviticus God is saying to them, come back into my house. Even in the wilderness, God says come back to My house, and I will provide you with protection security and food.

Leviticus is God’s call (“vayikra”) to invite us back into his house, back into the garden of Eden. At the same time, He is letting us know of His expectations of us.

1. Things against God’s statutes and judgments (Ch. 18)

(1) Immoral relations (adultery and fornication)
– Incest

Leviticus 18:6–8 (NASB95) — 6 ‘None of you shall approach any blood relative of his to uncover nakedness; I am the LORD. 7 ‘You shall not uncover the nakedness of your father, that is, the nakedness of your mother. She is your mother; you are not to uncover her nakedness. 8 ‘You shall not uncover the nakedness of your father’s wife; it is your father’s nakedness.

Leviticus 18:9–11 (NASB95) — 9 ‘The nakedness of your sister, either your father’s daughter or your mother’s daughter, whether born at home or born outside, their nakedness you shall not uncover. 10 ‘The nakedness of your son’s daughter or your daughter’s daughter, their nakedness you shall not uncover; for their nakedness is yours. 11 ‘The nakedness of your father’s wife’s daughter, born to your father, she is your sister, you shall not uncover her nakedness.

Leviticus 18:12–14 (NASB95) — 12 ‘You shall not uncover the nakedness of your father’s sister; she is your father’s blood relative. 13 ‘You shall not uncover the nakedness of your mother’s sister, for she is your mother’s blood relative. 14 ‘You shall not uncover the nakedness of your father’s brother; you shall not approach his wife, she is your aunt.

Leviticus 18:15–16 (NASB95) — 15 ‘You shall not uncover the nakedness of your daughter-in-law; she is your son’s wife, you shall not uncover her nakedness. 16 ‘You shall not uncover the nakedness of your brother’s wife; it is your brother’s nakedness.

Leviticus 18:17–18 (NASB95) — 17 ‘You shall not uncover the nakedness of a woman and of her daughter, nor shall you take her son’s daughter or her daughter’s daughter, to uncover her nakedness; they are blood relatives. It is lewdness. 18 ‘You shall not marry a woman in addition to her sister as a rival while she is alive, to uncover her nakedness.

– Unclean and defiled sexual conduct

Leviticus 18:19 (NASB95) — 19 ‘Also you shall not approach a woman to uncover her nakedness during her menstrual impurity.

Leviticus 18:20 (NASB95) — 20 ‘You shall not have intercourse with your neighbor’s wife, to be defiled with her.

Leviticus 18:21 (NASB95) — 21 ‘You shall not give any of your offspring to offer them to Molech, nor shall you profane the name of your God; I am the LORD.

Leviticus 18:22 (NASB95) — 22 ‘You shall not lie with a male as one lies with a female; it is an abomination.

Leviticus 18:23 (NASB95) — 23 ‘Also you shall not have intercourse with any animal to be defiled with it, nor shall any woman stand before an animal to mate with it; it is a perversion.

Sexual immorality, especially any of the sins mentioned here, not only defile our body, but our spirit and soul.

Leviticus 18:24–28 (NASB95) — 24 ‘Do not defile yourselves by any of these things; for by all these the nations which I am casting out before you have become defiled. 25 ‘For the land has become defiled, therefore I have brought its punishment upon it, so the land has spewed out its inhabitants. 26 ‘But as for you, you are to keep My statutes and My judgments and shall not do any of these abominations, neither the native, nor the alien who sojourns among you 27 (for the men of the land who have been before you have done all these abominations, and the land has become defiled); 28 so that the land will not spew you out, should you defile it, as it has spewed out the nation which has been before you.

And these laws and statutes were not only for the Old Testament times. It is emphasized in the New Testament also.

1 Corinthians 6:9–11 (NASB95) — 9 Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, 10 nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God.

1 Corinthians 6:15–19 (NASB95) — 15 Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take away the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute? May it never be! 16 Or do you not know that the one who joins himself to a prostitute is one body with her? For He says, “THE TWO SHALL BECOME ONE FLESH.” 17 But the one who joins himself to the Lord is one spirit with Him. 18 Flee immorality. Every other sin that a man commits is outside the body, but the immoral man sins against his own body. 19 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own?

Leviticus 18:29–30 (NASB95) — 29 ‘For whoever does any of these abominations, those persons who do so shall be cut off from among their people. 30 ‘Thus you are to keep My charge, that you do not practice any of the abominable customs which have been practiced before you, so as not to defile yourselves with them; I am the LORD your God.’”

2. God’s statutes (Sundry Laws): The Ten Commandments

These sundry laws on how God’s holy people are to live, and these statutes of God are recorded in Lev 17 to 27. God’s emphasis is that He wants His people to be holy for He is holy. He desires His people to live by the spiritual, moral, and behavioral standards set by Him.

The ceremonial laws and offerings of the OT Law have been fulfilled through Jesus’ death and resurrection. Hence, they are not needed to be repeated. We refer to the Messianic meanings and prophetic messages given through them, along with the significance found in the Tabernacle, priestly garments, and etc.

The most foundational basis for God’s Law and statutes are the Ten Commandments, which are reinforced by Jesus Himself for us to continue to keep and follow. We have all learned that the first four commandments are about our relationship with God (how to serve and worship Him) and the 5th to the 10th commandments are about our relationship with others (our neighbors). However, we can say that all the Ten Commandments are also spiritual, and thus about our relationship with God. We have previously studied about how the Ten Commandments speak of the violations that Adam and Eve have committed by rejecting God’s Word and eating the fruit of the knowledge of good and evil.
Through the serpent’s words, the woman began to desire and covet God’s place and honor. She sought for something that was not permitted to her.

Because of the greedy heart, she even forgot God’s word and warning. Before she realized, she was obeying the serpent. As a result:
(1) they did not serve only God, but served the serpent,
(2) considered what is good for themselves (food, viewing, and benefits) more important than God – idolatry,
(3) by desiring to be like God (challenging against God), they were defiling the glory (name) of God,
(4) because of their sin, the Sabbath was interrupted,
(5) they turned their back on God, their Father, and forsook Him – dishonoring of parents,
(6) they not only brought death to themselves, but to all mankind – murder,
(7) they lost their hearts to others (gods and the world) – spiritual adultery,
(8) they ate what was not theirs – stealing,
(9) they ended up lying to God,
(10) it all began because of greed and covetous heart.

James 1:14-16 But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust (greed). Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death. Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren.

God emphasized the importance of the Ten Commandments so much because He was the direct victim of that greed. Mankind’s desire was to challenge God and His place.

(Rom 1:28-32) And just as they did not see fir to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper, being filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, greed, evil; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malice; they are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, arrogant, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, without understanding, untrustworthy, unloving, unmerciful; and although they know the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, they not only do the same, but also give hearty approval to those who practice them.

Leviticus 19:2–3 (NASB95) — 2 “Speak to all the congregation of the sons of Israel and say to them, ‘You shall be holy, for I the LORD your God am holy. 3 ‘Every one of you shall reverence his mother and his father, and you shall keep My sabbaths; I am the LORD your God.

Leviticus 19:4 (NASB95) — 4 ‘Do not turn to idols or make for yourselves molten gods; I am the LORD your God.

Leviticus 19:11 (NASB95) — 11 ‘You shall not steal, nor deal falsely, nor lie to one another.

Leviticus 19:12 (NASB95) — 12 ‘You shall not swear falsely by My name, so as to profane the name of your God; I am the LORD.

Leviticus 19:13 (NASB95) — 13 ‘You shall not oppress your neighbor, nor rob him. The wages of a hired man are not to remain with you all night until morning.

Leviticus 19:30 (NASB95) — 30 ‘You shall keep My sabbaths and revere My sanctuary; I am the LORD.

Leviticus 19:32 (NASB95) — 32 ‘You shall rise up before the grayheaded and honor the aged, and you shall revere your God; I am the LORD.

Leviticus 19:37 (NASB95) — 37 ‘You shall thus observe all My statutes and all My ordinances and do them; I am the LORD.’”

Special statutes – For the poor and the weak

Leviticus 19:9 (NASB95) — 9 ‘Now when you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap to the very corners of your field, nor shall you gather the gleanings of your harvest.

Leviticus 19:10 (NASB95) — 10 ‘Nor shall you glean your vineyard, nor shall you gather the fallen fruit of your vineyard; you shall leave them for the needy and for the stranger. I am the LORD your God.

Leviticus 19:14 (NASB95) — 14 ‘You shall not curse a deaf man, nor place a stumbling block before the blind, but you shall revere your God; I am the LORD.

Leviticus 19:15 (NASB95) — 15 ‘You shall do no injustice in judgment; you shall not be partial to the poor nor defer to the great, but you are to judge your neighbor fairly.

Leviticus 19:17 (NASB95) — 17 ‘You shall not hate your fellow countryman in your heart; you may surely reprove your neighbor, but shall not incur sin because of him.

Leviticus 19:18 (NASB95) — 18 ‘You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the sons of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself; I am the LORD.

3. Sins deserving of death

(1) Human sacrifice

Leviticus 20:2–5 (NASB95) — 2 “You shall also say to the sons of Israel: ‘Any man from the sons of Israel or from the aliens sojourning in Israel who gives any of his offspring to Molech, shall surely be put to death; the people of the land shall stone him with stones. 3 ‘I will also set My face against that man and will cut him off from among his people, because he has given some of his offspring to Molech, so as to defile My sanctuary and to profane My holy name. 4 ‘If the people of the land, however, should ever disregard that man when he gives any of his offspring to Molech, so as not to put him to death, 5 then I Myself will set My face against that man and against his family, and I will cut off from among their people both him and all those who play the harlot after him, by playing the harlot after Molech.

This was the practice of the Canaanites. We also have cultures and practices of the world that are accepted and practiced by them, but not acceptable by our God.

Leviticus 20:6–9 (NASB95) — 6 ‘As for the person who turns to mediums and to spiritists, to play the harlot after them, I will also set My face against that person and will cut him off from among his people. 7 ‘You shall consecrate yourselves therefore and be holy, for I am the LORD your God. 8 ‘You shall keep My statutes and practice them; I am the LORD who sanctifies you. 9 ‘If there is anyone who curses his father or his mother, he shall surely be put to death; he has cursed his father or his mother, his blood-guiltiness is upon him.

(2) Immoralities

Leviticus 20:10 (NASB95) — 10 ‘If there is a man who commits adultery with another man’s wife, one who commits adultery with his friend’s wife, the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death.

Leviticus 20:11 (NASB95) — 11 ‘If there is a man who lies with his father’s wife, he has uncovered his father’s nakedness; both of them shall surely be put to death, their blood-guiltiness is upon them.

Leviticus 20:12 (NASB95) — 12 ‘If there is a man who lies with his daughter-in-law, both of them shall surely be put to death; they have committed incest, their blood-guiltiness is upon them.

Leviticus 20:13 (NASB95) — 13 ‘If there is a man who lies with a male as those who lie with a woman, both of them have committed a detestable act; they shall surely be put to death. Their blood-guiltiness is upon them.

Leviticus 20:14 (NASB95) — 14 ‘If there is a man who marries a woman and her mother, it is immorality; both he and they shall be burned with fire, so that there will be no immorality in your midst.

Leviticus 20:15 (NASB95) — 15 ‘If there is a man who lies with an animal, he shall surely be put to death; you shall also kill the animal.

Leviticus 20:16 (NASB95) — 16 ‘If there is a woman who approaches any animal to mate with it, you shall kill the woman and the animal; they shall surely be put to death. Their blood-guiltiness is upon them.

Leviticus 20:17 (NASB95) — 17 ‘If there is a man who takes his sister, his father’s daughter or his mother’s daughter, so that he sees her nakedness and she sees his nakedness, it is a disgrace; and they shall be cut off in the sight of the sons of their people. He has uncovered his sister’s nakedness; he bears his guilt.

Leviticus 20:18 (NASB95) — 18 ‘If there is a man who lies with a menstruous woman and uncovers her nakedness, he has laid bare her flow, and she has exposed the flow of her blood; thus both of them shall be cut off from among their people.

Leviticus 20:19 (NASB95) — 19 ‘You shall also not uncover the nakedness of your mother’s sister or of your father’s sister, for such a one has made naked his blood relative; they will bear their guilt.

Leviticus 20:20 (NASB95) — 20 ‘If there is a man who lies with his uncle’s wife he has uncovered his uncle’s nakedness; they will bear their sin. They will die childless.
Leviticus 20:21 (NASB95) — 21 ‘If there is a man who takes his brother’s wife, it is abhorrent; he has uncovered his brother’s nakedness. They will be childless.

Leviticus 20:23–24 (NASB95) — 23 ‘Moreover, you shall not follow the customs of the nation which I will drive out before you, for they did all these things, and therefore I have abhorred them. 24 ‘Hence I have said to you, “You are to possess their land, and I Myself will give it to you to possess it, a land flowing with milk and honey.” I am the LORD your God, who has separated you from the peoples.

Leviticus 20:26 (NASB95) — 26 ‘Thus you are to be holy to Me, for I the LORD am holy; and I have set you apart from the peoples to be Mine.

What we need to remember as we think about all these statutes: it is God alone who decides what is good and what is evil.

When we begin to decide what is good, that’s when we are taking from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. This is caused by greed and pride.

AMEN.