Leviticus 18:19-30 NKJV
18 Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 2 “Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: ‘I am the Lord your God. 3 According to the doings of the land of Egypt, where you dwelt, you shall not do; and according to the doings of the land of Canaan, where I am bringing you, you shall not do; nor shall you walk in their ordinances. 4 You shall observe My judgments and keep My ordinances, to walk in them: I am the Lord your God. 5 You shall therefore keep My statutes and My judgments, which if a man does, he shall live by them: I am the Lord.
6 ‘None of you shall approach anyone who is near of kin to him, to uncover his nakedness: I am the Lord. 7 The nakedness of your father or the nakedness of your mother you shall not uncover. She is your mother; you shall not uncover her nakedness. 8 The nakedness of your father’s wife you shall not uncover; it is your father’s nakedness. 9 The nakedness of your sister, the daughter of your father, or the daughter of your mother, whether born at home or elsewhere, 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 theirs is your own nakedness. 11 The nakedness of your father’s wife’s daughter, begotten by your father—she is your sister—you shall not uncover her nakedness. 12 You shall not uncover the nakedness of your father’s sister; she is near of kin to your father. 13 You shall not uncover the nakedness of your mother’s sister, for she is near of kin to your mother. 14 You shall not uncover the nakedness of your father’s brother. You shall not approach his wife; she is your aunt. 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. 17 You shall not uncover the nakedness of a woman and her daughter, nor shall you take her son’s daughter or her daughter’s daughter, to uncover her nakedness. They are near of kin to her. It is wickedness. 18 Nor shall you take a woman as a rival to her sister, to uncover her nakedness while the other is alive.
As a holy people, set apart and consecrated to the Lord, Israel was not to imitate the practices of the nations around them. In our reading for today, God continues to instruct His people and further define His moral law. He says in verse 27, “you shall keep my statues and my ordinances and do none of these abominations.” To disregard God’s word would come with a heavy cost. The transgressor would be cut off from the land and from among God’s people.
This is always the cost of sin going all the way back to our first parents. Adam and Eve were cut off from the land of Eden when they transgressed the word of the Lord. No longer would they enjoy walking with the Lord in the midst of the day. This is the consequence and curse of our sin; it severs our relationship with God and with one another.
Into this brokenness God sent His son to reconcile us with our Heavenly Father and bring us into His eternal presence. St. Paul tells of the work of Christ in reconciling us to God when he says, “For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell, and by Him to reconcile to all things to Himself, by Him, whether on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross. And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight” (Colossians 1:19-22).
Let us pray: Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Cast me not away from Your presence and take not Your Holy Spirit from me. Amen.