Week 13…Serious Sin, Greater Savior.
What’s Going On in Leviticus 20? It’s blunt and intense. However, it’s necessary.
If you’ve never read the Bible before, Leviticus 20 might feel intense, and a bit like a scolding because it’s full of “don’t do this or there will be serious consequences.” Keep in mind, though, that God is talking to Israel (His chosen people at the time) and laying out laws that set them apart from the nations around them…and living a holy lifestyle was a brand new concept to them!
Back then, the surrounding cultures were doing things that destroyed lives, families, and the heart - including child sacrifice, sexual exploitation, idol worship, and occult practices. God’s tone is strong because He’s protecting His people from becoming like that.
Think of it like a parent warning their kid: “Don’t play in the middle of the road, or you’ll get hit. I’m not trying to ruin your fun, I’m trying to keep you alive.”
God is loving, it’s simply His character, so we should read chapter 20 in that light. However, at that point in history, God was teaching people just how serious sin really is (and it still is serious today!). They didn’t yet have Jesus, the cross hadn’t happened, so sin still required immediate justice under the law. Understanding this can help us take the intense tone to a more urgent tone. He truly wanted His people to understand what was best for them because He loved them dearly.
What did the laws show?
God’s holiness: He’s pure, and His people were to reflect that.
The seriousness of sin: It separates us from Him and hurts us + others, not just physically /emotionally, but spiritually, too.
Our need for a Savior: Because, truth be told, no one could keep the law perfectly. NO ONE.
Fast-forward to the New Testament…spoiler alert: Jesus comes. Where Leviticus 20 says, “If you do these things, you must face the penalty,” Jesus says: “I will take that penalty on myself so you can be forgiven and set free.”
Years ago, I heard an analogy that has always stuck with me (though I can’t remember which pastor shared it). It went something like this: You’ve been sitting in the airport for hours due to a delayed flight. You’re tired, hungry, thirsty, uncomfortable, and a little lonely. Suddenly, you notice a door you hadn’t seen before with a sign that reads: “Food, Drinks, Rest.” Jackpot! You grab your heavy luggage, drag it to the door, push it open, and step inside.
To your amazement, you see a luxurious lounge- an elegant restaurant with comfortable couches and private rooms for naps. Just what you need, right? But before you can settle in, the doorman interrupts: “Are you a member?” Sadly, you’re not. Which means you can’t stay and enjoy the accommodations. Deflated, you turn to leave because, clearly, you don’t belong.
That’s when you bump into a man walking in. To your surprise, he says, “Not so fast. I can give you my access…please, stay.”
You watch as he turns to the doorman and says, “She’s / he’s with me.” The stranger hands over his membership card, which is scanned twice- once for him, and once for you. You didn’t deserve this kindness, but he gave it freely anyway. Because of him, you now belong in a place you had no right to be.
That’s the gospel.
On the cross, Jesus bore the full weight of the “punishments” the Levitical law demanded. His blood is like that membership card- your access to God. He removed the barrier of the law. Did we deserve that kind of mercy and kindness? No. But He gave it anyway…even before we knew Him, even while we were still sinning.
So while Leviticus 20 feels heavy with judgment, it’s really like a giant signpost saying: “You can’t keep all the rules. You need someone to stand in your place. You need someone who will say, ‘She’s / he’s with Me.’”
Now picture this: the enemy stands behind you, trying to pull you away from God. (Which is pretty much daily life, right?!) But Jesus steps in, looks you in the eye, gently offers you His hand, and declares, “She is with Me.”
He claims you- fully, completely. Even the broken pieces!!! He broke Himself for you, so you could be whole. So you could belong! I am so glad Jesus stands in my place, I can’t keep all the rules as hard as I try. I am sinful and in need of a savior EVERY single day of my life!
Reading Leviticus 20 today, as a Christian, FEEL ENCOURAGED…you don’t need to live in fear of being “stoned” or “cut off” for failing. Instead, you’re invited to pursue holiness because you want to, not because you’re terrified of punishment…but because of who He is and what He has done for you. Can see the heart behind the commands of Leviticus 20? God wants His people to love, honor, and protect life, remain faithful, and worship Him alone. You can choose to live with gratitude that Jesus fulfilled the law for YOU, and now you get to walk in His ways through the Spirit. He has given you a full access citizenship card to Heaven!!!
And the Jesus whisper here? Oh, there’s so much, but here’s a few!
1 Peter 1:15–16 – “But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: ‘Be holy, because I am holy.’” (Directly quotes Leviticus!)
Romans 8:1–4 – No condemnation in Christ; the law’s requirement is fulfilled in us by the Spirit.
Titus 2:11–12 – God’s grace teaches us to say “no” to ungodliness and live godly lives.
Matthew 22:37–40 – All the law hangs on loving God and loving others.
Hebrews 10:10 – We are made holy through the sacrifice of Jesus once for all.
If we look at Leviticus 20 through the heart of God and the finished work of the cross, what message might Leviticus 20 hold for us today? Perhaps in today’s words it would sound something like this:
"My child, I have called you to be Mine…fully, wholly, without compromise. I want you to know that My ways are life, and the ways of the world will only lead to destruction.
Don’t give your heart to false gods or anything that asks you to trade what is good for what is evil. I see the things this world calls ‘normal’: using people, harming the innocent, chasing after empty powers - and I want to keep you far from them, because I love you!!!
When you are tempted to look elsewhere for guidance or comfort, remember: I am your God. I will lead you. You don’t need to turn to the darkness for answers, because I am light, and in Me there is no darkness at all.
Be faithful in every part of your life. Honor the body I’ve given you and the relationships I’ve entrusted to you. I made these things to be sacred! They are a reflection of My love and My covenant with you. When you protect them, you are protecting the beauty I created.
I have set you apart, not because you’re perfect, but because I have chosen you. Just as I am holy, I am calling you to live holy…to stand out in love, mercy, and truth in a world that does not know Me.
I know you can’t do this on your own. That’s why I have sent My Son to fulfill every law you could never keep. He has taken your punishment so you can live in My freedom. So walk with Me: not out of fear, but out of joy. My holiness is not a burden, it is the safest place you can be.
Remember, you are Mine. I am your God. And nothing in this world will ever love you like I do."
(CUE THE TEARS)
Leviticus 20 shows us that God’s holiness is not negotiable, but His mercy is unstoppable and His tone is out of urgency and love. The chapter’s blunt warnings reveal the high cost of sin, yet they also whisper the coming hope of a Savior who took that cost on Himself. In Jesus, the law’s judgment becomes the cross’s mercy, and holiness becomes less about following a rulebook and more about reflecting the heart of the One who saved us. We don’t live set apart to earn God’s love, we live set apart because we already have it.
A chart to lay it out simply.
REFLECTION:
How does knowing Jesus took the punishment for my failures change the way I live? What freedom and responsibility come with that truth?
In what ways can I embody God’s love, mercy, and truth in my community? How can I reflect God’s heart to those around me who may not know Him?
Where do I need God’s strength today to walk in holiness—not out of fear, but joy? What steps can I take to lean into His power rather than my own efforts?
PRAYER:
Father, thank You for Your holy love and for Jesus who took my place so I could be made right with You. Help me to live in the freedom and joy You give, to trust Your guidance in every part of my life, and to reflect Your love to those around me. Strengthen me to walk in Your ways with courage and grace, knowing that Your presence is always with me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.