Big Idea: God holds people accountable for their sins.

Understanding the Text

Leviticus 20 is another chapter in the laws of holiness (Lev. 17–27), making its own explicit call to holiness (vv. 7–8) and, near the end of the chapter, issuing a concluding call to holiness (v. 26).

Holiness in this chapter revolves around idolatry and sexuality. The chapter overlaps considerably in content with Leviticus 18 (sexual offenses, Molek worship) and to some degree with Leviticus 19 between the two. Leviticus 20 differs from Leviticus 18 by adding specific penalties for many of the offenses listed in Leviticus 18. Such penalties would drive the nation in the direction of separation toward God—that is, holiness.

The outline of Leviticus 20 is roughly chiastic:1

A Stoning case (re: Molek) and nec…