Everyone who does any of these detestable things—such persons must be cut off from their people. – Leviticus 19:29

Today's Scripture Reading (January 1, 2025): Leviticus 18

I must admit that I have struggled with something Jesus said over the past few decades. Maybe struggle is the wrong word. It is not that I don't believe what Jesus said. Quite the reverse, actually. I take the words to heart, but I don't want them to just flow out of my mouth; I want to understand them deep in my being, and I want the words to be reflected in my life and teaching. What are the words?

 Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments" (Matthew 22:37-40).

The impact for me is that all of the Bible, what Jesus calls the Law and the Prophets, somehow connects to the Law of Love. Every time we declare that something goes against the desires of God, what we are saying somehow violates the Law of Love.

We can become very heavy-handed with the Law, and sometimes especially with this passage in Leviticus. One commentator wrote;

This chapter is one of the most extensive and direct passages in the Bible reflecting God's stated will and commands regarding the expression of human sexuality. These are the words of God, and as such they have immeasurably more authority than the words, opinions, theories, desires, feelings, longings, or wishes of any person or persons (David Guzik)

I agree, but somehow, as we struggle with this passage, we must understand how it violates the Law of love. And some of it is easy. Adultery, in whatever form we find it, violates the trust and love between two people. By sleeping with relatives, we violate the love between people who are bound together in a family unit. Every time we violate these bonds, we are endangering the essential community in which we live, and it is no wonder that violating these rules means we must be cast out. 

But our theology must continue to connect the reason for our sin to the Law of Love. Only then can we get to the root cause of our sin, our unwillingness to love as God would have us love. 

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: Leviticus 19

Happy New Year to all. I wish you all the best in 2025.