Leviticus 20-21

Leviticus 20 opens with God outlining specific punishments for those who 1) sacrificed their children to Molech (yes, that was actually a thing), 2) were involved with the occult, 3) cursed their father or mother, or 4) committed sexual immorality. Most of these offenses carried with them a punishment of death or being cut off from the rest of the Israelite community, as God took (and still takes) the holiness of His people seriously (v. 26).

I want to address this issue of those around God’s people sacrificing their children to Molech before we go any further. The manner in which Molech, a pagan god, was worshipped involved heating a metal statue until it was scalding, then an infant would be placed on the open hands of the figure until it burned to death.[i] Absolutely horrific and unimaginable, yet people in the land that Israel would inherit actually thought this was a good idea. Thankfully, we live in a society that no longer sacrifices its children to deities, but I would challenge us all to consider whether we value a child’s life as highly as God does. This is not just a discussion for babies in the womb, but also how we view and treat those little ones entrusted to our care by our Creator. 

Chapter 21 outlines particular instructions for the priests who would serve God. These servants were to remain pure and undefiled, and one way God commanded them to do so related to their dealings with dead bodies and the manner in which the priests grieved over those who passed away. In verses 1-2, we read that “No one shall make himself unclean for the dead among his people, except for his closest relatives…” Then in verse 5, God orders the priests not to “make bald patches on their heads, nor shave off the edges of their beards, nor make any cuts on their body.” This was in stark contrast to other religions the Israelites would have known about, where priests would prepare the dead for burial, and mourn by cutting themselves or intentionally shaving a portion of hair on their heads.[ii]

Of these passages, David Guzik comments that “God did not want His priests and His worship to be dominated by death, but by life.”[iii] What a poignant reality for the Christian faith, where, because of the Great High Priest’s ministry, our worship is dominated by an empty tomb and promise of everlasting life! “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” (1 Corinthians 15:55). 

Don’t gloss over verse 9, as I believe there are implications for our church leaders today: “the daughter of any priest, if she profanes herself by whoring, profanes her father; she shall be burned with fire.” God expected the family of those who led His people to be set apart as well, and I would submit that He still has those same lofty expectations here and now. Look at what the apostle Paul, inspired by the Holy Spirit, told Timothy about a church overseer: “He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive” (1 Timothy 3:4). And now about deacons: “Their wives…must be dignified, not slanderers, but sober-minded, faithful in all things. Let deacons each be the husband of one wife, managing their children and their own households well” (1 Timothy 3:11-12). We can conclude from these verses, both from the Old and New Testaments, that one who had a tough time managing his own household well may find it even more difficult to effectively shepherd or serve a congregation. 

Today’s reading closes with God giving special guidelines for the high priest, who was called to the most extreme level of holiness among the people. We have previously read how the Israelites were commanded to be holy, and we now know that the holiness of the priests was expected to be even greater. And for the high priest, he was instructed to maintain the utmost standard of holiness among those in the nation of Israel. Three degrees of holiness, if you will. Interestingly, Mark Rooker notes that this “threefold degree of holiness among the Israelites — the people, the priests, and the high priest — corresponds to the graduation of holiness in the tabernacle — the outer court, the Holy Place, the Most Holy Place.”[iv] Fascinating parallels when we possess a full counsel of God’s Word!  

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Journal responses to the following prompts:

·       Do you value a child’s life as highly as God does? 

·       Is your life, as a member of God’s royal priesthood, dominated by death or life? Consider whether you are frequently bogged down by your circumstances or encouraged by the promised hope that awaits us in heaven.

[i] Study Guide for Leviticus 20. (n.d.). Blue Letter Bible. Retrieved April 19, 2026, from

http://blueletterbible.org/comm/guzik_david/study-guide/leviticus/leviticus-20.cfm

[ii] ibid

[iii] ibid

[iv] Rooker, M. (2000). The new American commentary: Leviticus. Holman Reference. p. 271.