Leviticus 18:6-246 “None of you shall approach any one of his close relatives to uncover nakedness. I am the Lord. 7 You shall not uncover the nakedness of your father, which is the nakedness of your mother; she is your mother, you shall not uncover her nakedness. 8 You shall not uncover the nakedness of your father's wife; it is your father's nakedness. 9 You shall not uncover the nakedness of your sister, your father's daughter or your mother's daughter, whether brought up in the family or in another home. 10 You shall not uncover the nakedness of your son's daughter or of your daughter's daughter, for their nakedness is your own nakedness. 11 You shall not uncover the nakedness of your father's wife's daughter, brought up in your father's family, since she is your sister.12 You shall not uncover the nakedness of your father's sister; she is your father's relative. 13 You shall not uncover the nakedness of your mother's sister, for she is your mother's relative. 14 You shall not uncover the nakedness of your father's brother, that is, 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 of her daughter, and you shall not take her son's daughter or her daughter's daughter to uncover her nakedness; they are relatives; it is depravity. 18 And you shall not take a woman as a rival wife to her sister, uncovering her nakedness while her sister is still alive.
19 “You shall not approach a woman to uncover her nakedness while she is in her menstrual uncleanness. 20 And you shall not lie sexually with your neighbor's wife and so make yourself unclean with her. 21 You shall not give any of your children to offer them to Molech, and so profane the name of your God: I am the Lord. 22 You shall not lie with a male as with a woman; it is an abomination. 23 And you shall not lie with any animal and so make yourself unclean with it, neither shall any woman give herself to an animal to lie with it: it is perversion.
We have here a list of forbidden sexual sins (incest, homosexuality, adultery, bestiality). Note that the phrase “to uncover nakedness” is translated more directly as “sexual relations” in other translations. It starts off with a rather lengthy prohibition on incest. The length and detail of this prohibition is notable. It was probably necessary due to our propensity to rationalize our sin. If there was any loophole then we'd argue that it is okay, e.g. "the Bible doesn't explicitly mention this behavior so I can do whatever I want". Instead we should ask if this behavior is consistent with God's character. This chapter continually repeats the phrase "I am the LORD" (verses 2,4,5,6,21, and 30). The sins are described as "depravity", "abomination", and "perversion". To see the sin we must first see "the LORD", then we can see how it contrasts with His holiness.
Lord, I confess to looking for loopholes in Your commands. Help me to not rationalize my behavior, but rather to seek to do Your will.
19 “You shall not approach a woman to uncover her nakedness while she is in her menstrual uncleanness. 20 And you shall not lie sexually with your neighbor's wife and so make yourself unclean with her. 21 You shall not give any of your children to offer them to Molech, and so profane the name of your God: I am the Lord. 22 You shall not lie with a male as with a woman; it is an abomination. 23 And you shall not lie with any animal and so make yourself unclean with it, neither shall any woman give herself to an animal to lie with it: it is perversion.
We have here a list of forbidden sexual sins (incest, homosexuality, adultery, bestiality). Note that the phrase “to uncover nakedness” is translated more directly as “sexual relations” in other translations. It starts off with a rather lengthy prohibition on incest. The length and detail of this prohibition is notable. It was probably necessary due to our propensity to rationalize our sin. If there was any loophole then we'd argue that it is okay, e.g. "the Bible doesn't explicitly mention this behavior so I can do whatever I want". Instead we should ask if this behavior is consistent with God's character. This chapter continually repeats the phrase "I am the LORD" (verses 2,4,5,6,21, and 30). The sins are described as "depravity", "abomination", and "perversion". To see the sin we must first see "the LORD", then we can see how it contrasts with His holiness.
Lord, I confess to looking for loopholes in Your commands. Help me to not rationalize my behavior, but rather to seek to do Your will.