Leviticus 20:14

And if a man take a wife and her mother, it is wickedness: they shall be burnt with fire, both he and they; that there be no wickedness among you.

Leviticus 20:14 (KJV)

Context

This verse belongs to the holiness code, the laws God gave through Moses to ancient Israel. These rules governed daily life, including marriage, so the community could remain holy and orderly before God. The code covered many areas, from worship to personal conduct, and it showed Israel how to live as God’s chosen people.

Meaning

The verse forbids a man from taking both a woman and her mother as wives. It calls this act “wickedness,” a severe violation of family boundaries and the created order. The penalty was death by burning for the man and both women, so that such evil would be removed from the people. This punishment was not merely harsh; it was a public declaration that this sin corrupted the family and the community. The severity underscores the importance of sexual purity and the sanctity of marriage. God designed marriage to reflect his order, and this act turned that order upside down.

Biblical connections

The punishment reflects the broader principle that God’s people must be holy because God is holy. Serious sin required serious action to protect the community from corruption. This principle continues in the New Testament, where the church is told to remove unrepentant sin from its midst, as in 1 Corinthians 5. There, Paul instructs the church to expel a man living in sexual immorality, so that the church remains pure. The goal was not revenge but restoration and protection. God’s holiness demands that his people take sin seriously, and the church today must uphold that standard with love and truth.

Application

While the civil and ceremonial laws of the Old Covenant are not binding on Christians today, the moral principles remain. This verse calls believers to honor God’s design for marriage and family, to avoid sexual immorality, and to keep the church pure. It also reminds us that sin is serious and must be dealt with seriously. For today, this passage calls believers to examine their own lives for any form of sexual immorality, to uphold the sanctity of marriage, and to maintain purity in the church. It also points to the seriousness of sin and the need for repentance and grace through Christ, who bore the penalty of sin for his people.

Reflection

The harsh penalty points to the holiness of God and the destructive nature of sin. Yet through Christ, who bore the penalty for sin, believers receive forgiveness and grace. This passage urges us to examine our own lives, uphold the sanctity of marriage, and rely on God’s mercy while pursuing purity. The law shows us our need for a Savior, and the gospel provides that Savior. As we reflect on this verse, we can thank God for his justice and his mercy, and we can commit to living in a way that honors him.