◄ Leviticus 20:23 ►
You must not follow the statutes of the nations I am driving out before you. Because they did all these things, I abhorred them.
Study Bible
You must not walk
The phrase "walk" in Hebrew is "halak," which often signifies a way of life or conduct. In the biblical context, it implies living according to certain principles or behaviors. Here, God commands the Israelites to avoid adopting the lifestyle and practices of the surrounding nations. This directive underscores the importance of living a life set apart, reflecting God's holiness and righteousness.

in the customs
The Hebrew word for "customs" is "chuqqah," which refers to statutes, ordinances, or prescribed practices. These customs were often tied to religious rituals and moral behaviors that were contrary to God's laws. The Israelites were to reject these practices to maintain their covenant relationship with God and to avoid the moral and spiritual corruption that these customs represented.

of the nations
The term "nations" translates to "goyim" in Hebrew, referring to the Gentile peoples surrounding Israel. These nations were often characterized by idolatry and practices that were detestable to God. The Israelites were called to be distinct from these nations, serving as a light and example of God's holiness and truth.

I am driving out before you
This phrase highlights God's active role in the conquest of Canaan. The Hebrew verb "yarash" means to dispossess or drive out. It emphasizes God's sovereignty and judgment against the nations due to their sinful practices. The Israelites were to understand that their inheritance of the land was a divine act, contingent upon their obedience and faithfulness to God.

because they did all these things
This clause refers to the abominable practices of the Canaanites, which included idolatry, child sacrifice, and various forms of immorality. The phrase serves as a warning to the Israelites about the consequences of such actions. It underscores the principle that sin leads to judgment and separation from God.

and I abhorred them
The word "abhorred" comes from the Hebrew "quts," meaning to loathe or detest. This strong language conveys God's intense displeasure with the sinful practices of the nations. It serves as a reminder of God's holiness and the seriousness with which He views sin. The Israelites were to understand that adopting these practices would lead to their own rejection by God.

Persons / Places / Events
1. The Israelites
The chosen people of God, who are being instructed on how to live in a way that is distinct from the surrounding nations.

2. The Nations
Refers to the Canaanite nations that inhabited the Promised Land before the Israelites. These nations practiced customs that were detestable to God.

3. God (Yahweh)
The one true God who is giving these commands to His people, emphasizing His holiness and the need for His people to be set apart.

4. The Promised Land
The land of Canaan, which God promised to the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. It is a land that the Israelites are to inherit, contingent upon their obedience to God.

5. Moses
The leader of the Israelites who is conveying God's laws and commands to the people.
Teaching Points
Holiness and Separation
God calls His people to be holy and separate from the world. This involves rejecting practices and customs that are contrary to His will.

Cultural Discernment
Believers must exercise discernment in engaging with cultural practices, ensuring they align with biblical principles.

Obedience to God
The call to avoid the customs of the nations is a call to obedience, recognizing that God's ways are higher and lead to life.

God's Abhorrence of Sin
Understanding that God abhors certain practices should motivate believers to pursue righteousness and avoid sin.

Identity in Christ
Just as the Israelites were called to be distinct, Christians are called to find their identity in Christ and live according to His standards.
Bible Study Questions
1. What specific customs or practices of the surrounding nations were the Israelites warned against, and why were these detestable to God?

2. How can we apply the principle of being set apart in our modern context, especially in areas where cultural practices conflict with biblical teachings?

3. In what ways does the New Testament reinforce the call to holiness and separation found in Leviticus 20:23?

4. How can understanding God's abhorrence of certain practices help us in our personal walk with Him?

5. What steps can we take to ensure that our identity is rooted in Christ and not influenced by the prevailing culture around us?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Deuteronomy 18:9-14
This passage also warns the Israelites against adopting the detestable practices of the nations they are dispossessing, emphasizing the need for purity and obedience to God.

1 Peter 1:14-16
Peter calls believers to be holy in all their conduct, echoing the call to be distinct from the world, similar to the call in Leviticus.

Romans 12:2
Paul urges believers not to conform to the patterns of this world, but to be transformed by the renewing of their minds, aligning with the call in Leviticus to avoid the customs of the nations.
Sermons
God's Displeasure with OurselvesW. Clarkson Leviticus 20:23
Punishments Assigned to Presumptuous SinsR.A. Redford Leviticus 20:1-27
Sin unto DeathJ.A. Macdonald Leviticus 20:1-27
LapidationM. M. Kalisch, Ph. D.Leviticus 20:2-27
Penal SanctionsS. H. Kellogg, D. D.Leviticus 20:2-27
People
Molech, Moses
Places
Teman
Topics
Abhorred, Abomination, Cast, Casting, Committed, Customs, Drive, Driving, Follow, Manners, Moreover, Nation, Nations, Reason, Rules, Sending, Soul, Statutes, Walk, Wearied
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Leviticus 20:23

     5286   custom
     7530   foreigners
     8217   conformity
     8428   example
     8449   imitating
     8736   evil, warnings against

Leviticus 20:22-24

     4208   land, divine responsibility

Leviticus 20:22-26

     7340   clean and unclean

Leviticus 20:23-24

     5354   invasions
     7525   exclusiveness

Leviticus 20:23-26

     8269   holiness, separation from worldly
     8273   holiness, ethical aspects

Library
Tenth Day. Holiness and Separation.
I am the Lord your God, which have separated you from other people. And ye shall be holy unto me, for I the Lord am holy, and have separated you from other people that ye should be Mine.'--Lev. xx. 24, 26. 'Until the days be fulfilled, in the which he separateth himself unto the Lord, he shall be holy.... All the days of his separation he is holy unto the Lord.'--Num. vi. 5, 8. 'Wherefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people through His own blood, suffered without the …
Andrew Murray—Holy in Christ

Seventh Day. Holiness and Obedience.
Ye have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles' wings, and brought you unto myself. Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: ye shall be unto me an holy nation.'--Ex. xix. 4-6. Israel has reached Horeb. The law is to be given and the covenant made. Here are God's first words to the people; He speaks of redemption and its blessing, fellowship with Himself: 'Ye have seen how I brought …
Andrew Murray—Holy in Christ

Annunciation to Joseph of the Birth of Jesus.
(at Nazareth, b.c. 5.) ^A Matt. I. 18-25. ^a 18 Now the birth [The birth of Jesus is to handled with reverential awe. We are not to probe into its mysteries with presumptuous curiosity. The birth of common persons is mysterious enough (Eccl. ix. 5; Ps. cxxxix. 13-16), and we do not well, therefore, if we seek to be wise above what is written as to the birth of the Son of God] of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When his mother Mary had been betrothed [The Jews were usually betrothed ten or twelve months …
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

Self-Denial.
"If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me."--Matt. xvi. 24. Good works are not the saint's sanctification, any more than drops of water are the fountain; but they spring as crystal drops from the fountain of sanctification. They are good, not when the saint intends them to be good, but when they conform to the divine law and proceed from a true faith. Yet the intention is of great importance; the Church has always taught that a work could not be called …
Abraham Kuyper—The Work of the Holy Spirit

Epistle Lxiv. To Augustine, Bishop of the Angli .
To Augustine, Bishop of the Angli [174] . Here begins the epistle of the blessed Gregory pope of the city of Rome, in exposition of various matters, which he sent into transmarine Saxony to Augustine, whom he had himself sent in his own stead to preach. Preface.--Through my most beloved son Laurentius, the presbyter, and Peter the monk, I received thy Fraternity's letter, in which thou hast been at pains to question me on many points. But, inasmuch as my aforesaid sons found me afflicted with the …
Saint Gregory the Great—the Epistles of Saint Gregory the Great

Eleventh Day. The Holy one of Israel.
I am the Lord that brought you up out of the land of Egypt, to be your God; ye shall therefore be holy, for I am holy. I the Lord which make you holy, am holy.'--Lev. xi. 45, xxi. 8. 'I am the Lord Thy God, the Holy One of Israel, Thy Saviour. Thus saith the Lord, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: I am the Lord, your Holy One, the Creator of Israel, your King.'--Isa. xliii. 3, 14, 15. In the book of Exodus we found God making provision for the Holiness of His people. In the holy …
Andrew Murray—Holy in Christ

Jesus Fails to Attend the Third Passover.
Scribes Reproach Him for Disregarding Tradition. (Galilee, Probably Capernaum, Spring a.d. 29.) ^A Matt. XV. 1-20; ^B Mark VII. 1-23; ^D John VII. 1. ^d 1 And after these things Jesus walked in Galilee: for he would not walk in Judæa, because the Jews sought to kill him. [John told us in his last chapter that the passover was near at hand. He here makes a general statement which shows that Jesus did not attend this passover. The reason for his absence is given at John v. 18.] ^a 1 Then there …
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

The Holiness of God
The next attribute is God's holiness. Exod 15:51. Glorious in holiness.' Holiness is the most sparkling jewel of his crown; it is the name by which God is known. Psa 111:1. Holy and reverend is his name.' He is the holy One.' Job 6:60. Seraphims cry, Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts, the whole earth is full of his glory.' Isa 6:6. His power makes him mighty, his holiness makes him glorious. God's holiness consists in his perfect love of righteousness, and abhorrence of evil. Of purer eyes than …
Thomas Watson—A Body of Divinity

The Call of Matthew - the Saviour's Welcome to Sinners - Rabbinic Theology as Regards the Doctrine of Forgiveness in Contrast to the Gospel of Christ
In two things chiefly does the fundamental difference appear between Christianity and all other religious systems, notably Rabbinism. And in these two things, therefore, lies the main characteristic of Christ's work; or, taking a wider view, the fundamental idea of all religions. Subjectively, they concern sin and the sinner; or, to put it objectively, the forgiveness of sin and the welcome to the sinner. But Rabbinism, and every other system down to modern humanitarianism - if it rises so high in …
Alfred Edersheim—The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah

Leviticus
The emphasis which modern criticism has very properly laid on the prophetic books and the prophetic element generally in the Old Testament, has had the effect of somewhat diverting popular attention from the priestly contributions to the literature and religion of Israel. From this neglect Leviticus has suffered most. Yet for many reasons it is worthy of close attention; it is the deliberate expression of the priestly mind of Israel at its best, and it thus forms a welcome foil to the unattractive …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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