The Sexual Ethics of Leviticus 18 and 20
Leviticus 18 and 20 contain the most comprehensive sexual ethics in the Old Testament. The regulations address incest (Leviticus 18:6–18), adultery (Leviticus 18:20), child sacrifice (Leviticus 18:21), same-sex intercourse (Leviticus 18:22), and bestiality (Leviticus 18:23). The framing of these prohibitions is significant: they are introduced with the warning not to follow the practices of Egypt or Canaan (Leviticus 18:3) and concluded with the statement that these practices defiled the land and caused it to "vomit out its inhabitants" (Leviticus 18:25). The sexual ethics of Leviticus are thus not arbitrary cultural conventions but expressions of the created order that God has established — violations of which have consequences for the entire community and the land itself.
The theological rationale for the sexual prohibitions is the holiness of God: "You shall be holy, for I the LORD your God am holy" (Leviticus 19:2). Sexual ethics in Leviticus are not merely social regulations but theological statements about the character of the God who created human sexuality and the boundaries within which it is to be expressed. Gordon Wenham's analysis in The Book of Leviticus (1979) argues that the sexual prohibitions reflect the same concern for wholeness and completeness that underlies the purity laws: sexual relationships that violate the boundaries of the created order are "abominations" (tôʿēbāh) because they distort the image of God in human beings.
Contemporary Debates and Hermeneutical Challenges
The sexual ethics of Leviticus have become flashpoints in contemporary debates about human sexuality, particularly regarding same-sex relationships. The prohibition of male same-sex intercourse in Leviticus 18:22 and 20:13 is one of the six biblical texts that address same-sex behavior, and its interpretation is contested. Some scholars argue that the prohibition addresses specific forms of same-sex behavior in the ancient Near Eastern context (e.g., cultic prostitution or exploitative relationships) rather than committed same-sex partnerships. Others argue that the prohibition is categorical and reflects the created order of male-female complementarity established in Genesis 1–2.
The hermeneutical challenge is significant: how do the sexual ethics of Leviticus apply to Christians who are not under the Mosaic covenant? The New Testament's reaffirmation of the sexual prohibitions of Leviticus — Paul's use of the same language in Romans 1:26–27 and 1 Corinthians 6:9 — suggests that these prohibitions reflect the moral law rather than the ceremonial law and therefore retain their authority in the new covenant. The most careful approach recognizes that the sexual ethics of Leviticus are grounded in the theology of creation and the character of God, not merely in Mosaic cultural conventions, and that their New Testament reaffirmation confirms their enduring authority.
Pastoral Counseling and Sexual Ethics
The sexual ethics of Leviticus have direct implications for pastoral counseling. Counselors who understand the theological grounding of sexual ethics — in the holiness of God, the created order, and the dignity of human beings as image-bearers — will be equipped to address sexual brokenness with both theological conviction and pastoral compassion. The goal of pastoral counseling in this area is not merely behavioral compliance but the restoration of the whole person to the image of God — a goal that requires both the proclamation of God's standards and the offer of God's grace.
The pastoral challenge is to hold together the truth of God's design for human sexuality and the compassion of God for those who have experienced sexual brokenness — whether through their own choices or through the choices of others. The Levitical sexual ethics are not a weapon to be wielded against the vulnerable but a vision of human flourishing to be offered with grace and wisdom. Counselors who embody this combination of truth and grace will be equipped to minister effectively to those struggling with sexual identity, sexual addiction, and the consequences of sexual sin.
Implications for Ministry and Credentialing
The sexual ethics of Leviticus provide a theological foundation for pastoral counseling that holds together God's design for human sexuality and God's compassion for those experiencing sexual brokenness. Counselors who understand this foundation will be equipped to minister with both conviction and grace. Abide University offers pastoral counseling programs that integrate biblical ethics with clinical wisdom.
For ministry professionals seeking to formalize their expertise, the Abide University Retroactive Assessment Program offers a pathway to academic credentialing that recognizes prior learning and pastoral experience.
References
- Wenham, Gordon J.. The Book of Leviticus. New International Commentary, Eerdmans, 1979.
- Milgrom, Jacob. Leviticus 17–22. Anchor Bible, Doubleday, 2000.
- Gagnon, Robert A.J.. The Bible and Homosexual Practice: Texts and Hermeneutics. Abingdon Press, 2001.
- Hartley, John E.. Leviticus. Word Biblical Commentary, Word Books, 1992.
- Jones, Stanton L.. Homosexuality: The Use of Scientific Research in the Church's Moral Debate. IVP, 2000.