“‘Do not dishonor your father by having sexual relations
with your mother. She is your mother; do not have relations with her.
“‘Do not have sexual relations with your father’s wife;
that would dishonor your father.
“‘Do not have sexual relations with your sister, either
your father’s daughter or your mother’s daughter, whether she was born in the
same home or elsewhere.
“‘Do not have sexual relations with your son’s daughter
or your daughter’s daughter; that would dishonor you.
“‘Do not have sexual relations with the daughter of your
father’s wife, born to your father; she is your sister.” Leviticus 18:7-11
The thought of some of these sexual relations disgusts
us, but these things do happen—then and today.
Have you watched “Jerry Springer”?
God wanted to be clear about what he meant by
inappropriate sexual activity outside of the marriage of a man and a
woman. There’s no room for “Yeah,
but…” The repetition and specificity
points directly at no, no, no, no, no, no!
It also shows that family lines, not just blood lines, are off
limits. The daughter of a father’s wife
means stepchildren could not marry (that means you, Greg and Marcia Brady).
God wanted to be clear so he exposed all the
possibilities, leaving little room for doubt.