Bible Summary:

God tells Moses to remind the people of Israel to obey His laws and sets the penalty of stoning to death for the following:

• Worshiping other gods, specifically Molech. If the people will not stone the person, then God will turn against him and his whole family.
• Consulting the spirits of the dead or seeking advice from someone who does.
• Cursing your father or mother.
• Committing adultery, incest, bestiality or homosexuality. Both involved are guilty.

My Thoughts:

Penalties: Stoning to death seems extreme but was likely a very effective deterrent. Some penalties today seem at the other extreme of too lenient.

Equal Commandments: This chapter shows how all God’s commandments were treated equally – worshiping other gods and cursing parents was just as bad as murder.