The Verses in Question

Leviticus 18:22 (NIV)
Do not have sexual relations with a man as one does with a woman; that is detestable.
Leviticus 20:13 (NIV)
If a man has sexual relations with a man as one does with a woman, both of them have done what is detestable. They are to be put to death; their blood will be on their own heads.

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The Traditional View:

These verses clearly condemn all same-sex sexual activity.

The term “abomination” is read as referring to universal moral evil.

Because the death penalty is prescribed in Leviticus 20, some believe this shows God’s intense disapproval.

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The Context:

Both of these verses sit inside a broader purity code in Leviticus 17–26, sometimes called the Holiness Code, which outlines ancient Israel’s ritual, ethical, and communal practices to distinguish them from surrounding nations.

But let’s expand Leviticus 18 a bit. Verses 6-23 have a pretty common theme:

“Do not have sex with any close relatives.

Do not have sex with with your mother. 

Do not have sex with with your father’s wife.

Do not have sex with your sister.

Do not have sex with your son’s daughter or your daughter’s daughter.

Do not have sex with the daughter of your father’s wife.

Do not have sex with your father’s sister.

Do not have sex with your mother’s sister.

Do not have sex with your father’s brother’s wife.

Do not have sex with your daughter-in-law. 

Do not have sex with your brother’s wife.

Do not have sex with both a woman and her daughter.

Do not have sex with your wife’s sister. 

Do not have sex with a woman during the uncleanness of her monthly period.

Do not have sex with your neighbor’s wife.

Do not give any of your children to be sacrificed to Molek, for you must not profane the name of your God. I am the Lord.

Do not have sex with a man as one does with a woman; that is detestable.

Do not have sex with an animal.”

The theme persists until we get to 18:21, a seemingly random verse that leads into the well-known Leviticus 18:22. But, it’s not random. It’s in the Bible for a reason. So what’s the context?

A cultic practice of sacrifices and temple worship involving male prostitutes. Moses is calling Christians to not participate in this pagan ritual that was common in the area at the time. 

Why the Holiness Code Mattered Then?

The Holiness Code (Leviticus 17–26) was never meant to be a universal moral rulebook for all people at all times. Instead, it was a covenantal agreement between God and ancient Israel—a newly freed people learning how to live differently from the violent, exploitative cultures around them.

These laws served as boundary markers, distinguishing Israel as set apart (holy) for God’s purposes. The purity rituals of what to eat, wear, touch, or who to have sex with weren’t about eternal salvation or inherent morality, but about shaping identity and allegiance to Yahweh over neighboring gods and practices.

At the time, ancient Israel was surrounded by Canaanite and other pagan cultures that included ritual sex, temple prostitution, and child sacrifice as part of their worship. Many scholars believe Leviticus 18:22 and 20:13 are best understood as prohibitions against participating in these foreign cultic practices, rather than blanket moral judgments against LGBTQ people.

Leviticus 20:26 summarizes the intent: “You are to be holy to me because I, the Lord, am holy, and I have set you apart from the nations to be my own.”

Understanding the Holiness Code in its historical context helps us see why some rules were temporary cultural prescriptions—not eternal divine decrees.

 

More on this with tons of sources at Future Church Now & Roger Farnworth

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The Modern View:

1. What Does “Abomination” Mean?

The Hebrew word to’evah often refers to ritual impurity, not universal moral evil.

It is used for dozens of other acts that Christians no longer consider sinful:

• Eating pork (Deut 14:3)
• Wearing mixed fabrics (Lev 19:19)
• Menstruation sex (Ezek 18:6, Lev 18:19)
• Dishonest business (Prov 20:10)
• Women wearing pants (Deut 22:5)
• Leaders who hate justice (Micah 3:9)

2. Inconsistency in Application

When the early church was deciding which laws to keep for Gentile believers (Acts 15), they did not include Leviticus 18:22 or 20:13.

Christians today do not enforce the majority of Levitical laws because we have the New Testament teachings that Jesus came to fulfill the law and teach us that loving others is the greater commandment.

By calling this covenant ‘new,’ He has made the first one obsolete. Hebrews 8:13:

Today, most Christians eat shellfish, wear blended fabrics, and disregard menstruation laws—yet only the same-sex prohibitions are treated as morally binding.

Could it be that the ones historically in the pulpits (the straight, white, cis-gender males) have brought some bias to their teachings?

3. Jesus NEVER Mentioned It

Jesus refers to many laws, but NEVER mentions same-sex sex. 

He does, however, consistently focus on love, mercy, and justice:

Here are a few examples where Jesus emphasizes people, love, compassion, or community over strict adherence to religious law or tradition

 

• Matthew 22:37–40 (also Mark 12:30–31, Luke 10:25–28) – The Greatest Commandment
• Mark 2:23–28 (also Matthew 12:1–8, Luke 6:1–5) – Lord of the Sabbath
• Matthew 12:9–14 (also Luke 6:6–11) – Healing on the Sabbath
• John 13:34–35 – Love as the defining mark of true discipleship
• Matthew 9:10–13 – Mercy Over Sacrifice
• John 8:1–11 – Grace over legal punishment.
• Luke 14:1–6 – Compassion over rules
• Matthew 15:1–11 (also Mark 7:1–13) – Meeting one’s needs over laws.
• Luke 10:25–37 – The Good Samaritan
• Matthew 23:23–24 – Neglecting the Weightier Matters
• Luke 13:10–17 – Hypocrisy is allowing suffering instead of showing love
• Luke 7:36–50 – Love stronger than sins
• Matthew 5:17–48 – The Fulfillment of the Law-Love your enemies
• Luke 18:9–14 – The Pharisee and the Tax Collector

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The Takeaway 

• These verses are not about modern LGBTQ relationships, but about ritual purity and cultural boundaries.

• “Abomination” meant ritually taboo, not morally evil.

• These texts cannot be lifted from their cultural setting without hypocrisy unless we also enforce the rest of the purity code.

• Jesus never cites Leviticus 18 or 20 + Paul and the early church moved away from enforcing the Levitical law.

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Resources

• James V. Brownson – Bible, Gender, Sexuality

• Matthew Vines – God and the Gay Christian

• Daniel A. Helminiak – What the Bible Really Says About Homosexuality

• William Countryman – Dirt, Greed, and Sex

• The Reformation Project – Article 
• Resources for Church Leaders wrestling with LGBTQ questions: Small Church Big Table

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This blog post is part of an ongoing project to explore difficult biblical texts with honesty, care, and curiosity. It will be updated over time with more resources and insights, so please bookmark.

If this helped you, consider sharing it with someone who’s wrestling with the same questions. You’re not alone.

Be well,
David

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Leviticus 18