Leviticus: Blasphemy

Separation and Violence

Analysis: What are the key issues of the text?

The story both begins and ends violently. It starts with a fight and ends in death. [Narrate the text]

We may be tempted to label “violence” as the key issue of the text

Yet the text seems to suggest more is at issue here. Violence goes hand in hand with separation

Suggested by “he came out among the people...”

Also suggested by the arc of questioning: what is to be done with the half-jew? Are native and foreigner on equal ground before God?

This separation leads to a lack in understanding, empathy, and thus conflict

Cyclical: The one separated then separates himself by cutting himself off from the people and even from God. Violence begets more violence.

The cycle of separation leads ultimately to total isolation. The cycle of violence leads to the ultimate violence of death. [Consider ways we get sucked into these cycles]

Blasphemy is itself an act of violence, particularly violence against the community

Blasphemy invokes spiritual forces against the life of the one being cursed. It is, in essence, murder and assault by proxy

Thus blasphemy against God endangers the whole community, since it is a violent act of separation from God, the source of all life.

Blasphemy is, in a sense, the height of violence, since it assaults the very source of all life

The whole people are polluted by blasphemy (thus v. 13)

Blasphemy creates a kind of field of corruption

individual/communal sin paradigm

Thus the community must deal with the one who sowed such discord and brought the community into danger in this way. C.f. 1 Cor 5:11-13

The New Revised Standard Version Sexual Immorality Must Be Judged

But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother or sister who is sexually immoral or greedy, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or robber. Do not even eat with such a one. 12 For what have I to do with judging those outside? Is it not those who are inside that you are to judge? 13 God will judge those outside. “Drive out the wicked person from among you.”

Justice and Certainty

This raises more questions, particularly with regard to justice

What should the extent of punishment be? We must respond to violence, especially blasphemous violence against God. But how?

The Issue: Blasphemy is obviously a crime, but the Law provided no clear response for such a transgression

Recourse: the people turn to Moses, then to God for help

Rationality and Spirituality intertwined: theology is an immersion in life of prayer

There is not always clear instruction for choices in life. Scripture does not provide every answer. Then what?

In absence of certainty, we seek guidance from God via scripture, the Church, and the life of prayer

Scripture already provided some general guidance about similar issues. This is helpful, even if not a complete answer

Moses was asked as an expert on Torah, and even he is unsure

Final resort is to turn to prayer and wait on the Lord

Answer: blasphemers must be treated alike: Native and Foreigner have one law

God resists the urge to separate and divide further in the face of already present division. Justice cannot be partial.

But why death? Logic of the ruling

Hierarchy of values: animals, humans, God (v. 17-22)

Taking the Name in vain is a grave crime (Exod 20:7, Exod 22:28)

The New Revised Standard Version The Ten Commandments

You shall not make wrongful use of the name of the LORD your God, for the LORD will not acquit anyone who misuses his name

The New Revised Standard Version Social and Religious Laws

You shall not revile God, or curse a leader of your people.

To curse is as good as to kill (c.f. Matt 5:21-26; Leviticus 20:9; Ex 21:17; Mark 7:10), and cursing a parent results in death

The New Revised Standard Version Concerning Anger

You have heard that it was said to those of ancient times, ‘You shall not murder’; and ‘whoever murders shall be liable to judgment.’ 22 But I say to you that if you are angry with a brother or sister, you will be liable to judgment; and if you insult a brother or sister, you will be liable to the council; and if you say, ‘You fool,’ you will be liable to the hell of fire

The New Revised Standard Version Penalties for Violations of Holiness

All who curse father or mother shall be put to death; having cursed father or mother, their blood is upon them.

The New Revised Standard Version The Tradition of the Elders

For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and your mother’; and, ‘Whoever speaks evil of father or mother must surely die.’ 11 But you say that if anyone tells father or mother, ‘Whatever support you might have had from me is Corban’ (that is, an offering to God)— 12 then you no longer permit doing anything for a father or mother, 13 thus making void the word of God through your tradition that you have handed on. And you do many things like this.”

Murder receives the death penalty (c.f. Ex 21:12-27) because it creates irredeemable spiritual pollution (Num 35:30-34; Gen 9:5-6)

The New Revised Standard Version The Law concerning Violence

Whoever strikes a person mortally shall be put to death.

The New Revised Standard Version Concerning Murder and Blood Revenge

If anyone kills another, the murderer shall be put to death on the evidence of witnesses; but no one shall be put to death on the testimony of a single witness. 31 Moreover you shall accept no ransom for the life of a murderer who is subject to the death penalty; a murderer must be put to death. 32 Nor shall you accept ransom for one who has fled to a city of refuge, enabling the fugitive to return to live in the land before the death of the high priest. 33 You shall not pollute the land in which you live; for blood pollutes the land, and no expiation can be made for the land, for the blood that is shed in it, except by the blood of the one who shed it. 34 You shall not defile the land in which you live, in which I also dwell; for I the LORD dwell among the Israelites.

The New Revised Standard Version The Covenant with Noah

For your own lifeblood I will surely require a reckoning: from every animal I will require it and from human beings, each one for the blood of another, I will require a reckoning for human life.

6 Whoever sheds the blood of a human,

by a human shall that person’s blood be shed;

for in his own image

God made humankind.

(From a and c) To curse the Name is to assault the Father and creator of all

Therefore, to curse God brings death. Curse met with curse: but to be cursed by God is to suffer death, since it is to be cut off from the one who gives life

Lex Talionis: The point

By returning “stripe for stripe” “eye for eye”, etc. God hopes to stop blood feuds and crusades for vengeance.

Even with blasphemy, the person’s punishment is not greater than their crime

Violent acts have the potential to make us violent people in return. The Law calls us to examine our hearts: do we seek justice or vengeance? Do we wish good or evil on the other?

Blasphemy: An even Greater Problem

So the Law shows the gravity of sin whilst limiting unproportional and unjust responses to individual and communal transgressions. It is, by design, intended to call us toward inward reflection.

This quickly raises issues, however. Jewish traditions attempt to circumvent the sin of blasphemy by simply refusing to say the divine name. If the name is not said, one cannot profane or curse the name, right? [Narration: avoidance of tetragrammaton and tradition of “rending one’s garments”]

Yet, blaspheming the name is done by more than just words

c.f. Ezek 20.27-28 (idolatry)

The New Revised Standard Version Israel’s Continuing Rebellion

Therefore, mortal, speak to the house of Israel and say to them, Thus says the Lord GOD: In this again your ancestors blasphemed me, by dealing treacherously with me. 28 For when I had brought them into the land that I swore to give them, then wherever they saw any high hill or any leafy tree, there they offered their sacrifices and presented the provocation of their offering; there they sent up their pleasing odors, and there they poured out their drink offerings.

Ezek 13:3-8 (false prophecy)

The New Revised Standard Version False Prophets Condemned

They have envisioned falsehood and lying divination; they say, “Says the LORD,” when the LORD has not sent them, and yet they wait for the fulfillment of their word! 7 Have you not seen a false vision or uttered a lying divination, when you have said, “Says the LORD,” even though I did not speak?

8 Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: Because you have uttered falsehood and envisioned lies, I am against you, says the Lord GOD.

Is 1:13 (false worship)

The New Revised Standard Version The Wickedness of Judah

When you come to appear before me,

who asked this from your hand?

Trample my courts no more;

13 bringing offerings is futile;

incense is an abomination to me.

New moon and sabbath and calling of convocation—

I cannot endure solemn assemblies with iniquity.

Lev 19:12 (oath taking)

The New Revised Standard Version Ritual and Moral Holiness

And you shall not swear falsely by my name, profaning the name of your God: I am the LORD.

Num 14:6, 11 (lack of faith)

The New Revised Standard Version The People Rebel

And Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh, who were among those who had spied out the land, tore their clothes

The New Revised Standard Version The People Rebel

And the LORD said to Moses, “How long will this people despise me? And how long will they refuse to believe in me, in spite of all the signs that I have done among them?

So to blaspheme God means also to falsely represent him, either by idolatry, lies, false prophecy, or mere lack of faith.

The Law is intended as a call to introspection: to examine our own hearts. If we were to do so, we might see the many ways we each blaspheme the name. However, we twist the law so as to become blind to our own sins. This is evident by the very use of the blasphemy laws to serve our own good.

c.f. Jesus accused of blasphemy, Stephen

We use blasphemy to our own ends (e.g. Jezebel and Naboth)

So now our problem is even greater: we all blaspheme the name, all court death by this blasphemy, but are too blind to see it!

We are eager to rend our garments over the blasphemy of another, and our eagerness to seek out punitive justice and judgment against others who blaspheme reveals our concern is not with justice, but with vengeance and violence.

Christians always eager to decry society [Discuss various culture war talking points]

Discuss Romans 1 trap

The New Revised Standard Version The Guilt of Humankind

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and wickedness of those who by their wickedness suppress the truth

The New Revised Standard Version The Righteous Judgment of God

Therefore you have no excuse, whoever you are, when you judge others; for in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, are doing the very same things

The New Revised Standard Version None Is Righteous

What then? Are we any better off? No, not at all; for we have already charged that all, both Jews and Greeks, are under the power of sin, 10 as it is written:

“There is no one who is righteous, not even one;

11 there is no one who has understanding,

there is no one who seeks God.

12 All have turned aside, together they have become worthless;

there is no one who shows kindness,

there is not even one.”

13 “Their throats are opened graves;

they use their tongues to deceive.”

“The venom of vipers is under their lips.”

14 “Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness.”

15 “Their feet are swift to shed blood;

16 ruin and misery are in their paths,

17 and the way of peace they have not known.”

18 “There is no fear of God before their eyes.”

God willing to be put to death (i.e. the cross). This challenges “eye for an eye”. Call to a deeper way of life

culture as vehicle, progressive revelation

Law reveals gravity of sin and thus of blasphemy. Yet we also see that God responding to us in kind (i.e. “eye for an eye”) leads only to death for all creation

Thus God chooses to simply become accursed. By taking on our curse himself, God stops the cycle of violence and death (c.f. Gal 3:13)

Cross interrupts cycle of hatred and violence offering up an opportunity for life.

Firstly, because God does not respond in kind, we are spared our very lives

Secondly, a lack of violence returned means it is harder for us to get lost in the flurry of blows. We can only see our own wrongdoing, and thus it becomes harder to shift blame away from us, the perpetrators

“Rend your hearts and not your clothing” (Joel 2:12-14)