Today’s devotion comes from Leviticus 20:9-21. Here is link to these verses – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Leviticus%2020&version=NASB1995
I quote only the following verses.
“‘If there is a man who commits adultery with another man’s wife, one who commits adultery with his friend’s wife, the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death. If there is a man who lies with his father’s wife, he has uncovered his father’s nakedness; both of them shall surely be put to death, their bloodguiltiness is upon them. If there is a man who lies with his daughter-in-law, both of them shall surely be put to death; they have committed incest, their bloodguiltiness is upon them. If there is a man who lies with a male as those who lie with a woman, both of them have committed a detestable act; they shall surely be put to death. Their bloodguiltiness is upon them. If there is a man who marries a woman and her mother, it is immorality; both he and they shall be burned with fire, so that there will be no immorality in your midst. If there is a man who lies with an animal, he shall surely be put to death; you shall also kill the animal. If there is a woman who approaches any animal to mate with it, you shall kill the woman and the animal; they shall surely be put to death. Their bloodguiltiness is upon them.” Leviticus 20:10-16.
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It should not need to be stated, but to avoid those who want to focus on the death punishment as a means to dismiss this Scripture, the New Testament makes it clear that the Church has neither the duty nor the authority to literally kill those who do any of these things. Rather, the State alone has the authority to render the death punishment, and the Church has the duty to only remove the wicked person from the Church.
Regarding the first point that the State alone (not the Church) has the authority to render the death punishment, consider Romans 13:1-4. I will quote only the following part. “Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God. … for it is a minister of God to you for good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for it does not bear the sword for nothing; for it is a minister of God, an avenger who brings wrath on the one who practices evil.” Romans 13:1 and 4.
Regarding the second point that the Church has the duty to only remove the wicked person from the church, consider the following Scripture.
“It is actually reported that there is immorality among you, and immorality of such a kind as does not exist even among the Gentiles, that someone has his father’s wife. You have become arrogant and have not mourned instead, so that the one who had done this deed would be removed from your midst.
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I wrote you in my letter not to associate with immoral people; I did not at all mean with the immoral people of this world, or with the covetous and swindlers, or with idolaters, for then you would have to go out of the world. But actually, I wrote to you not to associate with any so-called brother if he is an immoral person, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or a swindler—not even to eat with such a one. For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Do you not judge those who are within the church? But those who are outside, God judges. REMOVE THE WICKED MAN FROM AMONG YOURSELVES.” 1 Corinthians 5:1-2 and 9-13.
Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions 