在十七章，上帝頒佈了兩項嚴格的律例。第一，所有的祭牲都要在會幕門口宰殺。這個限制帶來的結果將是：（1）藉著唯一的敬拜地點統一以色列國；（2）提醒以色列民，遵守上帝的命令才是正確的敬拜；（3）防止私人獨自的敬拜或獻祭，以免隨從異教徒的習俗，獻祭給鬼魔或外邦神（17：7）。以色列人在埃及時採用了很多拜偶像的習俗，那些都必須停止；有這項預防措施，百姓才不會輕易的犯拜偶像之罪。第七節說他們「行邪淫」，因為拜偶像是違背與上帝所立的約，就如姦淫違背了婚約。上帝稱自己為「忌邪的上帝」（出20：5）就是指這點說的。

        這項限制的主要理由是要使以色列人顯得與異教國家有別；是上帝聖潔的國民，也是為祂所接受的。今天的信徒也需要具有相同的聖潔。雖然值得慶幸的是，這些舊約條例不再適用於我們，不過，我們仍可以學習它們所代表的原則。耶穌是我們的祭壇；祂是那真帳幕（來8：2），我們的讚美祭要獻給祂，也只有透過祂，我們的祭才能得蒙上帝的接納。上帝要我們到祂已指定的地方去敬拜、獻祭。耶穌就是那地方。

        第十七章的第二條律令是嚴禁吃血（17：10~14；參3：17；7：26）。理由很清楚：「活物的生命就在血中」（17：11、14），但最主要的理由是，血是贖罪所用的材料；它是整個獻祭制度的基礎。血對生命，不論人或動物的生命，極為重要；而因為生命是神聖的，所以血也當受尊重（17：13；創9：5~6）。新約教會所頒發的四個守則中就有禁吃血這一項（徒15：29）。血是屬於上帝的，因祂是生命真正的賜予者。這個事實與本章的第一條律令有密切的關係（17：1~9）。祭物的血要在祭司的監看下帶到指定的地方（17：6）。違反此律的人必當流血的罪，刑罰之重甚至要將其人從民中「剪除」（17：4），意指處死或放逐。上帝用血向人類表明，只有藉著流血才可能除罪，人也才可能與上帝相交（來9：14、22）。

        十八章注重的是百姓的聖潔和他們與人的關係。我們可能不明白聖經怎麼會提及這些事（亂倫，18：6~18；姦淫18：20；同性戀18：22；與獸淫合18：23；把人獻為祭18：21），但這些確實是他們周圍那些異教國家，包括迦南地，所流行的行為。作為與上帝立約之民，以色列人必須與異教徒截然不同。第十八章共六次警告他們不可效法異教徒的行為（兩次在第三節，其餘在24、26、27節）。以色列人要保持清潔、不受玷污，並遵守主道，這樣才是履行他們的義務。上帝聲稱：「我是耶和華──你們的上帝」（18：2），也因此祂有權柄定這些命令。這些命令並非沒有應許，因為上帝應許，遵行命令的人就必「因此活著」。舊約並沒有澄清這「活著」究竟包含什麼。但新約給了我們一些亮光：豐盛、完滿、真實、永恆的生命；人唯有藉著基督的贖罪和遵守祂的道才能得到這樣的生命。

        雖然舊約中的禮法因基督的功勞已不再適用於今天的我們，但如十八章中的那些道德律仍舊有效。這章所列舉的「可憎之事」都違反了上帝的律和自然的法則。行這些事人必導致敗壞和死亡（18：29）。上帝厭惡這些罪，但祂愛罪人，並希望罪人悔改、得生命。但假使一人持續犯罪，他必要受處分，若不在今生，就是在死後落入永死和地獄的火。迦南人和亞摩利人不悔改他們的罪行，因此他們的刑罰就是從該地被吐出（18：24、25、28；參創15：16），代之以以色列人。

        主耶和華，求施恩使我們能順服您，永遠做討您喜悅的事，而不做那些您所厭惡的事。奉主耶穌基督聖名，阿們！

English

        Two strict laws were given by God in chapter 17. Firstly, all sacrifices were to be slaughtered at the door of the tabernacle. The result of this restriction would be: (1) to unify the nation around one place of worship; (2) to remind the people that proper worship of God was done through following His commands; and (3) to prevent any independent worship or sacrificing which could lead to bad influences of pagan practices, such as sacrificing to devils or pagan gods (17:7). Israel had adopted much idolatry in Egypt and this had to stop; therefore, precautions were taken that they may not easily fall into this sin. They were said to have “played the harlot” (17:7), for idolatry was a breach of the covenant, just as adultery is a breach of the marriage covenant. It is in this context that God called Himself “a jealous God” (Ex.20:5).

        The main reason for such restriction is to show Israel as different from the pagan nations; as holy unto the Lord God and acceptable to Him. This same holiness is required of believers today, though these Old Covenant ceremonial regulations gladly do not apply to us. Nonetheless, we may learn from their principles. Jesus is our altar; He is the true tabernacle (Heb.8:2), and to Him our sacrifices acceptable to God. God demands that we go to the place He has prescribed and ordained. We find that place in Jesus.

        A second strict law in chapter 17 stressed the prohibition of eating blood (17:10-14; cf.3:17; 7:26). The reason was clearly stated: “the life of the flesh is in the blood” (17:11, 14), but the main reason is that it was the means of atonement; it is the basis of the whole sacrificial system. Blood is vital to life, be it a human’s or an animal’s, and since life is sacred, blood had to be treated with respect (17:13’ Gen.9:5-6). Even one of the four rulings of the New Covenant church was to abstain from blood (Acts 15:29). The blood belongs to God, since He is the real life-giver. This fact ties into the first law given in this chapter (17:1-9). The blood of the sacrificed animal was to be brought to the prescribed place under the oversight of a priest (17:6). If this was disobeyed, the person was guilty of shedding blood wrongly and was given the severe penalty of being “cut off” (17:4), a reference to either death or exile. God used the blood to show mankind that it is only through the shedding of blood that remission for sin and communion with Him is made possible (Heb.9:14, 22).

        Chapter 18 deals with the sacredness of people and relationships. We may wonder why some of these things (incest, 18:6-18; adultery, 18:21; homosexuality, 18:22; bestiality, 18:23; human sacrifice, 18:21) were even mentioned, but these were commonly practiced in the surrounding heathen nations, including Canaan. As the Lord’s covenant people, the Israelites were to be drastically different from the heathen. Sis times in chapter 18 they were warned against following their example (two times in verse 3, also in verses 24, 26, 27). They were to be pure and undefiled and to walk in the ways of the Lord, thus fulfilling their covenant obligation. God declared, “I am the Lord your God” (18:2) and as such He had the authority to make these commands. They were not given without a promise, for the one who followed them would “live by them”. The Old Testament does not clarify what exactly this “living” entails, but the New Testament may shed some light on the meaning: abundant, full, true, and eternal life, found only through Christ’s redemption and by following His ways.

        Although the Old Covenant ceremonial laws no longer apply to us today, since they were fulfilled in Christ, the moral laws such as these still do. The “abominations” listed in this chapter are contrary to the ways of the Lord and to nature. The practice of such things leads to ruin and death (18:29). God hates these sins, but loves the sinner and desires to see him come to repentance that he may have life But if one continues in sin, he will surely be punished, if not in this lifetime, then in the life hereafter with eternal death and hell-fire. The Canaanites and Amorites had not repented of their evil practices, thus their punishment was that they were to be vomited out of the land. (18:24; 25, 28; cf.Gen.15:16) and replaced by the Israelites.

        Lord God, please give us Your grace so that we may live in obedience to You, always doing those things that please You and not those things that displease You.