(Leviticus 20:1-3)
Connecting with the unjust practices of Pagan lands, Hashem then commands Jews not to give our children to Molech. Anyone who gives his or her child to Molech
Shall be put to death by stoning.
Hashem will set His face against the person.
The person will be cut off.
(Leviticus 20:8-9)
This final section begins with another prohibition against insulting your father and mother. Just as a parent should not insult the child by offering him her to Molech, so the child should not likewise insult the partner. Just as the parent is put to death for harming the child, so a child will be put to death for insulting a parent.
Insulting one’s father or mother causes blood guilt since the father and mother are one’s elders. Thus, as elders, we are to respect them. They also are the ones who gave us life. So, insulting them shows disrespect for your own life. It also disrespects Hashem who used your parents to bring you to life. Again, if you have parents who are far from Hashem there is a way to respect them without following their ways, as we saw…
וְכִֽי־יָג֧וּר אִתְּךָ֛ גֵּ֖ר בְּאַרְצְכֶ֑ם לֹ֥א תוֹנ֖וּ אֹתֽוֹ׃
33 And if a stranger sojourn with thee in your land, ye shall not do him wrong.
כְּאֶזְרָ֣ח מִכֶּם֩ יִהְיֶ֨ה לָכֶ֜ם הַגֵּ֣ר ׀ הַגָּ֣ר אִתְּכֶ֗ם וְאָהַבְתָּ֥ לוֹ֙ כָּמ֔וֹךָ כִּֽי־גֵרִ֥ים הֱיִיתֶ֖ם בְּאֶ֣רֶץ מִצְרָ֑יִם אֲנִ֖י יְהֹוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֵיכֶֽם׃
34 The stranger that sojourneth with you shall be unto you as the home-born among you, and thou shalt love him as thyself; for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God.
לֹא־תַעֲשׂ֥וּ עָ֖וֶל בַּמִּשְׁפָּ֑ט בַּמִּדָּ֕ה בַּמִּשְׁקָ֖ל וּבַמְּשׂוּרָֽה׃
וּשְׁמַרְתֶּם֙ אֶת־חֻקֹּתַ֔י וַעֲשִׂיתֶ֖ם אֹתָ֑ם אֲנִ֥י יְהֹוָ֖ה מְקַדִּשְׁכֶֽם׃
8 And keep ye My statutes, and do them: I am the LORD who sanctify you.
כִּֽי־אִ֣ישׁ אִ֗ישׁ אֲשֶׁ֨ר יְקַלֵּ֧ל אֶת־אָבִ֛יו וְאֶת־אִמּ֖וֹ מ֣וֹת יוּמָ֑ת אָבִ֧יו וְאִמּ֛וֹ קִלֵּ֖ל דָּמָ֥יו בּֽוֹ׃
9 For whatsoever man there be that curseth his father or his mother shall surely be put to death; he hath cursed his father or his mother; his blood shall be upon him.
וְאִ֗ישׁ אֲשֶׁ֤ר יִנְאַף֙ אֶת־אֵ֣שֶׁת אִ֔ישׁ אֲשֶׁ֥ר יִנְאַ֖ף אֶת־אֵ֣שֶׁת רֵעֵ֑הוּ מֽוֹת־יוּמַ֥ת הַנֹּאֵ֖ף וְהַנֹּאָֽפֶת׃
