Blasphemy

Leviticus 24:16

“Anyone who blasphemes the name of the LORD is to be put to death. The entire assembly must stone them. Whether foreigner or native-born, when they blaspheme the Name they are to be put to death.”

To “blaspheme the name of the Lord” is to curse the Lord’s name. If someone were charged with this sin and it were proven they would be put to death. There would be no excuses like, “I’m sorry” or “I was angry”, if guilty you would be put to death. Blasphemy is at least as bad as the sin of murder… because they both carry the same punishment.

Some say the sin of blasphemy is the worst sin that can be committed because it is not a sin against another human being but a sin against God.

Blasphemy is also a sin in the New Testament(although there is no provision for man to be punished… on earth).

There is something else about blasphemy that is interesting. Christians can cause others to blaspheme God by their actions.

Romans 2:24

“Thou that sayest a man should not commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery? thou that abhorrest idols, dost thou commit sacrilege? Thou that makest thy boast of the law, through breaking the law dishonourest thou God?

For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you…”

We can cause people to sin the sin of blasphemy by being hypocrites. If we call ourselves Christians and then don’t act like Christians we cause God’s name to be blasphemed by those who look at us and say things like, “God's followers say one thing and do another”.

God’s name is blasphemed by those who observe our hypocrisy and we are responsible for it.

It is imperative that Christians live sin free lives for several reasons; one of which is to prevent the sin of blasphemy.