And thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel, saying, Whosoever curseth his God shall bear his sin.
Whoever curses his God is guilty and must bear responsibility for that sin. The law to that effect was announced after a man who blasphemed God's name was sentenced to death. Blasphemy was punished with death, and that punishment applied equally to foreigners and to Israelites.
Malicious and irreverent words against God are a grave and serious offense, and His name is to be held in reverence. Punishing the offense warns others to revere God's name and prevents the harm that would follow if it went unpunished. Willful Sabbath-breaking received the same death penalty as blasphemy, because both acts expressed contempt for God's authority.
The severity of that penalty does not mean the command against blasphemy or the Sabbath was only for Jews, since that reasoning would undermine the other commandments as well. God does not now punish violations of His law with temporal penalties, but those who violate His sacred precepts will face death in the final judgment.
Whoever curses his God is guilty and must bear responsibility for that sin. The law to that effect was announced after a man who blasphemed God's name was sentenced to death. Blasphemy was punished with death, and that punishment applied equally to foreigners and to Israelites.
Malicious and irreverent words against God are a grave and serious offense, and His name is to be held in reverence. Punishing the offense warns others to revere God's name and prevents the harm that would follow if it went unpunished. Willful Sabbath-breaking received the same death penalty as blasphemy, because both acts expressed contempt for God's authority.
The severity of that penalty does not mean the command against blasphemy or the Sabbath was only for Jews, since that reasoning would undermine the other commandments as well. God does not now punish violations of His law with temporal penalties, but those who violate His sacred precepts will face death in the final judgment.