By the time of the New Testament, sexual ethics are clarified (1 Corinthians 5–7; 1 Thessalonians 4:3–8). Incidents of incest in the Old Testament (e.g., Lot’s daughters in Genesis 19, Judah and Tamar in Genesis 38) are descriptive, not prescriptive—they show what happened, not what God approved. The New Testament frames such acts as sinful if they contradict God’s moral design.

Jesus and the apostles reaffirmed God’s creation order and moral law, emphasizing purity and holiness in sexual relationships (Matthew 19:4–6; 1 Corinthians 6:18–20). This implicitly includes prohibitions against incestuous relationships.

God’s way of ordering the world is always wise, even when we do not fully understand His reasons. He created humanity beginning with just two people, and because He is perfect in His purposes, we can trust that what He allowed for a time was acceptable for humanity to grow and spread.

During humanity’s early history, there were many sins that God appeared to overlook. Paul called these “the times of ignorance,” saying that God passed over them because He was waiting to send His Son to provide forgiveness for sin. Now that Jesus has come, God “commands all people everywhere to repent” (Acts 17:30). Rather than worrying about why people long ago lived differently, God calls each of us to consider our own sin and guilt. He will judge those in the past according to the knowledge they had, but He will judge you according to the far greater knowledge you possess now that Christ has come.

What does it mean that Jesus came? God sent Him so sinners could be rescued from the judgment we earned. Jesus lived the perfectly obedient life none of us has lived and then offered Himself on the cross in our place. There, He bore God’s wrath against sin so that we would not have to. His resurrection proved that His sacrifice was accepted and that forgiveness is truly available.

To be saved from God’s wrath, you must repent (turn from your sin) and trust in Christ alone. If you have never done so, we urge you to do that now! Everyone who comes to Him in faith is welcomed and forgiven. Then seek a Bible-believing church to help you grow.

Know also that those who refuse to repent will bear their own judgment forever. Please turn to Christ today while the opportunity remains.