Did Jesus Condemn Homosexuality?
Many people who practice homosexuality make the argument that Jesus did not condemn homosexuality.
There are different methods on how to teach a person. There is the explicit method and there is the implicit method. The word "explicitly" is defined as: "fully and clearly expressed or demonstrated." The word "implicitly" is defined as: "involved, indicated, or suggested without being directly or explicitly stated; tacitly understood."
The people who practice homosexuality are therefore asking the question: "Did Jesus fully and clearly express or demonstrate that homosexuality is sinful during his personal ministry?" In other words, did Jesus use the word "homosexuality" at any time during His personal ministry? The answer would be in the negative.
But there is another question that needs to be asked: "Did Jesus indicate, or suggest (without stating directly or explicitly) that homosexuality is sinful during His personal ministry?" The Bible affirms "yes" to this question.
1. Jesus used the word "fornication", which is a word that covers all types of illicit sexual activity, including homosexuality.
Thayer's Greek lexicon defines fornication (porneia) as: "1. to prostitute one's body to the lust of another. In the Scriptures.
2. to give oneself to unlawful sexual intercourse; to commit fornication (Vulgate fornicor): 1 Corinthians 6:18; 10:8; Revelation 2:14,20; (Mark 10:19 WH (rejected) marginal reading).
3. by a Hebraism (see porneia, b.)..." ("porneu/w," Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament, n.p.).
In Matthew 15:17-20, Jesus stated: "Do you not yet understand that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and is eliminated? But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications (porneia), thefts, false witness, blasphemies. These are the things which defile a man, but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile a man."
Jude 1:7 states that "as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities around them in a similar manner to these, having given themselves over to sexual immorality [porneia] (fornication - KJV) and gone after strange flesh, are set forth as an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire."
Major Premise: Jesus stated that "fornications" (porneia) defile a person (Matthew 15:17-20).
Minor Premise: Homosexuality is a type of fornication (Jude 7).
Conclusion: Therefore, homosexuality is a type of fornication that defiles a person.
2. Jesus mentions the cities of Sodom and Gommorah in His personal ministry and states that they would be judged for their wicked behavior (Matthew 10:15; 11:23).
For what sin(s) were Sodom and Gommorah judged? In Genesis 19:4,5, the Bible states: "Now before they lay down, the men of the city, the men of Sodom, both old and young, all the people from every quarter, surrounded the house. And they called to Lot and said to him, "Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us that we may know them (an idiom for sexual intercourse) carnally."
Ezekiel 16:48-50 is found in the context of an indictment against Judah for being so evil and is giving a historical lesson to her by mentioning the other past cities that had been destroyed: " ‘As I live,' says the Lord God, ‘neither your sister Sodom nor her daughters have done as you and your daughters have done. Look, this was the iniquity of your sister Sodom: She and her daughter had pride, fullness of food, and abundance of idleness; neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy. And they were haughty and committed abomination (see Leviticus 20:13) before Me; therefore I took them away as I saw fit.'"
Major Premise: Jesus judged the cities of Sodom and Gommorah for their wicked behavior (Matthew 10:23; 11:20-24).
Minor Premise: Sodom and Gommorah committed the act of homosexuality as well as other sins (Genesis 19:4,5; Ezekiel 16:48-50)
Conclusion: Therefore, Jesus judged the cities of Sodom and Gommorah for the act of homosexuality as well as other sins.
3. Jesus sent the Holy Spirit upon the apostles to guide them into all truth (John 16:12,13; 1 Corinthians 14:37; 1 Corinthians 6:9-11; Romans 1:24-27; 1 Timothy 1:8-11).
Paul states that the things he writes "are the commandments of the Lord" (1 Corinthians 14:37). Paul, as he is guided by the Holy Spirit into all New Testament truth (John 16:13), states that homosexual/lesbian behavior involves vile passions, is against nature, is lustful, is shameful and receives a penalty (Romans 1:18-32) which may include disease, "pre-mature" aging and death; but most assuredly spiritual death which results in not obtaining/forfeiting the eternal inheritance (1 Corinthians 6:9-11).
Major Premise: Jesus revealed all truth through His inspired apostles and prophets (John 16:12,13; 1 Corinthians 14:37; Galatians 1:1,2).
Minor Premise: Paul, an apostle, revealed that homosexuality was a sinful behavior (1 Corinthians 6:9-11; Romans 1:24-27; 1 Timothy 1:8-11).
Conclusion: Therefore, Jesus revealed through Paul that homosexuality was a sinful behavior.
www.thegospelofchrist.com
This material is copyrighted by The Gospel of Christ and its authors. This information is free to use in its entirety without further consent, however, modifications should not be made without contacting mail@thegospelofchrist.com for permission. Any and all images contained herein are believed to be free for all distribution and content.