Jesus never said anything condemning homosexuality, so that must mean it’s okay, right?
Well, based on that argument, you could also say that Jesus never condoned it, either, so that must mean it’s wrong. There’s actually a lot of things Jesus didn’t say, but on the subject of marriage, He said everything He needed to say in Matthew 19:4-6. It’s there He reiterates God’s design for marriage:
“Have you not read that He [God] Who created them from the beginning made them male and female, 5 and said, ‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’? 6 So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.”
…or redefine!
And there you go. In three sentences, Jesus has just given the definition of marriage – which He created, by the way. And anything contrary to that definition is sin, including adultery, divorce, polygamy, pedophilia, and homosexuality.
A few verses later, He says that those are not capable of keeping with this design for marriage should not get married.
Jesus replied, “Moses permitted divorce only as a concession to your hard hearts, but it was not what God had originally intended…
…Jesus’ disciples then said to him, “If this is the case, it is better not to marry!”
“Not everyone can accept this statement,” Jesus said. “Only those whom God helps… some choose not to marry for the sake of the Kingdom of Heaven. He who is able to accept this, let him accept it.” (Matthew 19:8-12)
And He addresses sexual sins in other places like Matthew 15:19-20, where He says that all sexual morality is evil.
For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander. These are what defile a person.
Something else worth noting here: Whatever is written in red letters is no more important than what appears in the Bible in black-and-white. After all, 2 Timothy 3:16 describes all Scripture as being from God.
All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3:16-17)
And in John 16:12-13, Jesus said to His disciples, more teaching was coming through the Holy Spirit – Who is God… just as Christ is.
“I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. 13 But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on His own; He will speak only what He hears, and He will tell you what is yet to come.14 He will glorify me because it is from Me that He will receive what He will make known to you.
So, passages such as:
The men gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error.” (Romans 1:27)
“Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the Kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the Kingdom of God. (1 Corinthians 6:9-10)
Understand that the law is not laid down for the just but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who strike their fathers and mothers, for murderers, the sexually immoral, men who practice homosexuality, enslavers, liars, perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound doctrine.” (1 Timothy 1:9-10)
…which condemn homosexuality as sin are also the words of Christ.
The Old Testament, the Gospels and the Epistles are all God’s word. It is imperative to receive the Bible this way… when we understand the text.
(Many of the Bible stories and verses we think we know, we don’t! When We Understand the Text is an internet-based video ministry committed to righting some of the wrong understanding of scripture, all while advancing the gospel of Jesus Christ. Check out more at WWUTT.com!)