Was Jesus Silent On Gay Marriage?
Today it is popular among those promoting same-sex marriage to say that Jesus never addressed the issue, that He was silent on the subject.
Those who affirm the historical and traditional understanding of marriage between a man and woman often are admonished to go and read the Bible more carefully. If we do so, we are told we will see that Jesus never addressed the issue. So the question that I want to raise is: "Is this assertion correct?" Is it indeed the fact that Jesus never addresses the issue of same-sex marriage?
Before we go any further let me say this. You will not find in the gospels where Jesus specifically addressed rape. However rape is a crime and a sin. Now if I am to believe that homosexuality is permissible because Jesus never specifically mentioned it I can also assume on that basis that rape is also acceptable.
Jesus never addressed child molesters specifically. So if homosexuality is acceptable because Jesus never spoke about it, then on that thinking molesting children is OK as well.
And if I am to believe that then Jerry Sandusky was arrested, prosecuted and found guilty and will spend the rest of his life in prison for something that Jesus never specifically addressed.
To say that something is not a sin based on the thinking that Jesus never addressed it holds about as much water as a well bucket with no bottom in it.
The fact that everyone overlooks is, no Jesus did not specifically address gay marriage, but he did address and define marriage.
4 Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, 5 And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? 6 Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.
Matt 19:4-6 (KJV)
That Jesus was committed to heterosexual marriage could not be more evident. A man is to leave his parents and be joined to a woman who becomes his wife. This is heterosexual marriage. That He also was committed to the permanence and fidelity of marriage is clear as well.
Any form of sexual activity outside the definition of marriage as defined by Jesus is sin. This would include, adultery, fornication (sex without being married) and homosexuality.
Think of it in terms of a definition; If we go to Webster's Dictionary and look up water this is what we find.
Water: a transparent, odorless, tasteless liquid, a compound of hydrogen and oxygen, H 2 O, freezing at 32°F or 0°C and boiling at 212°F or 100°C, that in a more or less impure state constitutes rain, oceans, lakes, rivers, etc.: it contains 11.188 percent hydrogen and 88.812 percent oxygen, by weight.
You will not find an alternate definition for water because there is not one.
Jesus very clearly defined marriage and He did not give an alternate definition because there is not one. Marriage is between a man and a women. Anything outside the confines of that definition is sinful.
It is a very dangerous and illegitimate strategy to bracket the words of Jesus and read into them the meaning you would like to find. We must not isolate Jesus from His affirmation of the Old Testament as the Word of God.
For those who say Jesus never addressed gay marriage, you have not fully understood who in fact Jesus is.
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. John 1:1
And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us John 1:14
Jesus is God. And in the Old Testament He did very clearly address homosexuality.
13 If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination:
Lev 20:13 (KJV)
22 Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination.
Lev 18:22 (KJV)
17 There shall be no whore of the daughters of Israel, nor a sodomite of the sons of Israel.
Deut 23:17 (KJV)
And then of course we have the Apostle Paul:
22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, 23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. 24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: 25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. 26 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: 27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. 28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; 29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, 30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31 Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: 32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.
Romans 1:22-32 (KJV)
Thank God no one involved in any lifestyle is with out hope!
Jesus loves both the heterosexual sinner and the homosexual sinner and promises free forgiveness and complete deliverance to each and everyone who comes to Him.
John 7 tells the story of a woman caught in adultery. The religious legalists want to stone her, but Jesus intervenes and prevents her murder. He then looks upon the woman and, with grace and tenderness, tells her that He does not condemn her. Then He says to her, "go and sin no more."
In Matthew 11:28 Jesus speaks to every one of us weighed down under the terrible weight and burden of sin. Listen to these tender words of the Savior: "Come to me all who labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest." This is the hope that is found in Jesus. This is the hope found in the Gospel. Whether one is guilty of heterosexual or homosexual sin, one will find grace, forgiveness and freedom at the foot of the cross where the ground is always level.
As a Christian I will today and from now on confirm heterosexual marriage as the only form of marriage acceptable to God. No government, no activist group or any other voice will persuade me of any other way of thinking.
It is also my responsibility as a Christian to love everyone regardless of their lifestyle choices, and to pray for them to come to know Jesus as Lord and Savior. I am not obligated to agree with their sin nor confirm it as normal behavior.
My prayer is always that the truth of the gospel will find it's way into the hearts of those who have rejected it and those who do not believe.
Jesus said "Ye shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free"
