The bible is the word of God and includes teachings on many matters to do with spirituality. One area that the bible also discusses is how human's ought to live their lives and some understanding of the natural world. A common question is "what does the bible teach about homosexuality" and to understand, we need to consider the different bible verses on homosexuality.
It's also important to understand, that the Bible is not primarily focused on homosexuality as a specific sin. More often than homosexuality, the bible teaches about marriage, sex, relationships and family. It also discusses a broad view of sexual immorality and homosexuality is one small example of a wider discussion. With that said, here are several bible verses that are against homosexuality:
You shall not lie with a male as with a woman; it is an abomination.
Leviticus 18:22 ESV
If a man lies with a male as with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination; they shall surely be put to death; their blood is upon them.
Leviticus 20:13 ESV
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. And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
1 Corinthians 6:9-11 ESV
For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; and the men likewise 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 1:26-27 ESV
The bible is not limited to these texts only. It also teaches that marriage is between men and women and that marriage is tied to creating a family. Within a broad view of the bible, the teaching is clearly in favour of straight men and women.
What did jesus say about homosexuality?
The entire bible is inspired by God and written by his prophets and messengers. Since Christians believe that Jesus is God, it can also be said that Jesus inspired the entire Bible. This view is supported by John's revelation that Jesus is the Word of God:
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
John 1:1-5 ESV
Jesus also teaches that he did not come to abolish the Law of the Old Testament, but to fulfill it. The Old Testament teaches against homosexuality, and Jesus did not come to abolish that teaching - but to uphold it:
“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished. Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
Matthew 5:17-20 ESV
However, despite this fact, some people are interested in Jesus teachings during his earthly ministry more specifically. If you're reading a written bible, these letters are often denoted in the colour red. There are no verses where Jesus teaches on homosexuality in isolation, but he does cover sexual immorality broadly and marriage, both of which are relevant to the discussion of homosexuality:
For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander.
Matthew 15:19 ESV
And he said, “What comes out of a person is what defiles him. For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person.”
Mark 7:20-23 ESV
He answered, “Have you not read that he who created them from the beginning made them male and female,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’?So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.”
Matthew 19:4-6 ESV
But from the beginning of creation, ‘God made them male and female.’ ‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.’ So they are no longer two but one flesh.
Mark 10:6-8 ESV
Jesus upholds the truth that marriage is the act of a man and woman leaving their parents to start a new family. Since sex is reserved for marriage and marriage is reserved for men and women, it can logically be concluded that homosexuality is a sin and constitutes sexual immorality.
Despite this fact, Jesus loved sinners, not because of their sinfulness, but because God is love. Jesus did not turn away the unnamed woman as she washed his feet, and does not turn away any homosexual. That does not mean people can continue in their sin, we are called to repent and change our ways. Therefore, homosexual men and women can deny the temptation to sin.
If you are a Christian and currently practising homosexuality, then you should confess to your priest or pastor that leads the church. These men are in place to support the sheep and not judge them. They should be able to advise you on how to follow Jesus in light of homosexuality.
What does bible say about homosexuality and the family?
The bible rarely discusses homosexuality as it is understood today, including adoption, fostering, or artificial insemination. All of these practices allow for homosexual couples to experience the joys of raising a child.
However, these joys are physiologically reserved for men and women as a reflection of God's chosen format for marriage. The first marriage occurs in Genesis:
Then the man said, “This at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.”
Genesis 2:23 ESV
Adam and Eve were brought together to fulfill God's design to reign over creation and to multiply inside creation. This ties their marriage to God's commandment. The fact that the same-sex relationships cannot naturally produce children is a reflection of God's intended design for a family. These values are upheld by Jesus when he says that marriage from the beginning was for men and women:
He answered, “Have you not read that he who created them from the beginning made them male and female, 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’? So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.”
Matthew 19:4-6 ESV
Clearly, Jesus saw marriage as an act for men and women, and that the commitment we make to one another is permanent. While it may be legal for same-sex couples to adopt and own kids, it is not natural in the eyes of God.
Does Christianity accept homosexuality?
No, the bible does not accept the practice of same-sex relationships or homosexuality. However, it does accept that we live in a sinful world where it is practiced and that some men and women practice homosexuality.
For the most part, homosexuality is included as a list of sexual immoral sins, all of which are equally sinful. While our culture likes to focus on homosexuality more than other sins, it also disapproves of beastiality, rape, adultery and other sins.
With all of that said, the clear teaching of the bible is that marriage and sex are both reserved for one man with one woman.
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