“Jesus Did Not Condemn It In The Gospels”

I heard the title of this article on Fox News when they interviewed Patricia Ireland, the president of the National Organization of Women (N.O.W.). The subject matter being discussed was the passing of the one man for one woman law in eleven states during the election of November 2, 2008. Ms. Ireland stated that she was brought up in a religious home, Catholic, I think. Her statement shows that she does not know her Bible. Let us notice what the Bible says.

In Matthew 19:3-9, the Bible states, “The Pharisees also came unto him, tempting him, and saying unto him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause? 4 And he answered and said unto them, 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. 7 They say unto him, Why did Moses then command to give a writing of divorcement, and to put her away? 8 He saith unto them, Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so. 9 And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery.” Jesus refers to “the beginning” that is found in Genesis 1:26, 27; 2:18-25.

In the beginning, there was only one man and one woman. Jesus said that God made male and female. The male was to leave father and mother and cleave to “his” wife.” The Pharisees were the ones asking the questions. Jesus tells them that because of the hardness of their heart that Moses allowed “you to put away your wives.” Jesus said, “…BUT from the beginning it was not so.” If a man puts away his wife except for fornication and marries another, he commits adultery and the one who marries the wife who is put away commits adultery. Jesus used the Greek word porneia, πορνεία, which occurs 26 times in the Greek New Testament and is translated “fornication” 26 times in the King James Version. This word means “illicit sexual intercourse….adultery, fornication, homosexuality, lesbianism, intercourse with animals…sexual intercourse with close relatives; Lev. 18…sexual intercourse with a divorced man or woman; Mk. 10:11, 12…” (Strong’s). Now, if Ms. Ireland was taught this in her religious upbringing either she forgot it, and now she is trying to deceive people, or she does not know her Bible.

However, her statement reflexes a deeper attitude toward the Bible. Jesus said, “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.” John 16:13. This passage teaches the Bible student that the words that the Holy Spirit heard were from the Father and the Son. The Holy Spirit guided the apostles in the words that He heard from the Father and the Son. What did the Father and the Son tell the Holy Spirit about same sex marriages? Romans 1:26 and 27 says, “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 recompense of their error which was meet.” 1 Corinthians 6:9, 10 says, “Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God?

Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate [Greek: homosexual], nor abusers of themselves with mankind [Sodomite], 10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.” Others passages that should be read on this subject are 1 Timothy 1:8-10 and 2 Peter 2:6, 9, 10.

Yes, Jesus did speak on the subject of same sex marriages. The problem is Ms. Ireland, and others do not know what the Bible says because they do not study the Bible.
Bobby D. Gayton