Page 413 … Jesus’ sexual standards
“When [Jesus] discussed sexual morality, Christ had a very high standard, clearly affirming long-standing Old Testament law.”
Actually, while you are correct about Jesus affirming an extremely high moral standard related to sexual activity, this standard most certainly did not affirm Old Testament laws – rather, his standard completely transcended them … Indeed, my comment on pages 176 to 181 previously (as well asin “Lucy #278” hereafter) gives hundreds of examples of how Jesus came to reform the outdated & glaringly unjust Old Testament laws – not blindly support or uphold them. And yet for this particular response a look into one verse – Matthew 19:12 – is all that is required to illuminate your misconception as to Jesus’ far more magnificent morality …
There is only one place in the entire Bible where Jesus addresses the issue of sexuality, and that is in Matthew 19 … Here, immediately after essentially overturning the Old Testament law allowing for divorce (see Matthew 19:8-9), Jesus is asked about whether or not it is better not to marry at all. His response – at least for those with the eyes to See and the ears to Hear – is quite telling: “There are eunuchs who have been so from birth, and there are eunuchs who have been made eunuchs by others, and there are eunuchs who have made themselves eunuchs for the sake of the Kingdom of Heaven. Let everyone emulate this who can.” (Matthew 19:12) … In other words, there are those born without genitalia (and therefore cannot consummate their lust), there are those who have been castrated (and therefore have involuntarily lost the ability to consummate their lust) and there are those who have voluntarily renounced the consummation of lust in order to honor & enliven the pure LOVE of the Kingdom of Heaven (e.g. monks, nuns, Followers of The Way of Christ etc) … Yes, it is true that this verse does not speak directly to homosexuals or homosexuality, and yet it most certainly does speak to all of us – telling us that we are all to strive to replace our lust with Love and our selfishness with service.
P.S. Note as well that Jesus’ tone is in direct opposition to the tone of Leviticus, with the latter clearly condemning sexual “abominators” to death, whereas Jesus gently yet firmly encouraged all of us to simply “do as we can”.
P.P.S. As a practical matter, it is literally impossible to yearn for self-gratification while actively walking The Way of Christ – because it is literally impossible to lust for your own benefit or pleasure while actively Caring for others.
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