What Jesus Taught About Same-Sex Marriage
by Richard Haas
Many liberal theologians say that the Bible is out of date and not relevant for today. Recently I heard that 42% of seminary students did not believe the Word of God was without error. This belief is evident when it comes to dealing with the topic of same-sex marriage and the growing support of same-sex marriage among many nominal Christians. We know that contrary to many liberal Christians opinions, God has said His Word abides forever. Jesus said that “heaven and earth will pass away but [His] words will never pass away” (Matt 24:35).
A high amount of those nominal Christians that support the act of same-sex marriage and homosexuality will use the argument that Jesus never talked about homosexuality or same-sex marriage in the Bible; therefore, neither should we. Those who use this argument to justify same-sex marriage and homosexuality clearly are ignorant of what Jesus taught about marriage in the Bible or have chosen to ignore it. This argument also goes to further my premise on how many liberal Christians render the Bible as obsolete and archaic.
So what did Jesus teach about same-sex marriage? While liberal theologians and Christians are correct in stating that Jesus never mentioned the words homosexuality or same-sex marriage in His teachings recorded in the Word of God. They are wrong on the premise Jesus never taught on the subject. In both the New Testament and Old Testament the word of God clearly states and defines whom marriage should be between.
In the Old Testament God clearly shows us in Genesis 1:27 that He created man and woman in His own image. God also shows us in Genesis 1:28 that we are supposed to be fruitful and increase in number and fill the earth. Logic necessitates that this can only physically and scientifically be done through a relationship that is between a man and a woman. We further see more evidence of how God defined marriage in its sexuality in Genesis 2:24 where it is stated; “Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.” As we can see the outline of Scripture clearly indicates that God Himself deemed marriage to be between one man and one woman, not between one man and one man or one woman and one woman.
Genesis is not the only Old Testament book to teach that marriage is between one man and one woman. The book of Proverbs has numerous verses stating the sexual partnership of marriage. (Proverbs 30:18-19, Proverbs 31:10, Proverbs 18:22, Proverbs 19:14, Proverbs 20:6 – 7).
The Old Testament is not the only place that the Word of God defines the sexual constructs of marriage. We see that Jesus (God in Flesh) in the New Testament clearly teaches that marriage is between one man and one woman. Jesus taught in his own words the following in Matthew 19:4 – 6;“4 Haven't you read," he replied, "that at the beginning the Creator 'made them male and female,' 5 and said, 'For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh' ? 6 So they are no longer two, but one. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate."
The New Testament also clearly explains in Ephesians 5:22 – 33 the sexual orientation of marriage; “22 Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. 24 Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything. 25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her 26 to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, 27 and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. 28 In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29 After all, no one ever hated his own body, but he feeds and cares for it, just as Christ does the church-- 30 for we are members of his body. 31 "For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh." 32 This is a profound mystery--but I am talking about Christ and the church. 33 However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.”
The Bible also speaks of marriage being between one man and one woman in 1 Corinthians 7:1 – 16; “1 Now for the matters you wrote about: It is good for a man not to marry. 2 But since there is so much immorality, each man should have his own wife, and each woman her own husband. 3 The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband. 4 The wife's body does not belong to her alone but also to her husband. In the same way, the husband's body does not belong to him alone but also to his wife. 5 Do not deprive each other except by mutual consent and for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control. 6 I say this as a concession, not as a command. 7 I wish that all men were as I am. But each man has his own gift from God; one has this gift, another has that. 8 Now to the unmarried and the widows I say: It is good for them to stay unmarried, as I am. 9 But if they cannot control themselves, they should marry, for it is better to marry than to burn with passion. 10 To the married I give this command (not I, but the Lord): A wife must not separate from her husband. 11 But if she does, she must remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband. And a husband must not divorce his wife. 12 To the rest, I say this (I, not the Lord): If any brother has a wife who is not a believer and she is willing to live with him, he must not divorce her. 13 And if a woman has a husband who is not a believer and he is willing to live with her, she must not divorce him. 14 For the unbelieving husband has been sanctified through his wife, and the unbelieving wife has been sanctified through her believing husband. Otherwise, your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy. 15 But if the unbeliever leaves, let him do so. A believing man or woman is not bound in such circumstances; God has called us to live in peace. 16 How do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or, how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife?”
In the book of Colossians chapter 3 verses 18 and 19 we see that wives should submit to their husbands as is fitting in the Lord. We see that husbands should love their wives and not to be harsh to them. Again the Bible clearly indicates that the relationship of marriage is clearly defined between one man and one woman.
Another great example that interweaves Old Testament theology into New Testament practicality is in Mark 10:6 – 9; 6; "But at the beginning of creation God 'made them male and female.' 7 'For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, 8 and the two will become one flesh.' So they are no longer two, but one. 9 Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate."
We can clearly see that in both Old Testament and New Testament teachings marriage is defined as between one man and one woman. Nowhere in Scripture is the idea of same-sex marriage supported. Those nominal Christians who try to justify their unbiblical opinion of same-sex marriage are left wanting for scriptural evidence. Since their justification for same-sex marriage is unscriptural, those in support of same-sex marriage have no solid grounds to justify their opinions on. For biblical Christians, everything must be taken back to the authority of the Word of God, our thoughts, words, and deeds must stem from that authority. Including on the topic of same-sex marriage.
A high amount of those nominal Christians that support the act of same-sex marriage and homosexuality will use the argument that Jesus never talked about homosexuality or same-sex marriage in the Bible; therefore, neither should we. Those who use this argument to justify same-sex marriage and homosexuality clearly are ignorant of what Jesus taught about marriage in the Bible or have chosen to ignore it. This argument also goes to further my premise on how many liberal Christians render the Bible as obsolete and archaic.
So what did Jesus teach about same-sex marriage? While liberal theologians and Christians are correct in stating that Jesus never mentioned the words homosexuality or same-sex marriage in His teachings recorded in the Word of God. They are wrong on the premise Jesus never taught on the subject. In both the New Testament and Old Testament the word of God clearly states and defines whom marriage should be between.
In the Old Testament God clearly shows us in Genesis 1:27 that He created man and woman in His own image. God also shows us in Genesis 1:28 that we are supposed to be fruitful and increase in number and fill the earth. Logic necessitates that this can only physically and scientifically be done through a relationship that is between a man and a woman. We further see more evidence of how God defined marriage in its sexuality in Genesis 2:24 where it is stated; “Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.” As we can see the outline of Scripture clearly indicates that God Himself deemed marriage to be between one man and one woman, not between one man and one man or one woman and one woman.
Genesis is not the only Old Testament book to teach that marriage is between one man and one woman. The book of Proverbs has numerous verses stating the sexual partnership of marriage. (Proverbs 30:18-19, Proverbs 31:10, Proverbs 18:22, Proverbs 19:14, Proverbs 20:6 – 7).
The Old Testament is not the only place that the Word of God defines the sexual constructs of marriage. We see that Jesus (God in Flesh) in the New Testament clearly teaches that marriage is between one man and one woman. Jesus taught in his own words the following in Matthew 19:4 – 6;“4 Haven't you read," he replied, "that at the beginning the Creator 'made them male and female,' 5 and said, 'For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh' ? 6 So they are no longer two, but one. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate."
The New Testament also clearly explains in Ephesians 5:22 – 33 the sexual orientation of marriage; “22 Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. 24 Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything. 25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her 26 to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, 27 and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. 28 In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29 After all, no one ever hated his own body, but he feeds and cares for it, just as Christ does the church-- 30 for we are members of his body. 31 "For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh." 32 This is a profound mystery--but I am talking about Christ and the church. 33 However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.”
The Bible also speaks of marriage being between one man and one woman in 1 Corinthians 7:1 – 16; “1 Now for the matters you wrote about: It is good for a man not to marry. 2 But since there is so much immorality, each man should have his own wife, and each woman her own husband. 3 The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband. 4 The wife's body does not belong to her alone but also to her husband. In the same way, the husband's body does not belong to him alone but also to his wife. 5 Do not deprive each other except by mutual consent and for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control. 6 I say this as a concession, not as a command. 7 I wish that all men were as I am. But each man has his own gift from God; one has this gift, another has that. 8 Now to the unmarried and the widows I say: It is good for them to stay unmarried, as I am. 9 But if they cannot control themselves, they should marry, for it is better to marry than to burn with passion. 10 To the married I give this command (not I, but the Lord): A wife must not separate from her husband. 11 But if she does, she must remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband. And a husband must not divorce his wife. 12 To the rest, I say this (I, not the Lord): If any brother has a wife who is not a believer and she is willing to live with him, he must not divorce her. 13 And if a woman has a husband who is not a believer and he is willing to live with her, she must not divorce him. 14 For the unbelieving husband has been sanctified through his wife, and the unbelieving wife has been sanctified through her believing husband. Otherwise, your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy. 15 But if the unbeliever leaves, let him do so. A believing man or woman is not bound in such circumstances; God has called us to live in peace. 16 How do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or, how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife?”
In the book of Colossians chapter 3 verses 18 and 19 we see that wives should submit to their husbands as is fitting in the Lord. We see that husbands should love their wives and not to be harsh to them. Again the Bible clearly indicates that the relationship of marriage is clearly defined between one man and one woman.
Another great example that interweaves Old Testament theology into New Testament practicality is in Mark 10:6 – 9; 6; "But at the beginning of creation God 'made them male and female.' 7 'For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, 8 and the two will become one flesh.' So they are no longer two, but one. 9 Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate."
We can clearly see that in both Old Testament and New Testament teachings marriage is defined as between one man and one woman. Nowhere in Scripture is the idea of same-sex marriage supported. Those nominal Christians who try to justify their unbiblical opinion of same-sex marriage are left wanting for scriptural evidence. Since their justification for same-sex marriage is unscriptural, those in support of same-sex marriage have no solid grounds to justify their opinions on. For biblical Christians, everything must be taken back to the authority of the Word of God, our thoughts, words, and deeds must stem from that authority. Including on the topic of same-sex marriage.
