A Theology of Sex: Pt. 2
It has often been said that Jesus had nothing to say about sexual sins. But, that simply is not true. Now, Jesus may not have said much about sexual sins. But what He did say was very clear.
A Theology of Sex & Jesus’ Words (Matthew 5, 15, 19)
This text is what I call The Matthew Intent, or, The Messianic Intent. This notion that Jesus had nothing to say about sexuality is far from the truth as we will see here in Matthew and later in Jesus’ words in Revelation.
Jesus lays out a clear definition of gender, marriage, and sex by quoting Moses from the Genesis account and intention of the Creator. Jesus says, “You have heard, He made them male and female for the reason of leaving father and mother to become one flesh.” Jesus didn’t feel the need to change the wording thousands of years and many generations later. Same language. Jesus supported Moses.
Jesus is quoting the OT words of Moses from Genesis. Isn’t that interesting? Jesus could have EVOLVED. He could have ADJUSTED to His day.
porneia
This is one of the reoccurring words Jesus and others used in the New Testament, but, specifically here in the Matthew accounts by Jesus. It is the Greek word porneia. This word is the most common word used in the New Testament for unnatural sexual sins outside of marriage between a man and woman. porneia mostly has a broader meaning than a focused one. A combined definition of porneia would include, “fornication, or, sexual uncleanness such as un-chastity, sexual immorality, idolatry, illicit sexual intercourse, impurity, and selling off or surrendering virginity (as opposed to being sold for).” Fornication is most often used in the plural sense as the collection of multiple sexual sins.
You may say that Jesus never said anything against sex before marriage or He never said anything about incest, bestiality, prostitution, or homosexuality. Let’s be very clear.
When Jesus used the word porneia in Matthew, like most of the other writers in the New Testament, He was using it in reference to a plurality of sexual issues.
With that in mind, here are a few things to consider concerning Jesus’ words on sexuality:
First, Jesus’ statements about gender, marriage, and sexual immorality in Matthew 5, 15, and 19 (and later in Revelation) overrides all of the other sexual offenses you can think of in one phrase.
To be even clearer, look at John 8 and the story of the woman caught in adultery and brought before Jesus. Jesus was clearly stating that adultery was sin, and, that sex outside of marriage (the one she was living with at the time) between a man and a woman was sin when He told her to not sin anymore!
Of course, Jesus supported the woman who was caught in adultery at the Temple, showed her kindness publicy, and then He simply said to her, “Go and do not sin anymore.” So, sex outside of marriage between a man and a woman is sin. Period.
Second, look at this thought from these Messianic texts. Jesus clearly defines binary gender as male and female, marriage between a man and woman, and sexual relations outside of marriage between a man and a woman as evil (His words and not mine). If you read these texts in Matthew you will see how Jesus felt about all of this.
Thirdly, just because Jesus may not have addressed a topic directly by using a certain word we are looking for - a word that did not exist at the time because there were other words that covered the behavior - does that mean any other authors in the Bible such as Moses, Solomon, Paul, Peter, Jude, or John, who may have addressed that topic hold a lesser authority for us? Of course not.
Finally, it is pretty clear that both the Roman and Greek world understood any sexual action outside of marriage between a man and a woman was unnatural and prohibited. The plural use of porneia carried multiple meanings in the Jewish culture, and because of this, Jesus directly entered the discussion on and used the general words for incest, bestiality, prostitution, or homosexuality indirectly and directly by speaking of the principle of sex within marriage.
I believe Jesus was so clear on His stance of these things as sexual prohibitions, it did not require Him to address other sexual sins or evils directly because these things were included in His broadly covered statement.
For example, using these practical points in a social setting today – a police officer pulls me over and tells me I was driving 62 in a 55 illegally, and then gives me a ticket. My argument cannot be that I did not break the law because the President did not tell me this, or because I have always driven a few miles over the speed limit and nobody else stopped me, or it wasn’t clearly posted and I did not see the sign.
One more thing in the Messianic Intent.
In this discussion with the scribes and Pharisees, Jesus uses the word ‘porneia’, which we have seen in all of our translations includes sexual immorality or intercourse. By using that word, Jesus is prohibiting all sexual relations outside of marriage between a man and a woman. That is very clear and inclusive.
Defilement of the design was His main point. So, in fact, Jesus had enough to say about sexual immorality. He was just very succinct on the matter.