Eunuchs.

The word translated as eunuchs in the Bible referred in ancient Israel to any male who was unmarried.

Jesus said: "'For 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.'"  Matthew 19:10 (NRSV)

This is in the context of "'better not to marry'".  Matthew 19:10 (NRSV)

Jesus refers to eunuch made so for the kingdom of heaven.  No one physically castrates themselves for the sake of religion.  So Jesus is obviously using the expression in a figurative sense.

And so these statements may be said to relate to gay men.

It is interesting to note in this context that Jesus says some men are born that way.

This is in keeping with our modern understanding of homosexuality.

But God says they are not excluded or cut off from God but blessed with an everlasting name.

"and do not let the eunuch say.

'I am just a dry tree',

For this says the Lord:

To the eunuchs who keep my sabbaths,

who choose the things that please me

and hold fast my covenant,

I will give in my house and within my walls

a monument and a name

better than sons and daughters;

I will give them an everlasting name

that shall not be cut off."

Isaiah 56:3-5 (NRSV)

[Scripture quotations (marked NRSV) are taken from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A., and are used by permission.  All rights reserved.]

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