Let me start with a request. Please read the entire long diatribe before assuming the jest of it. I will start with and come back to the main point so please read with that in mind. Let's begin with what it's not about and that is homosexuality. Christ actually never spoke specifically about homosexuality so if that were the subject it would be a mighty short post. I will start the post with the final point and then come back to it at the end so the reader can read the text with the point in mind.

So, the beginning and the end is a passage found in John 8:1-11. In the KJV it reads;

"1Jesus went unto the mount of Olives. 2And early in the morning he came again into the temple, and all the people came unto him; and he sat down, and taught them. 3And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst, 4They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act. 5Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou? 6This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not. 7So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her. 8And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground. 9And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. 10When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee? 11She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more."

Let's start with a little analysis of the underlying situation. In verses 3-5 we read "3And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst, 4They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act. 5Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou? " So note they say the woman was taken "in the very act" of adultery. Then they mention that Mosaic Law commanded that she should be stoned. This brings up a curious question. In Mosaic Law stoning is prescribed for both parties. Punishment of death for adultery is clearly defined in Leviticus (20:10-12) which reads: "If a man commits adultery with another man's wife, even with the wife of his neighbour, both the adulterer and adulteress must be put to death....".So, where is the man who was her partner in this act? Since she was caught "in the very act", he must have been on the scene and according to Mosaic Law should also be stoned. So, why didn't they bring him before Christ as well? I don't pretend to have the answer to this one but luckily it has nothing to do with the post so, just thought I'd throw it in for those who believe they do have an idea why that was. I've read many theories from the Pharisees were hypocritical to they thought they'd have another trap for Christ by doing it this way. I have found no explanation that I'm comfortable is the final truth of the matter but as I said, luckily it doesn't matter.

The next verse let's look at is verse 7 where we find the oft quoted "He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her". This is one part of the point of this post. This statement by Christ is in keeping with His statement on judgement found in Matthew 7:1-5 and Luke 6:37-42.
In Matthew we read; "1Judge not, that ye be not judged. 2For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. 3And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? 4Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye? 5Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye." Judge not lest ye be judged. We have all sinned and according to Christ not worthy to judge others. One of the things that Christ amended from the Old Testament Law was the elimination of earthly judgement on others by Christians. The Old Testament Law was God's law both for the edification of and admonition to the individual and for the administration of a civil society. The administration of civil law required earthly judgement and punishment and God dictated a framework for these requirements. Christ on the other hand taught us that we, as His followers should leave earthly judgement and punishment to the proper authorities and final judgement was God's. So, there is half of the point. We'll come to the other half after diving into the meat of what Christ taught about sexual sin.

Let's jump now to Matthew 5:27-32; 27Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: 28But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart. 29And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell. 30And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.31It hath been said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement: 32But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery." This is from the "Sermon on the Mount" and is a good starting point because it pretty neatly encapsulates Christ's teaching on adultery and divorce all in one short dissertation.

First He speaks of "adultery" and here again is another instance where Christ clarified a point in the law. He tells us that to lust is committing "adultery" in your heart. This begs the question, how serious of an offense is lust or "committing adultery" in one's heart. Christ obviously taught that it was a pretty serious matter, (As a matter of fact, Christ taught that all sin was a pretty serious matter). In this case it is the only incidence where Christ recommends such a drastic measure as body mutilation to deal with a particular sin. In verse 9 he tells us; "And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell." The eye is the offending body part whereby lust is formed. Christ actually recommends that if necessary to curb your sinning, it is better that you pluck out your eye than to go to hell with both eyes. It is of note that not only does Christ recommend body mutilation but He intimates that to continue in the sin of lust will send one to hell. Ditto, in the next verses for one's hand. I'll not go into graphic detail but I think we all know what one does with their hand when they are lusting.

Then Christ continues with an admonition about divorce. Here we find another instance of where Christ clarified a point of Mosaic Law. Some had interpreted Moses' decree of "divorcement" as a license to remarry. The old saying is "give them an inch and they'll take a mile". Christ clarified this misnomer with "That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery." In this version of the admonition, Christ leaves open the idea that one can divorce in cases of infidelity or "fornication" (presumably even before marriage) but he adds that to marry after divorce is to commit adultery. if heard the argument that He said it was OK to remarry if the divorce was indeed over infidelity, but that's not what Christ said. He mentioned infidelity as a reason for the divorce but not for remarriage. On the other hand He mentions no reason that it's allowed. It's just another example of how adding a context that isn't there to the teachings of Christ is usually in order to soften or make more palatible the actual teaching. This basic teaching is also found in Matthew 19;3-12 and Mark 10:2-12. Each of these accounts highlight a couple of additional lines. Let's look at Matthew's version where in verse 12 it ends with "For there are some eunuchs, which were so born from their mother's womb: and there are some eunuchs, which were made eunuchs of men: and there be eunuchs, which have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven's sake. He that is able to receive it, let him receive it." Again, Christ mentions body mutilation and once again it's in reference to sexual sin. He speaks of those who "have made themselves eunuchs for the Kingdom of Heaven's sake'. I've heard many who argue that Christ isn't promoting it but simply mentioning it. I say He's neither promating it nor condemning it in His words but given the context, I believe it;s more likely than not that He's mentioning it as a good thing.

So, now let's go back to the first passage where in the last line Christ says "Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.". So, Christ Himself, even though He was sinless and had no beam in His own eye did not condemn the woman. Christ taught us to treat others with concern and compassion and to leave judgement and condemnation to civil authorities and ultimately to God. We all have sins in our lives and all sin is sin in God's eyes. So, all we can do is share what Christ taught about sin with no judgement, condemnation or prejudice. Remember when you hear preachers rant about how homosexuality is an abomination and was punishable by death just remember that the Bible also says that a proud heart and a lying toungue are an abomination unto the Lord, (Proverbs 6:16-19; Proverbs 12:22; Proverbs 16:5) nad that adultery was also punishable by death and remarriage after divorce is adultery. So, when we share the Gospel and remind folks what Christ said about sin, we must be careful to do so factually but with compassion and a genuine concern for everyone.