Does Luke 17:34 Endorse Homosexual Behavior?
There are people who will make attempts to justify their own sinful behavior by using the Scriptures. Many people who practice homosexual behavior refuse to receive the love of the truth that they might be saved (2 Thessalonians 2:11,12). Instead of repenting of their wickedness (this is true also of many fornicators and adulterers), they would rather suppress the truth that can set them free from sin (Romans 1:18; John 8:31,32).
Some will use Luke 17:34 as their proof-text in justifying homosexual behavior. Luke 17:34 states: "I tell you, in that night there will be two men in one bed: the one will be taken and the other will be left." The claim made from this verse is that Jesus endorses homosexual behavior by stating that at His second coming there would be two men in one bed. There are several reasons why this is not true.
- The Bible does not contradict itself (John 10:38). If the same book endorsed and condemned this behavior at the same time and in the same sense, then that would create a contradiction. But the Bible does not contradict itself. The Bible explicitly and repeatedly condemns homosexual behavior (1 Corinthians 6:9-11; Romans 1:24-27; Jude 7; 1 Timothy 1:8-10). Luke 17:34 must be understood in another way.
- Remember this principle of interpretation: context is king! The context determines the meaning of the passage. The verse is located in the passage that covers Luke 17:22-37. There are several indicators in this context that Jesus is not talking about His second coming, but His "coming" (through the Roman armies) on the city of Jerusalem in A.D. 70. The first indicator is found in Luke 17:31: "In that day, he who is on the housetop, and his goods are in the house, let him not come down to take them away. And likewise, the one who is in the field, let him not turn back." Why would it matter if your goods are still in your house if the second coming occurs? Why would it matter if you are in the field if the second coming occurs? When Jesus returns, everyone is going to be judged by God (2 Corinthians 5:10). The second indicator is found in Luke 17:37 when the disciples say to Jesus: "Where, Lord?" So He said to them, "Wherever the body is, there the eagles will be gathered together." The ensign of the Roman legions was the eagle and the symbol of its power. This is a fitting image of the Roman armies that would destroy Jerusalem in A.D. 70.
- The homosexual movement in America has drastically changed the perception of our culture. It was not too many years ago that two men could sleep in the same bed without implying or even thinking about homosexuality. We need to be very careful that we do not allow the culture to transform our thinking (Romans 12:1,2).
If you are a homosexual/lesbian, etc., we pray that you will come out of this sin (1 Corinthians 6:9-11).
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