The Bible is clear that homosexuality is a sin. In the Old Testament, Leviticus 18:22 says, โYou shall not lie with a male as with a woman; it is an abomination.โ This is reinforced in Leviticus 20:13, which says, โIf a man lies with a male as with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination; they shall surely be put to death; their blood is upon them.โ In the New Testament, Romans 1:26-27 says, โFor this reason, God gave them up to dishonorable passions.ย
For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error.โย
1 Corinthians 6:9-10 says, โOr do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.โ
Where in the Bible Does Jesus Say Homosexuality is a Sin
The Bible is very clear that homosexuality is a sin. In the Old Testament, Leviticus 18:22 says, โYou shall not lie with a male as with a woman; it is an abomination.โ And in the New Testament, 1 Corinthians 6:9 says, โOr do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality.โ
So where in the Bible does Jesus say homosexuality is a sin? He doesnโt say it explicitly, but He does affirm the teaching of the Old Testament. In the story of the woman caught in adultery, Jesus says, โHe who is without sin among you, let him throw the first stone at herโ (John 8:7). By saying this, He implies that everyone is a sinner and no one is without sin. He also says that the Old Testament law is still in effect when He says, โDo not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill themโ (Matthew 5:17).
So while Jesus doesnโt say explicitly that homosexuality is a sin, He does affirm what the Old Testament teaches on the subject.
What the Bible Says About Homosexuality
The Bible is very clear that homosexuality is a sin. It is condemned in both the Old and New Testaments. In the Old Testament, we see that God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah because of the homosexual sin that was taking place there. And in the New Testament, we see that Jesus Himself speaks out against homosexuality.
In the book of Leviticus, God gives His people specific instructions about sexual conduct. He says that a man is not to lie with another man as he would with a woman, because it is an abomination (Leviticus 18:22). This is repeated in Leviticus 20:13. And Romans 1:26-27, the apostle Paul says that homosexuality is a result of rejecting God. God does not approve of homosexuality.
So what does Jesus say about homosexuality? In Matthew 19:4-6, Jesus quotes from Genesis 2:24 and says that a man is to leave his father and mother and cleave to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. He goes on to say that those who do not do this are committing adultery. In other words, Jesus is saying that marriage is between a man and a woman, and anything else is a sin.
We see, then, that the Bible is very clear that homosexuality is a sin. It is an abomination in the eyes of God, and those who practice it will not inherit the kingdom of God. If you are struggling with homosexuality, there is hope! Jesus can forgive you and give you the strength to overcome this sin.
What Jesus Says About Homosexuality
The Bible is clear that homosexuality is a sin. In the Old Testament, Leviticus 18:22 says, โYou shall not lie with a male as with a woman; it is an abomination.โ And in the New Testament, 1 Corinthians 6:9 says, โOr do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality.โ
Jesus Himself speaks about homosexuality in Matthew 19:4-6 when He quotes from Genesis 2:24: โTherefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.โ Jesus goes on to say that this is how it has always been and that anyone who practices homosexuality is sinning against God.
There is no mistaking what Jesus says about homosexuality. He teaches that it is a sin. And any church or individual that says otherwise is not teaching what Jesus teaches.
The Bibleโs Teachings On Homosexuality
The Bibleโs teachings on homosexuality are clear and unequivocal. The Bible consistently and unambiguously teaches that homosexual behavior is a sin.
The Old Testament condemns homosexual behavior in Leviticus 18:22 and 20:13. In these verses, God explicitly prohibits homosexual relations. The penalty for violating this command is death.
The New Testament also condemns homosexual behavior in several passages. In 1 Corinthians 6:9-10, Paul lists homosexuals among those who will not inherit the kingdom of God. In 1 Timothy 1:10, Paul includes homosexuals among those who practice lawlessness. And in Romans 1:26-27, Paul describes homosexual behavior as unnatural and shameful.
The Bibleโs condemnations of homosexual behavior are not based on outdated cultural norms or prejudices. Rather, they are based on Godโs design for human sexuality. God created humans as male and female, and He designed sexual relations to take place between a man and a woman within the context of marriage. Homosexual relations violate Godโs design for human sexuality, and they are therefore sinful.
Those who argue that the Bible does not condemn homosexual behavior often point to the fact that Jesus never explicitly mentioned homosexuality. However, this does not mean that Jesus approved of homosexual behavior. Jesus never mentioned a lot of sins, but that doesnโt mean He approved of them. For example, Jesus never mentioned bestiality, but that doesnโt mean He approved of it.
It is also worth noting that Jesus did talk about sexuality in general terms, and His teachings are consistent with the Bibleโs condemnations of homosexual behavior. For example, in Matthew 19:4-6, Jesus affirms that God created humans as male and female and that sexual relations are to take place between a man and a woman within the context of marriage.
The bottom line is that the Bibleโs teachings on homosexuality are clear and unambiguous. Homosexuality is a sin.
Jesusโ View On Homosexuality
There are a few verses in the Bible that mention homosexuality. In the Old Testament, Leviticus 18:22 says, โYou shall not lie with a male as with a woman; it is an abomination.โ In the New Testament, 1 Corinthians 6:9 says, โOr do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality.โ Romans 1:26-27 says, โFor this reason, God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error.โ
These verses make it clear that Jesus condemns homosexuality. He sees it as an abomination and a sin that will keep people from inheriting the kingdom of God. Jesusโ views on homosexuality are in line with the rest of the Bible. The Bible consistently teaches that homosexuality is a sin.

Joseph Bates is a teacher at the University of Holy Cross. He has served on the staff of Northern Baptist and United Methodist churches in Tampa, Ohio, and Florida.