Isaiah and Homosexuals? - Isaiah 56:3

Isaiah 56:3 Let no foreigner who has bound himself to the Lord say, "The Lord will surely exclude me from his people." And let not any eunuch complain, "I am only a dry tree."

This verse does not speak of homosexuals, but of eunuchs. Eunuchs were normally excluded from the covenant community (Deut. 23:1). Being excluded from the covenant community means no covenant blessing. The Ethiopian eunuch (Acts 8:26-39) fulfilled this Isaiah 56:3 promise through faith in Jesus alone. He became an heir of the covenant blessings (Gal 3:29).

Some argue that eunuchs are another class of relationship; that God made heterosexual relationships (male and female) and homosexual ones (eunuchs, or male/male and female/female). However, this argument has no basis in Scripture.

In Matthew 19:12 Christ mentions three types of eunuchs: (1) those who are eunuchs from birth, or that is, they were incapable of sex (i.e., physical deformity, etc.), (2) those who were physically castrated - these commonly served in guarding harems (Esther 2:3, 14-15; 6:2), and (3) those who choose to be eunuchs "for the Kingdom of God." In this text there is not even a hint that eunuchs have a homosexual orientation or are interested in gay marriage, etc. This verse clearly teaches that eunuchs were not involved in marriage and sexual activity. Therefore, this would negate homosexuality as a viable option in one's interpretation. The Bible condemns the practice of homosexuality (e.g. Lev. 18:22; Rom. 1:26). See "Related Comments" below.

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