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How do you understand Matthew 19:12?

I have thought that it refers to three groups:

1. People with various intersex conditions

2. Eunuchs in the strict sense

3. A third group I'm not going to try to identify

... And see myself, a woman who happens to be transsexual, as a member of the first group.

However, I understand that other people interpret it in very different ways.

Update:

Rob: How can a birth condition (transsexualism) be a sin? How can treating the body to match the brain (hormones, possibly surgery) be a sin?

See http://jcem.endojournals.org/cgi/content/full/85/5...

And http://akikos-planet.cocolog-nifty.com/blog/files/...

9 Answers

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  • grnlow
    Lv 7
    1 decade ago
    Favorite Answer

    This particular verse was not speaking of the physical condition. He just finished talking to the Pharisees about divorce. They were trying to trap him into a mistake but he made none.

    Later with his own disciples he went into detail over their question whether all should marry. In today's terms it would be, "Not all are cut out for marriage. Some were born not to be married while others have life experience that says no way. Those that do--marry. Those that don't-- don't marry." There are also those who choose not to marry because of the greater ability to be in service to God. Marriage and family brings with it many responsibilities. This would limit what they could accomplish in the ministry for God.

    In this case Jesus was not talking about sexual problems.

  • 1 decade ago

    Matthew 19:12

    Incapable of marriage: literally" eunuchs " Three classes are mentioned,eunuchs from birth, eunuchs by castration and those who have voluntarily renounced marriage literally "have made themselves eunuchs " for the sake of the kingdom, to devote themselves entirely to its service.Some scholars take the last class to be those who have

    divorced by their spouses and have refused to enter another marriage . But it is more likely that it is rather those who have chosen never to marry, since that suits better the optional nature of the decision: whoever can-----ought to accept it.

  • 1 decade ago

    This is part of a discussion on marriage and I think it's just talking about celibacy and different ways that it comes about. Some are born celibate (for whatever reason, physical, birth defects, etc.), some become that way (castration, etc.) and some choose to be celibate (like priests or nuns).

  • Mosa A
    Lv 7
    1 decade ago

    first is normal

    second the people and life around cause it.

    Third the monasticism way.

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  • ?
    Lv 6
    1 decade ago

    Always use the actual scripture in question. Otherwise no one will answer. Including me.

  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago

    It has nothing to do with "transexuality" since that is sin. It means some people forego marriage in order to dedicate themselves totally to God.

  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago

    I think God knows what he,s doing ,but Satan can decieve by many ways

  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago

    2 a man with no testicles..

  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago

    I don't understand it. I don't understand any of it.

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