How do the LDS interpret Matthew 19:12?
score:5
I figure this website says it better than I can.
"... there be eunuchs, which have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven's sake..." (Matt 19:12)
There are no known scriptural or historical accounts which tell us more about these particular eunuchs. So, how are we to understand this passage? Joseph Smith said,
"I have a key by which I understand the scriptures. I enquire, what was the question which drew out the answer." (Teachings, 276)
Jesus was responding to the disciples' statement that it would be better not to marry if the law was so strict.
Christ's response, in essence, declared,
"You're right, for those who understand and receive the full meaning of the law of celestial marriage, it is better not to marry at all than to make the mistake of violating the covenants of your first marriage in marrying another. For example, there have been men who understood this doctrine and made themselves eunuchs rather than take the risk of violating this holy law."
This response was not meant to justify the mutilating act required to become a eunuch nor to condone a celibate lifestyle but to acknowledge their understanding of the supreme solemnity of the covenant of celestial marriage.
Those who have received a testimony of this principle are obligated to live by its precepts. For them, it would be better to live a celibate life than to violate this law, for 'he who sins against the greater light shall receive the greater condemnation' (D&C 82:3). Therefore, 'He that is able to receive it, let him receive it'-for those who are not able to receive it are not obligated to abide such a strict law.
"If our societies were on a higher plane, then, marriage covenants would be held in great, sacred trust; essentially, divorce would not exist or be considered except for truly serious reasons such as adultery. I would also suggest that in a higher system, with individuals living in harmony with all the Lord's teachings, there would be no such serious problems and thus no divorce.
Unfortunately, our societies are less than ideal. Some persons do live in unbearably difficult marital circumstances, suffering as victims of spouse abuse, substance abuse, promiscuity, and other evils that are sometimes addressed through divorce as a last resort. In such cases, the Lord in his mercy 'permits his agents to exercise the power to loose [to authorize divorce] as well as the power to bind.' (Bruce R. McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, 204)" (Jonathan M. Chamberlain, Ensign, Jan. 1993, p. 60)
Upvote:-1
I am a lifelong Mormon, and I read this verse Matt. 19:12 many times, and prayed to God for answers on how to understand it, and it came to me personally that to say that there will be Eunuchs in the kingdom of God is meant that all NON celestial beings shall be eunuchs.
More post
- 📝 Why does Genesis record only 10 names from Adam to Noah?
- 📝 List of old heresies condemned by the Catholic Church now present in Lutheranism and Calvinism
- 📝 What is the basis for saying rock music is sinful?
- 📝 Why does the NWT capitalize "YOU" in many verses?
- 📝 Which are the parts of the Old Testament that point to Jesus?
- 📝 In what manner does the Father draw men to Jesus Christ? John 6:44
- 📝 Who was the first person on record who was killed by a Christian or group of Christians for religious disagreements?
- 📝 Where is the story that James (the 'brother') shared one-half of his inheritance with Jesus?
- 📝 What does "believe the Bible" mean?
- 📝 Is there a patristic precedent for understanding "foreknew" as "foreloved"?
- 📝 Why is faith so much more important than being a good person?
- 📝 What is the Catholic Church's answer to a woman/women claiming that God has called them to the Priesthood?
- 📝 Can a prospective Catholic convert skip the RCIA by self-teaching?
- 📝 Magnitude of the earthquakes of the Book of Revelation
- 📝 Why are the first five books of the old testament named differently in some translations?
- 📝 "Christ is risen. He is risen indeed" - What is the actual meaning?
- 📝 Do Mormons still eat meat only in "winter, cold or famine?"
- 📝 What does Isaiah 2:22 mean?
- 📝 What are some criticisms of "Spirit-filled" church soteriology?
- 📝 Can believers of Jehovah work for the navy?
- 📝 Adam and Eve versus ecology
- 📝 Is death a conscious act?
- 📝 Christian response(s) to disaster survival, or Christian self-defense
- 📝 What is the difference between an apostle and a missionary according to Pentecostal & Charismatic Christianity?
- 📝 Did Jesus speak more about hell than heaven?
- 📝 According to Catholicism, how can Catholics be faithful to an abusive spouse?
- 📝 What's the Greek manuscripts of John with the oldest discovery date?
- 📝 What is the difference between special revelation and (biblical) inspiration?
- 📝 What's the difference between "knowledge" and "full knowledge" when it comes to sin?
- 📝 What is the biblical basis for carrying out social justice in opposition to the justice system?
Source: stackoverflow.com
Search Posts
Related post
- 📝 How do the LDS interpret Matthew 19:12?
- 📝 On the topic of marriage in heaven, how does the LDS church reconcile Matthew 22:23-33?
- 📝 How do proponents of the Prosperity Gospel interpret Matthew 6:19-21 and Luke 6:20-26?
- 📝 How do proponents of the Prosperity Gospel interpret Matthew 19:24?
- 📝 How does the Catholic Church interpret Matthew 23:9 so as to normalize priests being called Father?
- 📝 How do Jehovah's Witnesses interpret Jesus' words in Matthew 24:1–34, about the generation that would not pass away before great tribulation?
- 📝 How do Mormons interpret the warning in Revelation about adding to the book?
- 📝 How do Protestants interpret Matthew 16:13–20?
- 📝 How does Matthew 25:31-46 ("The Sheep and the Goats") reconcile with salvation by faith?
- 📝 How does the Catholic church explain Matthew 19:9, which seems to allow divorce in case of sexual misconduct?
- 📝 Did the early Church Fathers have a complete agreement on how to interpret 1 Peter 3:18-20?
- 📝 How do Protestants interpret "baptized for the dead" in 1 Corinthians 15:29?
- 📝 How does the LDS Church decide what is included in their scriptural canon?
- 📝 How is Matthew 18: 8-9 explained in the context of non works-based salvation?
- 📝 How does the LDS doctrine of assurance compare to the Methodist doctrine of assurance?
- 📝 According to the LDS Church (Mormons), how specifically did Joseph Smith translate the Book of Mormon?
- 📝 How does one become an Apostle in the LDS Church?
- 📝 How do Christians that do not believe in inerrancy interpret the Bible?
- 📝 How do Jehovah's Witnesses interpret verses like Isaiah 9:6 which call the messiah 'God'?
- 📝 Denominations that interpret Matthew 5:32 & 19:9 as NOT permitting divorce in the case of adultery?
- 📝 How do Anglicans interpret the great crowd (144,000) of Revelation 7?
- 📝 How is the situation of "divorce her quietly" in Matthew 1:19 according to Catholicism?
- 📝 How is the divinity of Jesus defended in light of Philippians 2:9 ("God exalted him") and Matthew 28:18?
- 📝 How to interpret C.S. Lewis's use of magic by good moral agents in the Chronicles of Narnia to be acceptable to earth Christians?
- 📝 How does Oneness Pentecostalism interpret Matthew 3:17?
- 📝 How did Swedenborg interpret 1 John 2:2: "He is the propitiation for our sins"?
- 📝 How does spiritual maturity affect our hermeneutic (how we interpret the Bible)?
- 📝 How does the LDS Church handle verses that imply there is no one like God?
- 📝 How has the LDS Word of Wisdom changed since its introduction?
- 📝 How do paedo-baptists interpret the Great Commission?
