[HarleyD]

Don't forget Matthew 19: 10-12

"The disciples said to Him, "If the relationship of the man with his wife is like this, it is better not to marry." But He said to them, "Not all men can accept this statement, but only those to whom it has been given. For there are eunuchs who were born that way from their mother's womb; and there are eunuchs who were made eunuchs by men; and there are also eunuchs who made themselves eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. He who is able to accept this, let him accept it."

I guess some people can't accept it!

[nightdriver]

"I guess some people can't accept it!"

I think you're right.

And then there are always those who are deathly afraid of anyone who has the authority to judge them morally, so they are always trying to discredit God and the Bible.

[CobaltBlue]

The verses in Matthew about M'HAIMNA should be read in the context of the entire passage.

A Pharisee asks Jesus whether it is legal to divorce?

Jesus says no, not unless the wife has been unfaithful. Because God created man and woman to be one flesh and bond together, and what God has bonded, no man should separate.

Then the disciples say, well, in that case, it's better to never marry.

Clearly, the disciples were saying that sticking to one woman is hard to do, so better to fool around than be bound to only one woman through matrimony.

They were not talking about celibacy.

Christ, in response, talks about M'HAIMNA, which is an Aramaic word which can mean eunuch, or it can mean believer, faithful.