Jesus is talking about accepting singleness not that born eunuchs are gay
Some homosexual groups who do not understand the scriptures, or its meaning, point to Matthew 19:12 and attempt to say that Jesus supports the notion of BEING BORN GAY - when he speaks of three types of eunuchs and the first is a person born as a eunuch. However, the context of the conversation has to do with the disciples incorrect view of marriage.
Because they had grown up in a culture where divorce was rampant, largely due to that rabbinical teaching which not only permitted but even required divorce for virtually any reason, the Twelve were more than a little perplexed by what Jesus taught. Many Jews considered divorce a virtue almost on a par with marriage itself. Among the Talmudic writings of the rabbis is the statement, “A bad wife is like leprosy to her husband. What is the remedy? Let him divorce her and be cured of his leprosy” Another rabbi wrote, “If a man has a bad wife, it is a religious duty to divorce her.”
Like the disciples, some Christians today seem afraid that lifelong, unconditional commitment would destine them to a life of boredom and frustrating restrictions. They conclude with the Twelve that it is therefore simply better not to marry. But God planned and designed marital commitment to bring just the opposite. No marriage can be happy and satisfying, much less enduring, without it.
There was a certain truth to what the disciples had just said about it being better not to marry, but the context suggests that it was not that truth they had in mind. Their view of marriage, like that of their fellow Jews, focused primarily on selfish, shallow satisfaction and fulfillment. From a purely practical standpoint they therefore concluded that lonely singleness is preferable to risky marriage.
Jesus reminded them that not all men can accept this statement, but only those to whom it has been given. Singleness has its own problems and temptations, and not every Christian is capable of living a godly single life. Paul said that it is good to remain single for spiritual purposes, but that it was “better to marry than to burn” with lust (1 Cor. 7:8–9).
Accept is from chōreō, which has the basic idea of making room or space for something. Metaphorically it means to completely embrace an idea or principle with the heart and mind so that it becomes part of one’s very nature. Singleness cannot be wholeheartedly accepted simply by human willpower or sincerity. Nor can it be successfully lived out simply by applying the right biblical principles. Celibate singleness is a kind of spiritual gift (1 Cor. 7:7), and only those to whom it has been given can hope to spiritually survive in it, much less find happiness and be effective in the Lord’s service.
Many single Christians endure continual frustration, temptations, and unnecessary loneliness because, for one reason or another, they intentionally avoid marriage. Some perhaps are more concerned about a mate’s looks than character. Some do not want anyone around who may invade and disrupt their selfish world. Others may be looking for the perfect mate, someone who measures up in every detail to their vision of the perfect husband or wife. Others, like certain religious orders, have the mistaken belief that there is spiritual merit in celibacy and choose singleness as a means of gaining God’s favor through self-sacrifice. But singleness based on any such reasons dooms one to a life of disappointment and unfulfillment.
Jesus proceeds to mention the only three categories where there can be successful singleness.
First are eunuchs who were born that way from their mother’s womb. These are people who are born with congenital deformities that involve undeveloped sexual capacity.
Second are eunuchs who were made eunuchs by men, such as were male harem guards of that day. In some ancient religions, castration was considered a way of pleasing and serving a pagan deity, and parents sometimes even had their infant sons castrated for that purpose. Obviously, castrated men do not have normal desires for a woman.
Third are eunuchs who made themselves eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. Unlike the other two forms, this one is not physical. Mutilation of the flesh in order to please God is a purely pagan idea. Jesus is speaking of the voluntary celibacy of those to whom that gift has been granted by God (v. 11). In that case, celibacy can indeed be for the sake of the kingdom of God and be pleasing to Him and used by Him.
Paul had the gift of celibacy and strongly exhorted others who had the gift to be content with it and to use its obvious advantages for God’s glory. “One who is unmarried is concerned about the things of the Lord, how he may please the Lord,” he said; “but one who is married is concerned about the things of the world, how he may please his wife, and his interests are divided. And the woman who is unmarried, and the virgin, is concerned about the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and spirit; but one who is married is concerned about the things of the world, how she may please her husband” (1 Cor. 7:32–34).
He who is able to accept this, let him accept it, Jesus said. In the narrowest and most specific sense the Lord was saying that those who by God’s gift are able to accept a life of celibate singleness should accept it as God’s will for them. But He seems also to have been speaking more broadly about the disciples’ accepting everything He had just taught about marriage, divorce, remarriage, and singleness. They were to put aside the false ideas and practices they had inherited from the humanly-devised and unscriptural rabbinical traditions. In other words, accept what I have been teaching as God’s Word and live accordingly.
The unsaved person cannot accept Jesus’ standards for marriage and divorce, and would not have the resources to live up to those standards if he did accept them. The idea of self-giving, unconditional, and lifelong commitment in any area of life, including marriage, runs completely against the grain of fallen human nature. God’s truth has no authority in an unredeemed life because God Himself has no place in that life.
