How Would Jesus Treat a Homosexual?

You may have at one time heard or said that Jesus never spoke about homosexuality. This statement is often used to argue, "Since Jesus did not condemn (let alone even talk about) homosexuality, we don't know how Jesus would respond to someoe who is gay." This reasoning from an absence of evidence is not entirely accurate. There is indeed a moment recorded in the gospels that illustrates how Jesus would have treated a homosexaul.

Firstly, we must look at homosexuality and its relation to Jesus' views on a God honoring marriage. When the Pharisees tested Jesus concerning His thoughts on divorce, Jesus says, "Haven’t you read that at the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female,’ and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh?'" (Matthew 19:4-5). It is clear that Jesus says that marriage in accordance with how God established it is between one man and one woman. He also says that this doesn't just apply to certain marriages, but all marriages; past, present and future. This is shown in how Jesus says that a man will leave his father and mother, meaning that the man's parents were one man and one woman. Jesus affirms how God designed marriage to forever be between one man and one woman.

God considers the sexual activities in marriage to be something sacred, and He has a specific title for the sin of committing sexual activities outside of marriage. This sin is known as adultery, and God commands His people, "You shall not commit adultery," (Exodus 20:14). Anyone who engages in sexual activity outside of God's design for marriage (to be between one man and one woman as long as they live) is committing the sin of adultery. Therefore, Jesus would say that two men or two women who engage in sexual activities would be adulterers, because they can never be married according to God's design.

The world wants to define marriage (as well as all of God's perfect designs)
according to its own sinful desires, yet God is the only one who can determine
lawfully what marriage is (Deuteronomy 22:13-30, Leviticus 18:22 and 20:13).

There is a recorded account in the gospel of John where Jesus encountered a woman who was caught in adultery. Though it is not written that she was herself a homosexual, the sin of adultery in which she was caught is an overarching sin and it can include homosexual behavior. The Pharisees brought the sinful woman before Jesus and told Him that according to the law of Moses she should be stoned to death for her sins. Indeed it is written in the books of Moses, "If a man commits adultery with another man’s wife—with the wife of his neighbor—both the adulterer and the adulteress are to be put to death," (Leviticus 20:10). According to God's laws, that woman and the person with whom she engaged in adultery should be killed (though it should be noted the person with whom she was caught engaging in adulterous behavior is not brought before Jesus).

In response to this situation Jesus says to the Pharisees and the crowd ready to kill the adulteress, "Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her," (John 8:7). At this the Pharisees and the crowd slowly drop their stones and leave (John 8:9). It's possible some of them had heard Jesus say earlier in His sermon on the mount, "I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart," (Matthew 5:28). Jesus' words not only demonstrate how seriously God considers the sin of adultery, but also how every man and woman struggles with this sin, whether inwardly or outwardly.

After the Pharisees and the crowd depart, Jesus and the woman are left alone. Jesus says to her, "Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?" (John 8:10). She responds that her accusers have left her, and Jesus says, "Then neither do I condemn you," (John 8:11). Jesus' declaration perfectly aligns with what John writes of Jesus' ministry, "For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him. Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son," (John 3:17-18). Lastly, Jesus says to the woman, "Go now and leave your life of sin," (John 8:11). Essentially with these words Jesus tells the woman caught in adultery that her sin has become a lifestyle to her, and she should never commit adultery again. It's not just that she shouldn't get caught in the act again, but that she shouldn't commit the sin of adultery in private or any place.

Don't let this image deceive you. Jesus does not follow sinful people
(such as adulterers, homosexuals, etc.) away from His Church, but rather comes alongside
sinners to call them to follow Him and abide in His Church (Matthew 10:39).

Those who commit adultery or glorify any sexual activities outside of marraige (including homosexuality) should be aware that Jesus calls such behavior sinful. He says that God will punish all those who are condemned by their sin (Matthew 25:41). The only way to be free from the just condemnation above all of our heads is to believe in Jesus Christ, turn away from our sins and follow His ways instead (Mark 1:15). Jesus can free anyone caught in their sins, no matter what they have done. We, as believers, must be wise about such things. It is written in first Corinthians chapter 6 from verses 9 to 11: 

Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men [homosexuals] nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

No matter what sin you have committed, God has caught you in the act, because nothing is hidden from Him. Yet, Jesus does not condemn you, because His desire is to save you from the condemnation you already face. Know that if you are an adulterer who revels in their adultery, then there is not a place for you in Heaven. You must be washed from your sins. If you confess your sins to Jesus, then God will forgive you (1 John 1:9). Jesus assures all who listen to Him that anyone He sets free from sin and condemnation "will be free indeed," (John 8:36). Leave your life of sin.

"Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble,
whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely,
whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy
—think about such things," (Philippians 4:8).

Sources

• The Bible (New International Version)
• WWUTT: Cast the First Stone
• PureFlix: Verses on Marriage