Sodom and Gomorrah Revisited

The story of Sodom and Gomorrah is worth a fresh look. What did the story mean in it's own context, and to Jesus? Here would be a good place to begin:


“Go . . . to the lost sheep of Israel. As you go, preach this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven is near.’ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received, freely give. Do not take along any gold or silver or copper in your belts; take no bag for the journey, or extra tunic, or sandals or a staff: for the worker is worth his keep. Whatever town or village you enter, search for some worthy person there and stay at his house until you leave. As you enter the home, give it your greeting. If the home is deserving, let your peace rest on it; if it is not, let your peace return to you. If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, shake the dust off your feet when you leave that home or town. I tell you the truth, it will be more bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town.”

Jesus, Matthew 10:6-15

Jesus interpreted the story in the context of an ethic and duty of providing hospitality to strangers, especially those bearing a message from God. In Genesis 18-19, we see a clear contrast between Abraham's and Lot's behavior, and that of the people of the condemned cities. Abraham rushed out to meet and welcome the stranger guests, pleading with them, in good form, to take rest, comfort, and food within his tent. In that welcoming place he and his wife, Sarai, received good news from God that they would, after all, become parents, and God's promise would be fulfilled. Lot likewise welcomed the guests, though in a setting where his protection of them was paramount. Both Abraham and Lot fulfilled their duty as hosts, and pleased God. Jesus, likewise, is prepared to be pleased with people who receive his messengers, and displeased in the extreme toward those who, because of their hard hearts, reject them and God's good news.

Jesus also held up this expectation of providing hospitality in Matthew 25 -- "I was a stranger, and you welcomed me." Such who do so are ushered into the joy of their master; those who refused such hospitality are condemned.

It is clear that ideas of sex are very different in Genesis 19. The men of the city wanted to rape the guests of Lot, not because they were homosexual, but to demonstrate their contempt. In is fact a brutal reality that men in some cultures would employ their sexual capabilities as a weapon of humiliation, forcing, in effect, a man to take the part of a mere woman.

Yes, a mere woman. I think we miss this disconnect from Biblical culture: women were property. This is clear in the ten commandments, where men are ordered not to covet anything belonging to their neighbor -- such things as beasts of burden, and wives. This explains why Lot felt it better to offer his girls to the men than to release his guests from his protection. Girls and women simply did not have the same human value as men, and could be seen as dispensable. In our time Lot's behavior would be considered abusive; certainly when he fathers his own grandchildren at the end of Genesis 19 he would be found guilty, or should be, in our time and culture.

So here is another example, I think, of a severe mistake we can make if we automatically, without reflection, view an ancient story through the lense of our own culture. The story of Sodom and Gomorrah, made to be the perfect proof text against homosexuality, isn't about homosexuality. It is about God's expectation that we, too, will welcome strangers in our midst, treat them with respect, and be open to what God may say to us.


Perhaps Hebrews 13:2 provides a better application for us: “Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it.”