(1) A eunuch ( /ˈjuːnək/; Greek: Ευνούχος) is a person born male who is often castrated, typically early enough in his life for this change to have major hormonal consequences. (2) Less commonly, in translations of ancient texts, "eunuch" may refer to a man who is not castrated but who is impotent, celibate, or who displays effeminate characteristics.
Now that you have the definition of the word eunuch, we will use the less comman definition as according to what God has to say about eunuchs, a man who has not been castrated but is celibate...
Matthew chapter 19: And I say to you, whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery; and whoever marries her who is divorced commits adultery.� His disciples said to Him, �If such is the case of the man with his wife, it is better not to marry.�
But He said to them, �All cannot accept this saying, but only those to whom it has been given: For there are eunuchs who were born this way from their mother�s womb, and there are eunuchs who were made eunuchs by men, and there are eunuchs who have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven�s sake. He who is able to accept it, let him accept it.�
When Jesus answers by saying "some (meaning some men) "cannot accept this saying"... Do you think Jesus is speaking about some men are called to be married and some are not? And those who can accept being eunuchs (celiabte) should remain single, and those who cannot accept bein an eunuch the celibate life-style should married?
Good question Ella...that I don't have the answer to:laugh:
I do wonder if by being single, one reaches a higher form of spirituality, due to becoming more like Jesus, since when he was in the flesh he did not sin or marry. By becoming more like Jesus, we don't have to marry, it is more a desire of the flesh. That is why I wonder sometimes if we are not meant to marry after divorce? I wonder what happens spiritually, since when you marry, you become one with another person, so does G-d always see us as such. Does the sexual act with another break the spiritual bond?
When Jesus answers by saying "some (meaning some men) "cannot accept this saying"... Do you think Jesus is speaking about some men are called to be married and some are not? And those who can accept being eunuchs (celiabte) should remain single, and those who cannot accept bein an eunuch the celibate life-style should married?
*** Yup !!! I believe Jesus is saying that�
I do wonder if by being single, one reaches a higher form of spirituality, due to becoming more like Jesus, since when he was in the flesh he did not sin or marry. By becoming more like Jesus, we don't have to marry, it is more a desire of the flesh. That is why I wonder sometimes if we are not meant to marry after divorce? I wonder what happens spiritually, since when you marry, you become one with another person, so does G-d always see us as such. Does the sexual act with another break the spiritual bond?
Yup !!! to all that�and thats alot...:laugh:...makes me remember Moses�he sent his wife away because what he was called to do for the LORD took every minute of every hour of everyday and a lot of energy to complete it�not to mention having to day in and day out deal with all the murmering from the Israelites�xo
How can a Spiritual Shepherd...a Spiritual Father have one foot in God's Kingdom and one foot in Man's?
Is he not Divided? How can such a man devote himself to both a Wife and Children and Mortgage and...everything else that "tugs" on a Secular Man..and also the DEMANDS of God and the Shepherd's Flock?
The things of the Flesh hold Man to this Earth.
Some Priests not only take Vows of Celibacy...but also Vows of Poverty.
I am sure some of you will bring up those Priests that have fallen to Pedophilia and Homosexuality. This is a Tragedy of which The Church has to accept partial blame.
When young men are placed in a setting where there are only other young men�and then these young men have �sexual urges� and their Teachers just tell them to �pray that it be removed� and then �leave it at that��what did occur is the result.
But that does not change or detract from the fact that Celibate and Unmarried is the Proper Way for a Priest to be.
I agree that a priest or anyone for that matter who is celibate/unmarried, is in a position to devote more of himself or entirely of himself to the Lord and the things of the Lord. However, I don't see where "A Priest is called to be Unmarried and Celibate" is a requirement found in Scripture. I have sat under some very devoted Pastors who were married with children and no doubt serving the calling of the Lord. God can and does use both.
Yes, everybody gave some good answers, and as pretaining to the Priests who have taken vows that are based upon the Catholic church doctirnes and teaching, as pointed out this is not found in scripture, whether its celibacy or a poverty vow. Therefore, it is as Jesus spoke, "they have been made eunuchs by men, because they wanted to be in the ministry and this was a requirement of the church, by not a requirement by God for the call into HIS MINISTRY WORKS.
As Jeus said: For there are eunuchs who were born this way from their mother�s womb, and there are eunuchs who were made eunuchs by men, and there are eunuchs who have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven�s sake. He who is able to accept it, let him accept it.�
And yes, there are those who have THEMSELVES made this call of celibacy by CHOICE, as not being a requirment of a church or by God, as Paul did and speaks about in I Corinthians chapter 7:7 " For I wish that all men were even as I myself. But each one has his own gift from God, one in this manner and another in that." ... Paul also says this: 32 But I want you to be without care. He who is unmarried cares for the things of the Lord�how he may please the Lord. 33 But he who is married cares about the things of the world�how he may please his wife."
Some of the apsotles were also married and some even took their wives on their mission journeys with them. We know this that Peter was married, because Jesus was called to his home to heal his wifer. Therefore, Priests who take the vow of the Catholic church to be in ministry this is not something that is of God, but is of the doctrine of the Catholic church, and is unfounded in God's word as a requirement for ministry. Even as not being in accordance with I Timothy chapter 3... Pauls lets us know that to marry should be a choice, not a requiremnet for ministry.
I also think this is a bad doctrine of the Catholic church, and is the casue of many problems.
