“I tell you, in that night two men will be in one bed.”

(Luke 17:34, NWT 1984)

“Homosexuality and … [other immoral practices] were common” in Biblical times. (The Watchtower, July 1,1996, page 3) Hence it went without saying that Jesus mentioned in a parable “two men” being “in one bed” together. After all, “Christ Jesus is the Greater David.” (“All Scripture Is Inspired of God and Beneficial”, page 105) David once sang: “My brother Jonathan; you were very dear to me. More wonderful was your love to me than the love of women.” – 2 Samuel 1:26.

The account of Abishag the Shunammite also implies that David had homosexual inclinations. She was “a young virgin” and “very beautiful,” and David’s servants hoped that she would “serve the king and … lie beside him” – but to their disappointment, “the king had no sexual relations with her.” (1 Kings 1:2-4, NIV) No wonder, for long before he had written: “Look! How good and how pleasant it is for brothers to dwell together!” (Psalm 133:1) Paul, a zealous worshipper of God, followed David’s example and said: “It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman.” – 1 Corinthians 7:1, NIV.

Some may object, does the Bible not say in 1 Corinthians 6:9 that homosexuals would not inherit God’s Kingdom? Yes, this is true. homosexuals will not inherit God’s Kingdom. But heterosexuals won’t, too, since you can only inherit something after the decedent’s death. Hence a person could “inherit God’s Kingdom” only after God’s death, but God “lives forever and ever.” (Revelation 4:10) Thus “do not be misled. Neither … men who lie with men, nor [men who lie with women, nor men who lie with nobody] … will inherit God’s kingdom.” – 1 Corinthians 6:9, 10.

“She will return to her hire and prostitute herself … Her profit and her hire will become something holy to Jehovah … Her hire will be for those dwelling before Jehovah.”

(Isaiah 23:17, 18)

Some imitation Christians who are influenced by teachings of false religion may be surprised, but the Biblical statement is clear: The “profit” or “hire” of prostitutes is “something holy to Jehovah.” That is why James asked: “Was not Rahab the prostitute also declared righteous?” (James 2:25) Indeed, Rahab had loved the Israelite spies ‘with her whole soul.’ – Matthew 22:37.

Jehovah is especially pleased when a prostitute uses a part of her profit “for those dwelling before Jehovah,” that is, when she donates it to the worldwide preaching work. Still in the 10th century, Pope John XII operated an own brothel at St. Peter’s Basilica. But then apostasy became rampant, so that gradually all churchly brothels have been closed. Finally, the apostate clergy banned prostitution completely. So they resembled the Pharisees whom Jesus told: “Truly I say to you that the tax collectors and the prostitutes are going ahead of you into the Kingdom of God.” (Matthew 21:31) Contrary to religious leaders, prostitutes have a guaranteed place in God’s kingdom.

That is why faithful servants of God, like Judah or Samson, did not abstain from calling on prostitutes’ services. (Genesis 38:16; Judges 16:1) The prophet Hosea was even instructed by Jehovah himself: “’Go, take to thee a woman of whoredoms.” (Hosea 1:2, YLT) True, in some verses the Bible speaks negatively of prostitution. But all these cases relate to married women accused of adultery. (Isaiah 57:3; Ezekiel 23:43) Neither Moses nor Jesus banned prostitution, but both condemned adultery. (Leviticus 20:10; Luke 16:18) So if you want a married woman, do not commit adultery but rather liquidate her husband. – 1 Samuel 25:3, 13.

“He brought me into the house of wine.”

(Song of Solomon 2:4, NWT 1984)

Christian parents are given the advice: “Discuss with your teenager the fine Bible example of the beautiful young Shulammite maiden.” (Awake!, February 22, 1992, page 10) Her “dear one” brought her “into the house of wine” – and for sure they have not only watched the wine jugs there. Anyway, after some time the Shulammite said to her shepherd lover: “My breasts are like Watchtowers … I surrender myself to my beloved.” – Song of Solomon 8:10, Hoffnung für Alle.

We do not know how thoroughly the shepherd “studied the Watchtower.” (The Watchtower, December 1, 2006, page 14) But in any case, young people of today should imitate the Shulammite and her lover by going to the places where “consumption of alcohol is at its highest.” (Awake!, March 8, 1986, page 3) This will help them ‘not to rely on their own understanding’ according to the Biblical advice. – Proverbs 3:5.

When should children start drinking alcohol? The Shulammite’s boyfriend had begun at tender age. He remembered his early childhood and told: “I have drunk my wine along with my milk.” (Song of Solomon 5:1, NWT 1984) Thus Jehovah advises all Christian parents: “Buy wine and milk.” (Isaiah 55:1) Anyone who does not drink wine is not a true Christian; after all, Jesus commanded his disciples even to “keep” drinking. (1 Timothy 5:23; 1 Corinthians 11:24) And “no age is too early to begin.” – The Watchtower, July 1, 1971, page 395.

“So these men … were thrown into the burning fiery furnace.”

(Daniel 3:21)

The pagan king Nebuchadnezzar threw three men “into the burning fiery furnace” because they refused to worship his gods. (Daniel 3:14, 21) This is not the only Bible account that puts furnaces in a negative context. The prophet Hosea condemned the apostate Israelites: “All of them are adulterers, like a furnace.” (Hosea 7:4, NWT 1984) So furnaces were as bad as adulterers – and back then, adultery was one of the worst crimes imaginable. Adulterers had to “be put to death without fail.” – Leviticus 20:10.

The Bible further mentions a “metalsmith” making idols “over the coals,” that is, by the help of a furnace. (Isaiah 44:12) On another occasion, apostate king Jehoiakim “was sitting … with a fire burning in the brazier before him,” and he used this kind of oven to burn the scroll of the prophet Jeremiah. (Jeremiah 36:22, 23) “The slaves and the officers” of the High Priest also “were standing around a charcoal fire they had made” during Jesus’ conviction. (John 18:18) Is it not interesting that the Bible mentions fires and furnaces so often in regard to Gods enemies? This shows without doubt that God does not approve the use of furnaces and heatings. This is probably also the reason why “faithful Abraham … went out from the Chaldean city of Ur,” since Ur was the birthplace of central heating. – Insight on the Scriptures, volume I, page 974; Bringing God’s Word to the Nations.

Does this mean that Christians should not heat at all? Yes, since God himself declared that “the earth will never cease to have … cold and heat.” (Genesis 8:22) The winter cold is an order from God, that is why the apostle Paul served him “in cold and lacking clothing.” (2 Corinthians 11:27) Therefor let us imitate the faithful worshippers of old by living with “no covering for the cold.” (Job 24:7) If we live in a house with heating, we should follow Abraham’s example and move out immediately. Only then we might have a chance to survive “the day … that is burning like the furnace.” – Malachi 4:1, NWT 1984.

“Pay no attention to this worthless man Nabal, for he lives up to his name: His name is Nabal, and stupidity is all he knows.”

(1 Samuel 25:25, HCSB)

In the article “Wives – Deeply Respect Your Husbands,” the Watchtower asked its readers: “What can wives learn from the example of such Bible characters as Abigail?” (February 15, 2007, page 21) The answer is apparent, for today’s text is a fine example of “Abigail’s humility, deep respect, and clear thinking.” (The Watchtower, November 1, page 11) Christian women of today should imitate “her being respectful and mild.” – The Watchtower, August 15, 1976, page 484.

“Husbands, continue loving your wives, just as the Christ also loved the congregation.”

(Ephesians 5:25)

The apostle Peter instructed Christian men: “Husbands … live with your wives with understanding since they are weaker than you are. Honor your wives.” (1 Peter 3:7, GWT) “Indeed, God’s Word plainly says that wives should be assigned ‘honor.’” (Awake!, February 8, 1993, page 13) But how should that look like in practice? Should a husband open the door for his wife, adjust her chair, or in any other way behave like a “gentleman?” One might think so, but the famous judge Joseph F. Rutherford stated with regard to the men of his day: “The men have become effeminate, soft and easily influenced, and have lost their real manhood … For instance, when men are sitting at a table and a woman approaches,
all the men arise and pay her homage … The men remove their hats upon entering an elevator, if a woman is present; and these things are said to be acts of respect and to show that a man is a gentleman. But it is subtle, and the real meaning is much different from that. It is a scheme of Satan to turn men away from God and from his announced rule of the proper position of man and woman … The scheme or habit of paying homage to women is not of God, but from the great enemy of God. It is a veneer of being a proper thing, and therefore it is more subtle than otherwise.” – Vindication, volume I, page 156.

Thus the obeisance to women that is common in the world is not acceptable to God, but was introduced by Satan, the Devil. So, what kind of “honor” that husbands should show to their wives did the apostle Paul think of? In Ephesians 5:25 he instructed men to ‘love their wives just as the Christ loved the congregation.’ And “Jesus perfectly imitated his beloved heavenly Father.” (Come Be My Follower, page 144) How does Jehovah show his love for his worshippers? Again Paul provides the answer: “The Lord punishes everyone He loves. He whips every … [person] He receives.” (Proverbs 3:11-12, NLV) Since Jehovah wants all his male worshippers to “become imitators of God,” he has wisely made sure that “women are weaker than men.” – Ephesians 5:1; 1 Peter 3:7, NLV.

According to the Bible, every husband “must love his wife,” and consequently “from time to time he will beat his wife.” (Ephesians 5:33; Awake!, November 22, 1988, page 8) In this context, “remember the words … by one wife beater: ‘If we stop beating, we lose control. And that’s unthinkable.’” (Awake!, November 22, 1988, page 6) The same magazine also explained how to recognize a a good husband: “Does … [he] freely tell others – outside family members, friends, other Christians – that from time to time he will beat his wife, inflict bodily harm on her, because he loves her so much?” – page 8.

“One time Samson went to Gaza and saw a prostitute there, and he went in to her.”

(Judges 16:1)

Worshippers of God never steered clear of prostitutes’ houses. “When Judah saw … [Tamar,] he thought she was a prostitute, since she had concealed her face. So on the way, he turned aside, approached her, and said, ‘Come on! Let’s have some sex!’ … So he .. had sex with her.” (Genesis 38:15-18, ISV) Centuries later, Joshua sent out two spies, and “the two men set out and came to the house of a prostitute named Rahab and stayed there that night.” (Joshua 2:1, NLT) Samson followed the example of these faithful role models; he “went to Gaza and saw a prostitute there, and he went in to her.” – Judges 16:1.

Did the conduct of these men displease God? Not at all, for Judah became an ancestor of the Messiah, and the two spies were blessed by Jehovah, too. (Joshua 6:20) Even “the prostitute Rahab … received God’s approval because of what she did.” (James 2:25, GWT) And the apostle Paul ranked Samson among the “‘great cloud’ of good examples.” (Hebrews 12:1, The Watchtower, July 1, 2000, page 21) Consequently Christian men today also also obliged to ‘go in’ when they encounter a prostitute or come across a brothel.

This truth from God’s word sheds also light onto Jesus’ words towards the Sadducees. He told them: “When people come back to life, they don’t marry.” (Matthew 22:30) Not for nothing, Jesus promised his male listeners: “Prostitutes precede you to the Kingdom of God.” (Matthew 21:31, ABPE) Along with many other women, Rahab “will return to her hire and prostitute herself … Her profit and her hire will become something holy to Jehovah.” (Isaiah 23:17, 18) Their occupation will be simplified because “the Creator of human reproductive power will himself justly regulate its use … There will be no need for abortions.” (Awake!, April 8, 1988, page 27) What wonderful prospects lie ahead!

“If he also asks for an egg, will [you] hand him a scorpion?”

(Luke 11:12)

“Jehovah’s Witnesses write Easter off.” (Awake!, May 22, 1986, page 8) When their children are confronted with Easter eggs and Easter bunnies in shops and elsewhere, they basically claim that “anyone who eats their eggs would die.” (Isaiah 59:5) But can this strict position be justified with the Bible?

Obviously not. Jesus said to his disciples: “Which father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will hand him a serpent instead of a fish? Or if he also asks for an egg, will hand him a scorpion?” (Luke 11:11, 12) So there were Christians who were asked by their children “for a fish” and “an egg” – without doubt this happened during the Passion Week where they ate fish on Friday and hunted Easter eggs on Sunday. So it is certain that the first Christians celebrated Easter.

Christians of today should also do that, especially if they have children. However, when purchasing Easter eggs, they must consider the advice given by the “faithful and discreet slave,” God’s channel of communication: “Whether the large, medium or small eggs are the best buy can be determined if you remember this: if the price of medium eggs is seven·eighths as much as large eggs, the cost is actually the same for both sizes.” (Awake!, November 22, 1969, page 23) Christian parents can utilize the Egg hunt to teach their children precious Bible truths, for example that the Easter bunny is a ruminant – Leviticus 11:6

“After they did everything that the king had commanded …

… God listened to their entreaties for the land.” (2 Samuel 1:14)

What had happened in Israel? “There was a famine in the days of David for three consecutive years.” Only after three years, “David consulted Jehovah, and Jehovah said: ‘There is bloodguilt on Saul and on his house, because he put the Gibeonites to death.’” (2 Samuel 21:1) So the famine had been sent by Jehovah to punish the people for Saul’s transgression. How was the problem finally sorted out?

David approached the Gibeonites, and they proposed: “Let seven of … [Saul’s] male descendants be given to us to be killed and their bodies exposed before the Lord at Gibeah.” David “said, ‘I will give them to you.’ … He handed them over to the Gibeonites, who killed them and exposed their bodies on a hill before the Lord.” (2 Samuel 21:6, 9, NIV) Was this human sacrifice pleasing to God? Obviously, since “after they did … [this,] God listened to their entreaties for the land” and ended the famine. – 2 Samuel 1:14.

When we have the feeling that Jehovah doesn’t bless us, maybe we have a similar issue like the Israelites. Unfortunately, “the law of the land … forbid[s] us to kill apostates, even though they be members of our own flesh-and-blood family relationship,” so that we cannot kill them and their children and ‘expose them before the Lord.’ (The Watchtower, November 15, 1952, page 703) But perhaps we have let ourselves get carried away and got in touch with apostates, maybe because they are members of our family. We must never forget that we need to completely shun such persons until Jehovah will slaughter them in Armageddon!

“Gather together the fragments left over …

… so that nothing is wasted.” (John 6:12)

Though he could miraculously produce it in abundance, “Jesus carefully avoided wasting food.” (Awake!, August 22, 2002, page 10) Thus, after a feeding, he instructed his disciples to gather up not only leftover breads but even “fragments” from the dirty ground. What does that mean for Christians today?

”Jesus Christ provides the perfect model to follow.” (The Watchtower, September 1, 1993, page 11) Hence we should gather up the leftover crumbs from the floor after every meal, “so that nothing is wasted.” (John 6:12) Only “unappreciative and thoughtless … [people] who are self-centered and governed by fads and trivial likes and dislikes” would “waste … food.” – Awake!, August 22, 2002, page 7.

Regarding crumbs and fragments, Jesus’ model leaves no doubt. But what “if food looks or smells suspicious?” Note that Jehovah says through his channel of communication: “Food-borne illness often comes and goes without severe consequences.” Indeed food poisoning “can be fatal” sometimes, but for such cases there is always “the wonderful resurrection hope.” – Awake!, November 22, 1995, page 22; The Watchtower, July 15, 1993, page 28.

“We Christians should be aware that tests of faith may be many and varied.” (The Watchtower, May 15, 1998, page 14) The “faithful and discreet slave” warns us against such a test: “Imagine that you are about to eat a tasty piece of fruit but then notice that a part of it is rotten. What will you do? Well, you could eat the entire fruit, even the bad part; you could throw away the entire fruit, including the bad part; or you could cut the bad part out of the fruit and enjoy the good part. What choice will you make?” (“Keep Yourselves in God’s Love”, page 62) Indeed, “what choice will you make” if you want to please God?