“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.

“Jael the wife of Heber took a tent pin and a hammer in her hand. Then while he was fast asleep and exhausted, she stealthily approached him and drove the pin through his temples and beat it into the ground, and he died.”

(Judges 4:21)

What can we learn from Jael today? To find that out, we need to examine her action in detail. Sisera was “army chief under Canaanite King Jabin.” (Insight on the Scriptures, volume II, page 975) The Canaanites dwelt in the country that God had promised to the Israelites. Hence they foreshadowed the worldlings of today, who also live on the earth that Jehovah has promised to his witnesses. So Jabin and Sisera depict people who are hostile towards Jehovah’s Witnesses – apostates, sect advisers, scientists, or intellectuals. Our task today is to kill these people in a transferred sense, while we are waiting on Jehovah to arrange for their literal death before long.

When Sisera approached Jael’s tent, she readily asked him in though her husband was not at home (Judges 4:18) If a Jehovah’s Witness of our time would do the same, the elders would assume that there is fornication, and in fact, the Babylonian Talmud says that Jael committed adultery with Sisera. (Horavoth 10b) Besides, “there was peace between Jabin the king of Hazor and the house of Heber the Kenite [to which Jael belonged].” (Judges 4:17) She must have known “that, according to the Oriental code, it was a host’s responsibility to protect guests in his home, defending them even to the point of death if necessary.” (The Watchtower, December 1, 1979, page 31) But “Jael acted courageously, seizing the opportunity” to kill her guest insidiously. – The Watchtower, September 15, 1978, page 23.

What do we learn from this? Adultery has always been a serious sin, and murdering a guest was something utterly unthinkable in Jael’s culture. Still, she knew that she was not to miss any opportunity to kill the enemies of Jehovah and his witnesses. Sisera’s death was by far more important that any worldly or religious laws. We too “must obey God as ruler rather than men” whenever we run across an apostate. – Acts 5:29.

“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.

“Out of the heart’s abundance his mouth speaks.”

(Luke 6:45)

As Christians we must ‘guard what we feed our mind.’ (Awake!, June 22, 1984, page 5) When we need to decide whether a topic is worth pondering or not, we should follow Jesus Christ’s example. How did he feed his mind? We can learn this from his statements, for “what we usually talk about is a good indication of what our heart is set on.” – The Watchtower, October 15, 2001, page 23.

What did Jesus “usually talk about?” One of his favorite topics was wine; he talked about wineskins, vine dressers, vineyards, and a winepress. (Matthew 9:17; 20:1; 21:28, 33; 26:29; Luke 10:34; 13:6) “Jesus often drank wine” and told his disciples: “I am the true vine … I am the vine.” – The Watchtower, December 15, 1996, page 25; John 1:1, 5.

Are alcoholic beverages taking the first place in your life, too? If not, “it may be time to think seriously about the use of alcohol in your home.” (Awake!, February 8, 1975, page 18) As Christians we must “imitate the perfect example of Jesus Christ” and develop “a godly view of alcoholic beverages.” – The Watchtower, July 1, 1977, page 407; December 15, 1996, page 25.

Jesus did not only talk about wine though. Harlots, fornication, and virgins also played a major role in his stories. (Matthew 5:32; 19:9; 21:31, 32; 25:1; Luke 15:30) We should imitate him in this regard too. We must avoid being distracted by unimportant issues. A young Christian remembered: “I couldn’t concentrate on sex as long as I was concentrating on something else.” (Awake!, July 22, 1993, page 22) Whether we go for wine, virgins, or harlots – all Christians should heed the counsel: “Always look to the example and teachings of Jesus Christ, and do your best to imitate him.” – The Watchtower, June 15, 1976, page 380.

“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.

“Carry on as men.”

(1 Corinthians 16:13, NWT 1984)

”Those charged with oversight of a congregation are described in the Bible as being males. The 12 apostles of Jesus Christ were all males, and those later appointed to be overseers and ministerial servants in Christian congregations were males.” (Reasoning From the Scriptures, page 432) But unfortunately, “men think,” hence they are less prone to the pseudo-religious moronism spread by Jehovah’s Witnesses. (Making Your Family Life Happy, page 52) That is why “fewer men than women are embracing the Kingdom message” and there are more women than men in the congregations of Jehovah’s Witnesses.

Are these congregations lacking leadership? True, “since ancient times qualified ‘older men’ have been used to take the lead in the affairs of Jehovah’s people.” (The Watchtower, September 1, 1983, page 18) But according to the Bible, “Christian women [are] to carry on as men.” (The Watchtower, October 1, 1982, page 25) Some women even “act with more understanding than older men.” (Psalm 119:100) And “the time left is reduced,” hence it is appropriate that Jehovah now also uses women as “men to take the lead in spiritual matters.” – 1 Corinthians 7:29; The Watchtower, November 15, 2011, page 28.

“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!

“Honor your father and your mother.”

(Deuteronomy 5:16)

For thousands of years, parents have been persistently quoting this command when their children refused to obey them. But what kind of “honor” is it about? Everything that Jesus did was “in conformity to God’s law to Israel” which included the abovementioned command. (Insight on the Scriptures, volume II, page 58) He gave us “the ideal, the perfect, example to follow.” – The Watchtower, December 15, 1985, page 5.

How did Jesus ‘honor’ his mother? Once “the mother of Jesus” asked him a favor, “but Jesus said to her: ‘What have I to do with you, woman?’” (John 2:3, 4, NWT 1984) He did not ‘honor’ his mother by obedience – rather he forbid her any intervention in his life whatsoever. Like his fellow Jews, he likely knew that “from garments cometh a moth, and from women [especially from mothers] wickedness.” – Ben Sira 42:13, KJV.

However, we should follow Jesus’ example not only when dealing with our literal mothers but also regarding “Jehovah’s organization [which] is like a mother.” (1998 Yearbook of Jehovah’s Witnesses, page 161) Whenever the Watchtower organization tries to meddle in our affairs, we should reply like Jesus: “You must not tell me what to do.” (John 2:4, CEV) We should allow neither our literal mothers nor “Jehovah’s motherlike organization” to decide on our lives. – The Watchtower, June 1, 1998, page 23.

“I am not married!”

(Luke 1:34, CEV)

An “angel” came to Mary’s home and talked to her. (Luke 1:26) She told her visitor that she was not married and was still “a virgin,” then she asked him: “How can I have a baby?” (Luke 1:34, NLT) Shortly thereafter the “angel” told her that she would soon be pregnant. (Luke 1:35) Who was the “angel”?

“In the original Bible languages, the words rendered ‘angel’ … literally mean ‘one who brings a message’ or simply ‘messenger.’” (Awake!, March 8, 1990, page 20) “Both … words translated ‘angel’ in the Bible  … are also used with reference to human messengers.” (The Watchtower, December 1, 1969, page 735) The apostle John once met “seven angels with … seven trumpets,” and indeed in the 19th century ‘military post trumpets were used by the postilions’ in some countries. (Wikipedia) So there is no doubt that “the seven angels with the seven trumpets” were seven postmen. – Revelation 8:6.

Even back in Mary’s time there was a postal organization covering the whole Roman Empire. (Wikipedia) “In the cities, house slaves acted as … mailmen.” (Sklaven im Römischen Reich) In the past, “the postman … [had been] the most familiar visitor to home.” (Awake!, April 8, 1995, page 10) No wonder the Bible says that “Jesus … was thought to be the son of Joseph.” (Luke 3:23, HCSB) In actual fact, he was the son of the “angel” or mailman.