What Exactly Was Jesus’ Relationship With Prostitutes…?

Jesus would despise our westernized sexual ethic just as much as He despised the pharisaical piety of His day…

Positioning sex as an unmitigated moral qualm gives way to creating a social stratum that leverages sex as a means of power. (Which, contextualizing this for today, this is exactly how the GOP has been able to legislate a hateful “morality” pitted against LGBTQ, and yes, even women at large…)

Jesus saw the violence inflicted and justified through this ethic; this ethic that was weighted so heavily on demonizing sex – particularly it’s negative and very oppressive effects imposed upon both men and women.

Putting it plainly: His message seemed to be consistent; consistent, in that love always went before the law.

He seemed to adamantly press against the “law” when it’s oppressive effects became glaringly obvious; which, this is extremely different from His trying to abolish the law[1].

It is then used for the opposite purpose of integration. The tax collectors, the “sinners,” the lepers, and yes the prostitutes… they were all separated because of this type of morality.

And, “Jesus said to them, ‘Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you.’” – Matthew 21:31 (NIV)

I’m left wondering… with all of this being considered, how does this affect our modern day Church? Is there a difference between a prophet and a pastor? Do these two have to be mutually exclusive? Is there not a prophetic undertone to the apostolic’s mission? And, lastly, what then would be a radically hyperbolic prophetic way of living Jesus would make today?

I’m also already hearing echoes of toxic well-intentioned sentiments saying, “Jesus loved the sinner! He just wants us to hate the sin.”

No… just no.