Articles
Coping with Life 43 – Prostitution
Coping with Life 43 – Prostitution
Mike Willis
I have previously written of what the Bible teaches about sexuality: God made mankind both male and female and gave them instructions to “be fruitful and multiply.” When Genesis 1 concludes, God said that the creation was exactly as God wanted it to be, “very good” (Gen. 1:31). There is nothing nasty, dirty, or unclean about human sexuality, but it is reserved for the marriage bond (Heb. 13:4). Previously, we have also looked at sinful sexual lust and fornication. In this article, I want to cover what the Bible says about prostitution.
In the Old Testament, prostitution was condemned as a violation of God’s moral code. The Law prohibited fathers from making their daughters prostitutes: “Do not profane your daughter by making her a prostitute, lest the land fall into prostitution and the land become full of depravity” (Lev. 19:29). Many ancient legal codes from the Middle East contain laws relative to prostitution (for example, ANET, 160, 183-185). The legal code of Israel was very strict, imposing the death penalty upon fornicators, adulterers, incestuous relationships and prostitution (Exod. 20:14; Lev. 18:20; 20:10; Deut. 22:22). God commanded Israel to be holy: “You shall be holy to me, for I the LORD am holy and have separated you from the peoples, that you should be mine” (Lev. 20:26).
Prostitution denigrates sexuality. It is degrading for the prostitute who chooses to sell her body to anyone who is willing to pay her for sex. Unlike the relationship of sex inside the marriage bond in which the sexual partner is one’s valued and esteemed companion for life, the prostitute is not treated as a person, but as a thing used to satisfy the lust of the one purchasing her services. When his lusts are satisfied, he walks away from the hired sexual worker without feeling any emotional attachment or any obligation to join her in raising the child who might be conceived. It is sad to see young ladies exposing and displaying their bodies beside the city streets as advertisement for her services. What is even sadder is to see an older prostitute who has sold herself for years, but now finds her aging body lesser attractive and unable to compete with younger, more attractive women. She continues to belittle herself by lowering her prices, because fewer and fewer men find her appealing. Eventually, she becomes worthless in men’s eyes.
There is good news for the prostitute. God’s grace is just as available to her as it is for the most self-righteous Pharisee. Jesus Himself said, “Truly, I say to you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes go into the kingdom of God before you. For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes believed him” (Matt. 21:31-32). The gospel offers sinners the opportunity to start all over again. It is called being “born again.” Regardless of what sins a person may have committed, God invites that person saying, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light” (Matt. 11:28-30).
The books of Hebrews and James specifically mention the great faith of the harlot Rahab who hid the spies at Jericho (Heb. 11:31; James 2:25). Matthew 1:5 mentions her name in giving the ancestry of Jesus. As a matter of fact, four women are included in the ancestry of Jesus each of whom had suspicions of illegitimacy in sexual activity and childbearing. Each of these women reclaimed her life through the grace of God. Furthermore, in the Parable of the Prodigal son, Jesus rebuked the elder brother who described his penitent younger brother who was returning to the Father saying, “this son of yours came, who has devoured your property with prostitutes” (Luke 15:30). But the Father forgave the sinful son who consorted with prostitutes and was just as willing to receive the penitent prostitute as He was her “john” (see John 8:1-11)! That is the good news of the gospel!
