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The Laing Art Gallery
Destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, oil on canvas, 1852, John Martin
Genesis
The destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. The angels sent to destroy the city go out of their way to make sure Lot is out of there. Lot is very reluctant to leave. I suppose that is because this is his home, regardless of its morality. As a matter of fact, Lot seems to understand Sodom and Gomorrah’s morality in that he meets the visitors at the city gate, insists that they stay with him and sends out his virgin daughters to the mob in order to protect them from molestation. (So, what about his daughters, eh?) Being at the city gate meant he was a prominent citizen and it seems that Abraham argues with God for mercy because he knows his nephew lives in Sodom.
This commentary states that the surrounding area has raised the outcry to God for justice from oppression but I am not sure what is being referenced, here. Are the Sodomites enacting oppression and if so how? Is it because of their own lawlessness? Regardless, Lot is reluctant to leave his home, the land he chose when Abraham gave him the option.
The passage itself doesn’t state plainly what Sodom and Gomorrah have done other than demand Lot give over the visitors to be raped. Well, that’s pretty ugly, but is it for this specifically or for the underlying rot that allows a society to act as a mob? I suspect it is the latter that is the reason for destruction — not necessarily homosexual activity. I think this story is written primarily for people who were immersed in the culture of the time; Lot’s grandsons-by-incest are identified as progenitors of the Moabites and Ammonites who are long standing enemies of the Israelites.
This does not forgive moral decay, but takes the lessons of this story and sinks them in a place and time. Jesus references the depravity of Sodom and Gomorrah but doesn’t mention specific sins, either. I don’t think homosexual activity is sinful; rape is.
Matthew
In this reading, we get the Golden Rule after Jesus instructs his disciples against worrying. I have always liked this passage. I worry about stuff I have no control over but I love that Jesus is saying, “Stop it. Sit down, look around and see that life is sufficient for living right now.” It removes false timetables and pressure to do things that do not matter and drops the burden of hassling expectations. So what if my couch is covered in dog hair or that we are driving cars that are old or live in West Virginia. God has given us a home, transportation, food for the day, health, and a beautiful place to live. What else do we need?
