Genesis 19:4-5

Sodom's Sin

The men of Sodom were involved in the sin of homosexuality. They had become so wicked that they were not ashamed (Isaiah 3:9; 1 Peter 3:19). Their sinfulness had become so great that they would force strangers within their city to participate in their evil deeds (Genesis 19:4-5). Both young and old came to the house of Lot to get him to bring out his visitors that they might "know them carnally." This "knowing" was like that described in Genesis 4:1 and Matthew 1:25.

The sin of homosexuality was punishable by death (Leviticus 20:13). In Romans 1:1-32, Paul describes the downward spiral of the Gentiles into sin. He says, in part, "For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due" (1:26-27).