Did Jesus promote self-castration?

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His disciples said to him, “If that’s the way things are between a man and his wife, then it’s better not to marry.” He replied, “Not everybody can accept this teaching, but only those who have received the ability to accept it. For there are eunuchs who have been eunuchs from birth. And there are eunuchs who have been made eunuchs by other people. And there are eunuchs who have made themselves eunuchs because of the kingdom of heaven. Those who can accept it should accept it.”
Matthew 19:10‭-‬12

It seems in this passage Jesus is promoting castration to thwart sexual temptation. If you know who Eunuchs were it really makes no doubt that’s what he was implying. Am I right?
 
jas84173 said:
His disciples said to him, “If that’s the way things are between a man and his wife, then it’s better not to marry.” He replied, “Not everybody can accept this teaching, but only those who have received the ability to accept it. For there are eunuchs who have been eunuchs from birth. And there are eunuchs who have been made eunuchs by other people. And there are eunuchs who have made themselves eunuchs because of the kingdom of heaven. Those who can accept it should accept it.”
Matthew 19:10‭-‬12

It seems in this passage Jesus is promoting castration to thwart sexual temptation. If you know who Eunuchs were it really makes no doubt that’s what he was implying. Am I right?
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No. Jesus simply meant abstinence.

For there are eunuchs who have been eunuchs from birth.

These are they who are born in such a state.
And there are eunuchs who have been made eunuchs by other people.
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These are the one’s you’re talking about, who are castrated by others.
And there are eunuchs who have made themselves eunuchs because of the kingdom of heaven. Those who can accept it should accept it."
Matthew 19:10‭-‬12
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These are people who desire union with God to the extent that they disavow human sexuality.
 
The New American Bible Revised Edition (NABRE) translates it differently:
[His] disciples said to him, “If that is the case of a man with his wife, it is better not to marry.” He answered, “Not all can accept [this] word, but only those to whom that is granted. Some are incapable of marriage because they were born so; some, because they were made so by others; some, because they have renounced marriage for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. Whoever can accept this ought to accept it.”
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Yah I like the NABRE and the NRSV the best I think.

I have been using this newer translation of late, the Common English Bible (CEB). Got it as a gift. I like how like the NRSV w Deuterocanonical Books, it also includes books of value to the Orthodox. It’s nice to be able to read further into scriptures that Catholics don’t accept.
 
Of course Jesus is talking about abstinence and chastity. Judaism always was against the cruel and nasty operation that made boys into eunuchs, and Jews of Jesus’ time felt very sorry for them. A eunuch could never hold most of the civic or religious offices, however.
Following the Jewish law on this matter, Christians forbade the ordination of eunuchs as bishops or priests.
 
No, Jesus was describing a reality that existed in certain circumstances in his time.
 
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