Genesis 9:18-29

New American Standard Bible

18Now the sons of Noah who came out of the ark were Shem, Ham, and Japheth; andHam was the father of Canaan.19These threewerethe sons of Noah, andfrom these the whole earth was populated.

20Then Noah beganfarming and planted a vineyard.21He drank some of the wine andbecame drunk, and uncovered himself inside his tent.22Ham, the father of Canaan,saw the nakedness of his father, and told his two brothers outside.23But Shem and Japheth took a garment and laid it on both their shoulders and walked backward and covered the nakedness of their father; and their faces wereturned away, so that they did not see their fathers nakedness.24When Noah awoke from his wine, he knew what his youngest son had done to him.25So he said,

Cursed be Canaan;A servant of servantsHe shall be to his brothers.

26He also said,

Blessed be theLord,The God of Shem;And may Canaan be his servant.27May God enlarge Japheth,And may he live in the tents of Shem;And may Canaan behis servant.

28Noah lived 350 years after the flood.29So all the days of Noah were 950 years, and he died.

Malachi 1:6-14 (ESV)

The Priests' Polluted Offerings

6A son honors his father, and a servant his master. If then I ama father, where is my honor? And if I ama master, where is my fear? says theLordof hosts to you, O priests, who despise my name.But you say, How have we despised your name?7By offering polluted food upon my altar.But you say, How have we polluted you? By saying thattheLord's table may be despised.8When you offer blind animals in sacrifice, is that not evil? And when you offer those that are lame or sick, is that not evil? Present that to your governor; will he accept you or show you favor? says theLordof hosts.9And nowentreat the favor of God, that he may be gracious to us. With such a gift from your hand,will he show favor to any of you? says theLordof hosts.10Oh that there were one among you who would shut the doors, that you might not kindle fire on my altar in vain! I have no pleasure in you, says theLordof hosts,and I will not accept an offering from your hand.11For from the rising of the sun to its setting my namewill be[a]great among the nations, and in every place incense will be offered to my name, and a pure offering. For my namewill be great among the nations, says theLordof hosts.12But you profane it when you say thatthe Lord's table is polluted, and its fruit, that is, its food may be despised.13But you say,What a weariness this is, and you snort at it, says theLordof hosts.You bring what has been taken by violence or is lame or sick, and this you bring as your offering! Shall I accept that from your hand? says theLord.14Cursed be the cheat who hasa male in his flock, andvows it, and yet sacrifices to the Lord what is blemished. ForI am a great King, says theLordof hosts, and my namewill be feared among the nations.

The Biblical sexual ethic is liberating and empowering. That's because it isdirectly connected with God's design and purposes leading to human flourishing.Just because it is good doesn't mean it is easy as the world turns the goodcreation of God into something different and constantly presses false views ofsexuality our way. Our own sinful nature is inclined to use this gift of God forsinful self-satisfaction. We need the clear vision that comes through God and HisWord, something Jesus gives us in the Sermon on the Mount. Today we will lookat the Sermon on the Mount and Jesus Words on sexual purity.