Deuteronomy 23:1

Deuteronomy 23:1 says, He that is wounded in the stones, or hath his privy member cut off, shall not enter into the congregation of the LORD.  Eunuchs unable were forbidden to enter in to the congregation of the LORD.  Matthew Henry says that there are different understandings of what this actually means.  Some think it meant they were not to communicate with the congregation of Israel in worship service, some think it meant they were not to serve in any official role, and others think it meant marry an Israelite woman.  We can say today that God never approved anything that would in any way change the sexuality of a person.  Verse two adds, A bastard shall not enter into the congregation of the LORD; even to his tenth generation shall he not enter into the congregation of the LORD.  Moses said a bastard would have these same limitations for ten generations.  Matthew Henry said this did not mean any child born outside of a marriage, but ones born of an incestuous relationship, and though it wasn't the child's fault, the harsh penalty was to discourage these relationships.  Verse three adds, An Ammonite or Moabite shall not enter into the congregation of the LORD; even to their tenth generation shall they not enter into the congregation of the LORD for ever:  Verse four continues, Because they met you not with bread and with water in the way, when ye came forth out of Egypt; and because they hired against thee Balaam the son of Beor of Pethor of Mesopotamia, to curse thee.  Moses said that an Ammonite was forbidden to enter the congregation of Israel for not just the tenth generation, but forever, because they would not help the people of Israel when they left Egypt, but hired Balaam to attempt to curse them.  Verse five concludes, Nevertheless the LORD thy God would not hearken unto Balaam; but the LORD thy God turned the curse into a blessing unto thee, because the LORD thy God loved thee.  Moses said that instead of Balaam being able to curse the people of God,  God turned it into a blessing for them.  God will never take lightly the actions of those who attempt to stand against His people, but He does not exclude any who put their faith in Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord from becoming a part of His kingdom, no matter who they are.  Verse six states, Thou shalt not seek their peace nor their prosperity all thy days for ever.  Moses said that this would apply to these people forever, but as just stated, Jesus Christ made it possible for all people to come into the kingdom of God by putting their faith in Him. Verse seven adds, Thou shalt not abhor an Edomite; for he is thy brother: thou shalt not abhor an Egyptian; because thou wast a stranger in his land.  Moses said they were not to abhor the Edomite, because he was their brother, nor the Egyptians, because they had once offered the people of Israel sanctuary during the drought.  Verse eight continues, The children that are begotten of them shall enter into the congregation of the LORD in their third generation.  These two groups were only forbidden to enter the congregation for three generations.  I am certainly glad that Jesus Christ removed all these restrictions when He died for all our sins for all time.