God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah because their sin — the homosexual wickedness practiced openly by the men of the city — had become so grievous that its cry reached heaven.
The Lord told Abraham, "the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous" (Genesis 18:20). The men of the city surrounded Lot's house and demanded to sexually "know" his two visitors (Genesis 19:5). Les Feldick states plainly that "the reason God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah was because it was homosexual lifestyle," and that the destruction was made an example to all the ungodly (Clip 1; 2 Peter 2:6).
Genesis 18:20 — The Lord Himself identifies the cause of judgment: the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah was great and their sin very grievous.
Genesis 19:5 — The men of Sodom demand to 'know' Lot's guests — the specific wicked act that revealed the city's depravity.
Romans 1:27 — Paul names the same behavior — men with men — as unseemly, receiving in themselves the recompence of their error.
2 Peter 2:6 — Peter confirms the cities were turned to ashes as an ensample to those who would live ungodly.
The Lord's own words record the divine rationale: "Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous; I will go down now, and see whether they have done altogether according to the cry of it, which is come unto me; and if not, I will know" (Genesis 18:20-21). When the two angels arrived at Lot's house, "the men of the city, even the men of Sodom, compassed the house round, both old and young, all the people from every quarter: And they called unto Lot, and said unto him, Where are the men which came in to thee this night? bring them out unto us, that we may know them" (Genesis 19:4-5). Lot went out and pleaded, "I pray you, brethren, do not so wickedly" (Genesis 19:7) — even offering his two virgin daughters (Genesis 19:8) — but the crowd pressed hard against him. The New Testament confirms the cause of judgment. Paul writes of those "leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly" (Romans 1:27). And Peter records that God, "turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly" (2 Peter 2:6). God did, however, deliver "just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked" (2 Peter 2:7).
Les Feldick is emphatic: "the reason God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah was because it was homosexual lifestyle," and the world is never to forget it (Clip 1). He points out that the phrase "that we may know them" is the Scriptural term for intimate relations, and that this is where the term "sodomy" comes from — the Sodomites were interested only in a sexual relationship with the two men, who were actually angels (Clip 3, Clip 7). Les also emphasizes that the whole population of Sodom was "wrapped up in this immoral, rotten lifestyle" (Clip 0). When Lot stepped outside to plead — even offering his own two virgin daughters — the crowd threatened to deal worse with him, showing how far Lot himself had slipped while living in the city (Clip 0).
Before the two men lay down, the men of the city — both old and young, all the people from every quarter — surrounded the house and demanded, "bring them out unto us, that we may know them" (Genesis 19:4-5). Les Feldick explains that "know" is the Scriptural term for intimate relations, and that this is the origin of the term "sodomy." The Sodomites were interested only in a sexual relationship with these two strange men, who were actually angels (Clip 3, Clip 7).
Les describes the destruction as instantaneous — the cities were "wiped out" and "plowed under," so much so that archaeologists have not been able to excavate them (Clip 1). Peter records that God "turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes condemned them with an overthrow" (2 Peter 2:6). The Lord had told Abraham He would go down and see whether they had done according to the cry that had come up to Him (Genesis 18:20-21).
Les teaches that God destroyed the cities "because it was homosexual lifestyle," and that He made them an example the world is never to forget (Clip 1). He reads 2 Peter 2:6 as God telling the world tonight: "Look what I've done to Sodom and Gomorrah. Look what I've done to those kind of people. Wake up!" (Clip 2). God also delivered righteous Lot, who was vexed by the filthy manner of living of the wicked — and Les adds, "by the grace of God, you can be out of that" (Clip 2).
The Bible says the plain of Jordan was "well watered every where... even as the garden of the LORD" before the Lord destroyed the cities (Genesis 13:10). Lot chose all the plain and "pitched his tent toward Sodom" (Genesis 13:11-12). Les notes that Lot did not jump into Sodom with both feet all at once — it was a gradual drift toward the wicked city (Clip 4).
When the Lord revealed His intention concerning Sodom and Gomorrah, Abraham began to bargain with God — "if there's fifty righteous in Sodom, will you spare it? Yes. Forty? Yes. Thirty?" — because his beloved nephew Lot and Lot's offspring were living there (Clip 5). The Lord replied that the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah was great and their sin grievous, and that He would go down and see (Genesis 18:20-21).
Sodom's Immoral Population and Lot's Plea
Readers see here that the whole city was wrapped up in an immoral, rotten lifestyle, and that Lot himself had slipped so far that he offered his own daughters to the mob.
Instantaneous Destruction as an Example
Les states plainly that the reason God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah was the homosexual lifestyle, and that the destruction was an instantaneous, disciplinary example the world is never to forget.
An Example to the Ungodly — and Grace
Les explains that the destruction warns all who live ungodly to wake up, while God delivered righteous Lot, who was vexed by the filthy manner of living of the wicked — and no one is beyond God's grace.
The Sodomites' Lust and the Origin of 'Sodomy'
Les shows that the men of Sodom, not the angels, initiated the sexual demand — the origin of the term 'sodomy' — and connects it to Romans 1:27's description of men with men.
Lot's Choice of the Plain Toward Sodom
Les gives the background: Lot chose the well-watered Jordan Valley, which was like the garden of the Lord, and gradually pitched his tent toward the city that would be destroyed.
Abraham's Plea for the Righteous in Sodom
Readers learn that Abraham's intercession was motivated by love for Lot and his offspring, who had moved into Sodom.
The Cry of Sodom and Gomorrah Was Great
Les points to Genesis 18:20-21, where the Lord says the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great and their sin very grievous, and that He would go down to see for Himself.
The Two Angels Who Came to Sodom
Les clarifies that the two men the Sodomites lusted after were actually angels — from all outward appearances they were men, and the people had no idea.
Genesis 18:20: And the LORD said, Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous;
The Lord Himself states the reason for judgment: Sodom's sin had become so great that its cry reached heaven.
Genesis 18:21: I will go down now, and see whether they have done altogether according to the cry of it, which is come unto me; and if not, I will know.
The Lord declares He will investigate the grievous sin of Sodom and Gomorrah before judging.
Genesis 19:4: But before they lay down, the men of the city, even the men of Sodom, compassed the house round, both old and young, all the people from every quarter:
The entire population of Sodom gathered around Lot's house, showing the city's wholesale involvement in wickedness.
Genesis 19:5: And they called unto Lot, and said unto him, Where are the men which came in to thee this night? bring them out unto us, that we may know them.
The men of Sodom demand sexual access to Lot's visitors — the specific wicked act at the heart of the account.
Genesis 19:7: And said, I pray you, brethren, do not so wickedly.
Lot pleads with the crowd, acknowledging that what they intended was wickedness.
Genesis 19:8: Behold now, I have two daughters which have not known man; let me, I pray you, bring them out unto you, and do ye to them as is good in your eyes: only unto these men do nothing; for therefore came they under the shadow of my roof.
Lot's offer of his virgin daughters reveals how degraded the city's morality had become — and how far Lot had slipped.
Genesis 13:10: And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered every where, before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, even as the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt, as thou comest unto Zoar.
The plain Lot chose was likened to the garden of the Lord before its destruction.
Genesis 13:12: Abram dwelled in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelled in the cities of the plain, and pitched his tent toward Sodom:
Lot pitched his tent toward Sodom, beginning his drift into the wicked city.
Genesis 18:2: And he lift up his eyes and looked, and, lo, three men stood by him: and when he saw them, he ran to meet them from the tent door, and bowed himself toward the ground,
The angels appeared as men; one was the Lord in human form, and the other two went on to Sodom.
Genesis 19:1: And there came two angels to Sodom at even; and Lot sat in the gate of Sodom: and Lot seeing them rose up to meet them; and he bowed himself with his face toward the ground;
The two 'men' the Sodomites lusted after were actually angels sent by God.
Romans 1:27: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.
Paul describes the same homosexual behavior as unseemly and worthy of recompence — reaping what they sow.
2 Peter 2:6: And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly;
Peter confirms the destruction of the cities as an example to all who would live ungodly.
2 Peter 2:7: And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked:
God delivered righteous Lot, who was tormented by the filthy manner of living of the wicked — the very sin that brought judgment.
God destroyed them because their sin was very grievous — the men of the city demanded to have sex with Lot's visitors, and the whole city was wrapped up in this homosexual, immoral lifestyle. The Lord told Abraham that "the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous" (Genesis 18:20). Les Feldick states plainly that the reason was the homosexual lifestyle, and God made them an example.
The men of Sodom surrounded Lot's house and demanded, "bring them out unto us, that we may know them" — the Scriptural term for intimate relations. Les Feldick explains this is the origin of the term "sodomy"; the Sodomites were interested only in a sexual relationship with the two men, who were actually angels (Genesis 19:4-5).
Yes. 2 Peter 2:6 says God turned the cities into ashes, "making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly." Les emphasizes that the world is never to forget this example — God is telling the world tonight, "Wake up!"
Romans 1:27 describes men leaving the natural use of the woman and burning in lust one toward another — the same behavior seen in Sodom. Les reads the Sodom account through Romans 1 to show it is not an acceptable lifestyle but sin deserving judgment, and that those who do such things receive in themselves the recompence of their error.
Watch the Teaching: What the Bible Says About Sodom, Lot, and Judgment (Romans 1)