Matthew 10:14-15, What Did Sodom and Gomorrah Do Wrong?

//Somehow, Sodom and Gomorrah developed a pretty bad reputation. Their story, as you know, is that God destroyed the city with fire from heaven because of their wickedness. Ever wonder what they did that was so bad?

I’ve written about this before, but there seems to be such a misunderstanding that I may as well provide some more context. Ezekiel tells us what Sodom and Gomorrah did that was so naughty: “Behold, this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom, pride, fulness of bread, and abundance of idleness was in her and in her daughters, neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy.” In other words, the city had plenty of bread, but refused to share. Indeed, it was Sodom’s inhospitable treatment of strangers which upset God, according to later Jewish writings. (No, it had nothing to do with sexual perversity.)

This seems to be Jesus’ take on the subject as well. Matthew, Mark and Luke all tell this story: Jesus sends his disciples out to preach, and says that for those who refuse to accept them, it will be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah in the judgment.