What does the Bible say about handicapped people?

Answer 1

In a passage in the Bible Jesus said that If your hand causes you to sin cut it off, if your eyes cause you to sin pluck it out, it is better to enter the kingdom of God with one hand (leg,eye or ear) than to have both but be thrown to Hell.

Ex.4:11Who maketh the dumb, or deaf, or the seeing, or the blind? have not I the LORD?Lev.21:17-23Whosoever ... hath any blemish, let him not approach to offer the bread of his God. For whatsoever man he be that hath a blemish, he shall not approach: a blind man, or a lame, or he that hath a flat nose, or any thing superfluous, Or a man that is brokenfooted, or brokenhanded, Or crookbackt, or a dwarf, or that hath a blemish in his eye, or be scurvy, or scabbed, or hath his stones broken; No man that hath a blemish of the seed of Aaron the priest shall come nigh to offer the offerings of the LORD made by fire: he hath a blemish; he shall not come nigh to offer the bread of his God. ... Only he shall not go in unto the vail, nor come nigh unto the altar, because he hath a blemish; that he profane not my sanctuaries.

Leviticus 21:17-23 is a good answer but, if you notice the last sentence "Only he shall not go in unto the vail, nor come nigh unto the altar, because he hath a blemish; that he profane not my sanctuaries." unto the vail and come nigh to the altar refers to the section the altar that was known as The Holy of Holies. The Holy of Holies was the most sacred area in the temple. It was in the Old Testament where the deepest part of the temple was. Where God's presence was to receive the sacrifices on the Day of Atonement. This altar area was to be kept clean and pure. Pure and clean from everything, sin, dirt, unclean animal also. Only the cleanest and unmarked or blemished animals could be used as a sacrifice. And of course dirty or not clean or not pure Hebrews were not allowed. In fact the Holy of Holies or the Holiest Place could only be entered by the high priest and only on the Day Of Atonement.

That was during the days of the Old Testament. We now live under the New Testament. In fact when Jesus died on the cross, the veil mentioned above was shred, which represented the beginning of the New Testament. Now under the new Testament, anyone can approach the altar according to the rules of their denomination. God is the great Physician. God is the Father and he does not want to see His children sick just like you or I do not want to see our children ill. In fact God wants us to help the poor and the people that are sick.

Answer:

"Handicapped": "Physically or mentally challenged...".

These days, certain images come into our minds when we read, hear or say "handicapped." Usually of people in wheelchairs, specially marked parking places and the cards hanging from rearview mirrors. We think of people who require special treatment in order for them to function in society.

But, by the definition given above... the Bible reveals that ALL OF MANKIND IS HANDICAPPED -- by his sins. Because of his nature and carnal mindedness [his natural selfishness and rebellious attitude to authority]... most men remain ignorant of the fact that they are both "physically and mentally[spiritually] challenged" -- "handicapped."

The challenge is life in this world "in the flesh" with all of its trials... physical and mental, to achieve the "end game" -- man's ultimate "birth into his Creator's Family," [see Rom.8:16]; in order for man to function in the Household of his Father.

It's achieved through this life's long process of learning to overcome his physical and mental shortcomings through Jesus Christ, who, by His Grace and Mercy, is able to remove all obstacles... including death [see I Cor.15:26].

The biblical challenge is for mankind to eventually recognize that he is handicapped by his nature... and to realize that he is incapable of overcoming it alone... and to [sooner or later] humbly turn to his Creator for "help."

When we were conceived and developing, still in our mother's womb... it was a struggle of which we were unaware. And we totally depended upon others to attain to that final birth.

So it is with our "second birth" of which the Bible speaks. Most folks are only aware of the struggles [the challenges] of life... but, due to the deception blinding most men's hearts and minds to the Truth of God by this world's god -- most physically and mentally handicapped folks DON'T KNOW WHY they need to overcome it all! They don't know that they are "RE-developing children"... or about their approaching SECOND BIRTH! They just have no clue.

All of handicapped mankind needs to "develop the strength of Godly character" to OVERCOME HIS HANDICAPS THROUGH JESUS CHRIST, his Creator [John 1:3]... who is going to "change" experienced mankind from the physically and mentally handicapped creature that he is, now, into the "Perfectly Spiritual" Children of God in body and mind [I Cor.15:51-54].

God is assisting mankind in his handicaps to OVERCOMEthem [through Righteous Character development in Christ]... so that His Children might learn to extend His Grace and Mercy to all of mankind... his future, Immortal, Eternal Brothers and Sisters. God's Family.

"...as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers." (Gal.6:10 NIV)

"...I kneel before the Father, from whom HisWHOLE FAMILY in heaven and on earth derives its name." (Eph.3:14-15 NIV)

"Both the One who makes men Holy and those who are made Holy ARE OF THE SAME FAMILY. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them BROTHERS." (Heb.2:11 NIV)

Handicapped people are challenged, to be sure. And, according to the Bible, ALL OF MANKIND IS HANDICAPPED... and ALL PEOPLE need to learn to overcome it by helping one another, encouraging one another, edifying one another, lifting one another up... by adopting the Grace and Mercy of Jesus Christ toward that end time goal; man's birth into God's Eternal, Immortal Family.

Handicaps are merely "challenges that need to be overcome":

"...To him who overcomes, I will give the right to eat from the Tree of Life, which is in the Paradise of God." (Rev.2:7 NIV)

"...He who overcomes will not be hurt at all by the Second Death." (verse 11)

"To him who overcomes and does My will to the end, I will give Authority over the nations..." (verse 26).

"...They will walk with Me, dressed in white, for they are worthy. He who overcomes will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out his name from the Book of Life, but will acknowledge his name before My Father and His angels." (Rev.3:4-5 NIV)

"Him who overcomes I will make a pillar in the Temple of My God. Never again will he leave it. I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from My God; and I will also write on him My new name." (verse 12)

"To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with Me on My throne, just as I overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne." (verse 21)

"Who is he that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God." (I John 5:5 NIV)

The Bible tells us that handicapped mankind has to "overcome his lifelong challenges through his Creator, Jesus Christ." The resulting character development will be Eternal and well worth the effort.

"'I have told you these things, so that IN ME you might have Peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I HAVE OVERCOME THE WORLD.'" (John 16:33 NIV)

Mankind's handicap is his fleshly nature, which is disobedience to authority.

Even Jesus was "handicapped" for awhile... but overcame it to lead the way for us to "Immortality":

"During the days of Jesus' life on earth, He offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the One who could save Him from death, and He was heard because of His reverent submission. Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from what He suffered and, once made Perfect, HE BECAME THE SOURCE OF ETERNAL SALVATION FOR ALL WHO OBEY HIM and was designated by God to be High Priest in the order of Melchizedek." (Heb.5:7-10 NIV)

The Bible tells us that "handicapped people" [all of mankind] need to "reverently [humbly] submit" to God... and to patiently strive to "learn obedience" to God's Commandments [Love God; Love one another] through life's sufferings, woes, trials and tribulations.

"...WE REJOICE IN OUR SUFFERINGS, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, HOPE." (Rom.5:3-4 NIV)

In other words... the Bible says that handicapped mankind needs to OVERCOME the challenges of the world and the flesh through Jesus Christ, the Author of Salvation.