How to cite this article: JP Staff Writer, “Character Profile: Prostitutes in the Gospels,” Jerusalem Perspective (2025) [https://www.jerusalemperspective.com/30558/].
Although Jesus’ reputation of being sympathetic toward female prostitutes is well known, the basis for this reputation is surprisingly slim. It rests on a single statement recorded in a single Gospel:
Amen! I say to you, the toll collectors and the prostitutes precede you into the Kingdom of God. For John [the Baptist] came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe in him, but the toll collectors and prostitutes believed him. Yet, seeing them, you did not repent thereafter so as to believe in him. (Matt. 21:31b-32)[1]
Paid Content
Premium Members and Friends of JP must be logged in to access this content: Login
If you do not have a paid subscription, please consider registering as a Premium Member starting at $10/month (paid monthly) or only $5/month (paid annually): Register
One Time Purchase Rather Than Membership
Rather than purchasing a membership subscription, you may purchase access to this single page for $1.99 USD. To purchase access we strongly encourage users to first register for a free account with JP (Register), which will make the process of accessing your purchase much simpler. Once you have registered you may login and purchase access to this page at this link:
- [1] For an in-depth analysis of this saying, see Joshua N. Tilton and David N. Bivin, “Refusing John the Baptist,” The Life of Yeshua: A Suggested Reconstruction (Jerusalem Perspective, 2025) [https://www.jerusalemperspective.com/30118/]. ↩
