Hello, and welcome. In our walk with God, we face many fights. Some of these fights are inside us, in our hearts and minds. One of the hardest and most common fights is the one against lust. This topic can make us feel guilty or confused. It often makes us ask, what is lust in the bible? This is not a bad question. It is a good question that can lead to freedom and a closer walk with God.
It is so important to know what God’s Word says about lust. It is not a list of rules to make us feel bad. It is about how God loves us and wants to protect our hearts. He wants to lead us to a pure and happy life. This article is a simple look at the Bible. We will see what lust really is, why it is harmful, and the great hope and help God offers to all His children who struggle.
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What Is Sexual Immorality in the Bible
What is the Biblical Definition of Lust?
To understand lust, we must see it is more than a quick thought. It is not the same as seeing that someone is pretty or handsome. God made us to see beauty. The problem is not in the seeing. It is in the selfish wanting.
The main Greek word for “lust” in the New Testament is epithumia. This word means a “strong desire” or a “craving.” This desire can be for good things. But when used in a bad way, it means a strong desire for something God has said is wrong. It is a desire that says, “I must have that for myself.”
So, lust is a selfish desire. It is looking at another person, who is made in God’s image, and wanting to use them for your own pleasure. It turns a person from a soul to love into an object to use. It is a desire that is all about taking, not giving.
What Is Lust in the Bible According to Jesus?
Jesus spoke very clearly about lust. He took the subject to a much deeper place. In His famous Sermon on the Mount, He showed us that this problem is not just about what we do. It is about what is in our hearts.
“You have heard that it was said to you, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” – Matthew 5:27-28 (NKJV)
This is one of the strongest things the Bible says about lust. Jesus shows us that God cares about what we do with our bodies. But He also cares about what we do in our minds and hearts. For God, wanting to do the sin is the same as doing the sin.
How Does Jesus’s Teaching on Lust Change Our Understanding?
Jesus’s words change everything. They show us we can be sinners in our thoughts even if we never act on them. This makes God’s standard much higher than what most people think. It is not enough to just not cheat on someone. God calls us to have pure hearts.
This can seem too hard to do. And in our own power, it is! But Jesus is not trying to make us feel hopeless. He is trying to show us how much we need a Savior. He is showing us that we cannot fix ourselves. We need a new heart. We need the grace and power that only He can give. Knowing this is a big part of understanding what is lust in the bible.
Why Is Lust So Dangerous Spiritually When We Ask What Is Lust in the Bible?
Lust is not a small sin. The Bible warns us that it is very dangerous to our spiritual lives. It is a fight for our souls. The Apostle Peter gives us this strong warning:
“Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul.” – 1 Peter 2:11 (NKJV)
Lust fights a war against our souls. It is not a safe activity. It works against our spiritual health and our walk with God. It promises fun, but it only brings emptiness and guilt. It is a trap that leads to even more sin.
How Does Lust Affect Our Relationship with God?
Our walk with God should be pure. Lust is a direct attack on that walk.
First, it makes the Holy Spirit sad. The Holy Spirit is pure. When we fill our minds with impure thoughts, we grieve the Spirit of God who lives in us (Ephesians 4:30).
Second, it can get in the way of our prayers. When our hearts are full of selfish desires, it is hard to come to God with a clean heart. It makes us feel far from our loving Father.
Third, it is a form of idol worship. Lust is about wanting something that is not ours. The Apostle Paul says wanting what is not ours is a form of idol worship (Colossians 3:5). When we lust, we put our own selfish wants on the throne of our hearts. Only God should be on that throne.
What Is the Difference Between Lust and God-Given Sexual Desire?
This is a very important question. It is key to know that God is not against sex. He created it! God made sexual desire to be a beautiful and strong gift. It is meant to be enjoyed in the safe and loving bond of marriage between one man and one woman.
In marriage, sexual desire is about love, closeness, and giving. It is about knowing your spouse and being known by them. It is a beautiful picture of the love between Christ and His church.
Lust, however, is the twisting of this good gift.
- God’s plan is for closeness. Lust is for being alone.
- God’s plan is for giving. Lust is for taking.
- God’s plan honors the other person. Lust treats them like a thing.
Attraction is normal. You can see someone and think they are beautiful or handsome. That is not a sin. The sin of lust happens when you take that thought and start to have selfish, sexual daydreams about that person. It is crossing the line from seeing beauty to wanting what is not yours.
Is It a Sin to Be Tempted with Lustful Thoughts?
It is so important to know the difference between temptation and sin. They are not the same. Even Jesus was tempted, but He never sinned (Hebrews 4:15).
A temptation is an invitation to sin. It is a thought that comes into your head. The thought itself is not a sin. The sin happens when you say yes to the invitation. It is when you choose to stay on that thought, to play with it, and to enjoy it in your mind.
Think of it this way: You can’t stop a bird from flying over your head. But you can stop it from making a nest in your hair. A lustful thought may fly into your mind. That is the temptation. The sin is when you welcome that thought and let it make a nest.
In Learning What Is Lust in the Bible, How Can We Fight the Battle?
The Bible gives us hope and help in this battle. God has given us strong weapons to fight against lust. We can win through His grace.
1. Run from Temptation
The Bible is very practical. When it comes to sexual sin, it tells us to run away!
“Flee sexual immorality.” – 1 Corinthians 6:18 (NKJV)
This means we need to be smart. We need to know what things make us think lustful thoughts. It could be websites, movies, or certain places. We need to run from them. This is not weak; it is wise. It means setting up guards to protect our hearts.
2. Fight with the Word of God
We need to replace the lies of lust with the truth of God’s Word. The psalmist asked, “How can a young man cleanse his way?” The answer was, “By taking heed according to Your word” (Psalm 119:9).
We must fill our minds with the Bible. Romans 12:2 tells us to be “transformed by the renewing of your mind.” When we fill our minds with God’s truth, there is less room for bad things. Learning Bible verses gives the Holy Spirit a sword to fight with when we are tempted.
3. Focus Your Mind on Jesus
The best way to win is to fix our eyes on Jesus.
“If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on earth.” – Colossians 3:1-2 (NKJV)
Lust promises fun, but it is a cheap kind of fun that does not last. Jesus offers a deep and lasting joy that lust can never give. The more we fall in love with Jesus, the less we will want the cheap thrills of sin. We fight lust by saying a big “yes” to Jesus.
4. Find Help with Other Christians
This fight is too hard to do alone. We need help from our brothers and sisters in Christ.
“Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed.” – James 5:16 (NKJV)
Find a trusted Christian friend of the same gender. Be honest about your struggles. Bringing sin into the light makes it lose its power. Prayer and help from a good friend are strong weapons from God.
What Is the Hope for Someone Who Struggles with What Is Lust in the Bible?
If you are reading this and feel beaten down by your fight with lust, please know this: there is so much hope for you. The good news of Jesus Christ is for people who struggle.
Your struggle is not who you are. Your sin is not bigger than Jesus. The Bible is full of hope. It says when we are in Christ, we are a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17). God does not just forgive our sin; He gives us power to win over it. The same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead now lives in you (Romans 8:11). He gives you power to say “no” to sin and “yes” to God. For more help on this topic, Biola University’s Center for Marriage and Relationships has good articles.
Can God Really Change a Heart Filled with What Is Lust in the Bible?
The answer is a happy and sure yes! This is the heart of God’s promise to us. Through the prophet Ezekiel, God promised:
“I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.” – Ezekiel 36:26 (NKJV)
God does not just clean up our old heart. He gives us a new one with new desires. This does not mean the fight will end overnight. It is a lifelong walk of growing closer to God. But God is faithful. He has promised to finish the good work He started in you (Philippians 1:6).
What Is Lust in the Bible for A Final, Heartfelt Thought
My dear friend, understanding what is lust in the bible is the first step to freedom. It is a selfish desire that fights against our souls. But our God is a God of hope, grace, and power.
He does not stand far away and point a finger at us. He comes near to us in Jesus. He offers full forgiveness for our past and real power for today. He asks you to run to Him, be honest about your fight, and receive His amazing grace. Winning is not about trying harder on your own. It is about giving yourself more to Him. May you find your hope, your strength, and your true joy in Jesus alone.
FAQ – What Is Lust in the Bible
Can God truly change a heart filled with lust?
Yes, God can change a heart filled with lust. Through His promise of giving a new heart and spirit, God transforms desires and renews His followers. His work is ongoing and faithful, and He offers forgiveness, power, and a new life to those who turn to Him in repentance and faith.
What is the difference between lust and God-given sexual desire?
God-given sexual desire is meant for love, intimacy, and union within marriage, respecting and honoring the other person, and reflecting Christ’s love for the church. Lust, on the other hand, distorts this gift by seeking selfish pleasure, viewing others as objects, and wanting to satisfy personal cravings outside of God’s intended context.
Why is lust considered dangerous spiritually?
Lust is dangerous spiritually because it war against the soul, grieving the Holy Spirit, hindering our prayer life, and acting as a form of idol worship by placing selfish desires above God. It promises fleeting fun but ultimately leads to emptiness, guilt, and separation from God.
How did Jesus describe lust in the Bible?
Jesus explained lust in the Sermon on the Mount by stating that looking at someone with lustful intent is equivalent to committing adultery in the heart. His teaching emphasizes that God’s concern is with our inner thoughts and intentions, not just our outward actions.
What is the biblical definition of lust?
The biblical definition of lust refers to a selfish desire or craving that goes beyond seeing beauty, turning it into a desire to use others for personal pleasure. It is more than a passing thought; it involves a strong, selfish desire for something forbidden by God, which is aimed at taking rather than giving.
