Lust is one broad topic in Christendom, and one that many people do seek clarity on. We can see from scriptural teachings that purity is one of the criteria for a smooth walk with God. We can not walk uprightly before God if we are not pure at heart, purity must be maintained. The Bible describes lust as a destructive desire that is capable of leading one into eternal damnation. As Christians, we must strive to fight against any form of lust in us so as to present ourselves with the standards God have set out for us. Interestingly, lust does not just manifest on it’s own, it starts as thoughts in the hearts and if paid attention to, it migrates into actions. This is the reason we ought to guard our hearts diligently, just as the Bible said that out of the hearts are the issues of life. Join us in this article as we study some important and powerful Bible verses that teaches about lost.
When we hear about lust, sometimes all that we think about is just sexual desires of the body. But the Bible fractionates lust into different forms. Let us take a look at the different forms of lust as described by the Bible;
Lust Of The Eyes: Lust of the eyes is the form of lust that originates from the eyes and it can be described as the ungodly desires to have things that we see, not minding if God is in approval for us to possess those material things. Lust of the eyes also manifests the yearnings for recognition and self appraisal.
Lust Of The Flesh: Lust of the flesh is a desire that goes against God’s precepts. It is the desire that comes with pleasing the flesh and placing value on it wants over the purity of the soul and body. Lust of the flesh could be the desire for fornication, adultery, drugs, alcoholism, food and modifying the body.
Whatever form of lust that we are fighting against, let us do it with holy anger backed up with spiritual practices, because even the tiniest form of lust is capable of separating us from God which will in turn cost us our salvation. In the New Testament, Christ emphasized on maintaining purity of the heart and body. According to the Bible, nurturing lustful thoughts is equal to committing the very act that is being imagined. For this reason, let us endeavor to keep our hearts pure at all times and this can only be done through sanctification of the heart, enabled by the Holy Spirit.
SEE ALSO: 40 Bible Verses About Living Together Before Marriage
What Does The Bible Say About Lust?
The Bible is clear on the topic of lust. It outlines lust as a sin that ruins our relationship with God. Purity, which is one of God’s impeccable nature should be possessed by his followers. The Bible records that only those that are pure in heart will see God. This proves the essence of purity of the mind.
1 John 2:16 “For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world”. This scripture teaches us that lust of the eyes, lust of the flesh and the pride of life is not from God. This means that no form of impurity is associated with God and practicing any form of lust is a fall out from the will of God.
Proverbs 6:25 “Do not lust in your heart after her beauty or let her captivate you with her eyes”. This verse encourages believers to guard their hearts against the temptation that comes with looking at a beautiful woman. When these desires are nurtured, it leads to the actual acts.
Galatians 5:16 “So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh”. The Bible exhorts us to always in the spirit, which is one way to overcoming lustful desires of the eyes and flesh. The Holy Spirit help to keep our hearts on guard against all form of ungodliness. Dive into the Bible verses below to learn more about lust and what God says about it;
Bible Verses About Lust
- But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. – Matthew 5:28
- Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a person commits are outside the body, but whoever sins sexually, sins against their own body. – 1 Corinthians 6:18
- It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; that each of you should learn to control your own body in a way that is holy and honorable, not in passionate lust like the pagans, who do not know God. – 1 Thessalonians 4:3-5
- But each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death. – James 1:14-15
- So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. – Galatians 5:16
- Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. – Colossians 3:5
- Do not lust in your heart after her beauty or let her captivate you with her eyes. – Proverbs 6:25
- For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. – 1 John 2:16
- But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people. – Ephesians 5:3
- Flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. – 2 Timothy 2:22
- I made a covenant with my eyes not to look lustfully at a young woman. – Job 31:1
- Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh. – Romans 13:14
- Turn my eyes away from worthless things; preserve my life according to your word. – Psalm 119:37
- Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul. – 1 Peter 2:11
- For out of the heart come evil thoughts—murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander. – Matthew 15:19
- No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it. – 1 Corinthians 10:13
- Do not let your heart turn to her ways or stray into her paths. – Proverbs 7:25
- Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. – Philippians 4:8
- I will not look with approval on anything that is vile. I hate what faithless people do; I will have no part in it. – Psalm 101:3
- We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. – 2 Corinthians 10:5
- For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live. – Romans 8:13
- Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral. – Hebrews 13:4
- For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say ‘No’ to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age. – Titus 2:11-12
- You say, ‘Food for the stomach and the stomach for food, and God will destroy them both.’ The body, however, is not meant for sexual immorality but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. – 1 Corinthians 6:13
- Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. – Romans 6:12
- But if they cannot control themselves, they should marry, for it is better to marry than to burn with passion. – 1 Corinthians 7:9
- Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. – Proverbs 4:23
- For while we were in the flesh, the sinful passions, which were aroused by the Law, were at work in the members of our body to bear fruit for death. – Romans 7:5
- Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God. – 1 Corinthians 6:9-10
- For the time already past is sufficient for you to have carried out the desire of the Gentiles, having pursued a course of sensuality, lusts, drunkenness, carousing, drinking parties and abominable idolatries. – 1 Peter 4:3
- But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law. – Galatians 5:16-21
- But I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified. – 1 Corinthians 9:27
- Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. – Galatians 5:24
- That, in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit. – Ephesians 4:22
- That each of you know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor, not in lustful passion, like the Gentiles who do not know God. – 1 Thessalonians 4:4-5
- Instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age. – Titus 2:12
- Not addicted to wine or pugnacious, but gentle, peaceable, free from the love of money. – 1 Timothy 3:3
- Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. – Galatians 5:24
- But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction. – 1 Timothy 6:9
- You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male servant, or his female servant, or his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor’s. – Exodus 20:17
