Lust within marriage can be a complicated issue, but the Bible speaks to maintaining purity of heart and mind. While attraction and desire are natural in marriage, Scripture encourages us to keep our thoughts and actions focused on love, respect, and mutual honor.
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What Does The Bible Say About Lust In Marriage
1 Corinthians 7:2
“But because of the temptation to sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband.”
This verse emphasizes the importance of marriage as a way to satisfy sexual desires within God’s intended boundaries. It acknowledges the temptation of sexual immorality and encourages couples to fulfill their desires within the commitment of marriage.
1 Corinthians 6:18
“Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body.”
Here, we are reminded to actively avoid sexual immorality and the negative consequences it brings. The verse highlights that sexual sin is unique because it directly affects one’s own body and goes against the design and purpose for which God created us.
Hebrews 13:4
“Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous.”
This verse emphasizes the sanctity of marriage and the importance of keeping the marriage bed pure and undefiled. It warns against sexual immorality and affirms that God will judge those who engage in such behavior.
Proverbs 5:18-19
“Let your fountain be blessed, and rejoice in the wife of your youth, a lovely deer, a graceful doe. Let her breasts fill you at all times with delight; be intoxicated always in her love.”
This passage highlights the beauty and joy of physical intimacy within the context of marriage. It encourages spouses to find delight and satisfaction in each other, promoting a healthy and loving relationship.
Song of Solomon 7:6-8
“How beautiful and pleasant you are, O loved one, with all your delights! Your stature is like a palm tree, and your breasts are like its clusters. I say I will climb the palm tree and lay hold of its fruit. Oh may your breasts be like clusters of the vine, and the scent of your breath like apples.”
In the poetic language of the Song of Solomon, this verse celebrates the physical attractiveness and sensuality between married partners. It reflects the intimate and affectionate nature of marital love.
1 Corinthians 7:3-5
“The husband should give to his wife her conjugal rights, and likewise the wife to her husband. For the wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does. Likewise, the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does. Do not deprive one another, except perhaps by agreement for a limited time, that you may devote yourselves to prayer; but then come together again, so that Satan may not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.”
This passage highlights the mutual responsibility of spouses to meet each other’s sexual needs within the confines of the marital covenant. It emphasizes the importance of maintaining a healthy and satisfying sexual relationship to guard against the temptations of Satan.
Proverbs 5:15-17
“Drink water from your own cistern, flowing water from your own well. Should your springs be scattered abroad, streams of water in the streets? Let them be for yourself alone, and not for strangers with you.”
In this metaphorical passage, we are reminded to find fulfillment within the bounds of our own marriage and to resist the temptation of seeking sexual satisfaction outside of it. The imagery encourages faithfulness and commitment to one’s spouse.
Matthew 5:27-28
“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart.”
This verse teaches us that lustful thoughts and intentions are just as sinful as committing the act of adultery itself. It emphasizes the importance of purity of heart and mind in our thoughts and desires.
1 Thessalonians 4:3-5
“For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality; that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor, not in the passion of lust like the Gentiles who do not know God.”
This passage calls believers to live a pure and holy life, abstaining from sexual immorality. It encourages self-control and honoring God in our bodies, setting us apart from the sinful behaviors of the world.
Colossians 3:5
“Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.”
In this verse, we are urged to rid ourselves of all sexual immorality, impurity, and evil desires. It reminds us that indulging in lustful thoughts and actions can become a form of idolatry, as it places our desires above our commitment to God.
Galatians 5:16
“But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.”
This verse encourages us to live in alignment with the Holy Spirit, which empowers us to resist and overcome our fleshly desires, including lust. It reminds us that as we surrender to the Spirit’s guidance, we can find victory over temptation.
2 Timothy 2:22
“So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.”
This verse urges us to flee from youthful passions, which can include lustful desires, and instead pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace. It encourages us to surround ourselves with fellow believers who also strive for purity.
1 Peter 2:11
“Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul.”
Here, we are reminded that as followers of Christ, we are called to live differently from the world and to abstain from fleshly passions, including lust. It emphasizes the spiritual battle that takes place within us and the importance of guarding our souls.
Ephesians 5:3
“But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints.”
This verse cautions against any form of sexual immorality, impurity, or covetousness among believers. It emphasizes the need to maintain a pure and honorable lifestyle that reflects the holiness of God.
Psalm 119:9
“How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word.”
This verse acknowledges the challenges of maintaining purity in a world filled with temptations, particularly for the youth. It encourages reliance on God’s Word as a guide and source of strength in resisting lustful desires.
1 John 2:16
“For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions—is not from the Father but is from the world.”
Here, we are reminded that the desires of the flesh, including lustful desires, do not come from God but from the fallen world. It encourages us to discern and reject such desires, seeking instead to align our hearts with the will of the Father.
Job 31:1
“I have made a covenant with my eyes; how then could I gaze at a virgin?”
In this passage, Job speaks of his commitment to purity by making a covenant with his eyes, purposefully avoiding lustful gazes and thoughts. It serves as a reminder for us to guard our eyes and minds against lustful temptation.
James 4:7-8
“Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.”
These verses encourage us to submit to God and resist the temptations of the devil, including lust. By drawing near to God and seeking His cleansing and purification, we can find strength to overcome sinful desires.
Romans 6:12-14
“Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions. Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness. For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.”
These verses remind us that as believers in Jesus, we are no longer slaves to sin. Instead, we are called to present ourselves to God, offering our bodies as instruments of righteousness rather than indulging in lustful passions.
Psalm 101:3
“I will not set before my eyes anything that is worthless. I hate the work of those who fall away; it shall not cling to me.”
This verse expresses a commitment to avoiding exposure to anything that is morally corrupt or leads to lustful thoughts and actions. It encourages us to guard our hearts and minds, refusing to allow sinful influences to take hold in our lives.
Proverbs 6:25
“Do not desire her beauty in your heart, and do not let her capture you with her eyelashes.”
These wise words caution against harboring lustful desires in the heart, which can lead to entrapment and sinful actions. It advises us to guard our thoughts and not allow external beauty to captivate us inappropriately.
Proverbs 5:3-4
“For the lips of a forbidden woman drip honey, and her speech is smoother than oil, but in the end she is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a two-edged sword.”
This cautionary passage warns against the enticing allure and seductive speech of immoral women. It underscores the importance of resisting temptation and recognizing the eventual bitter consequences of succumbing to lustful desires.
1 Timothy 5:2
“Older women as mothers, younger women as sisters, in all purity.”
This verse encourages believers to treat others, particularly women, with purity and respect. It promotes a mindset of familial love and affection while guarding against any thoughts or actions that may lead to lust.
Psalm 119:37
“Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things; and give me life in your ways.”
This verse expresses a prayerful desire to turn our eyes away from anything that is meaningless or leads to temptation. It asks God to redirect our focus towards His ways, which bring true life and fulfillment.
Galatians 5:22-23
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.”
These verses highlight the qualities that should characterize the lives of believers, including self-control. Through the work of the Holy Spirit within us, we can cultivate self-control to resist lustful desires and live in alignment with God’s will.