Bible verses about lust

Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.

Jesus moves the line from the act to the look. Purity starts with where you let your eyes and thoughts rest, not only with what you avoid doing.

Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.

The goal isn’t only avoiding sin. It’s a heart clear enough to see God, and that’s the reward on the other side of the fight.

Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.

Your life flows out of your heart, so guarding it means deciding in advance what gets in.

I made a covenant with mine eyes; why then should I think upon a maid?

Job made the decision before the moment came. A covenant with your eyes is made once, in a calm hour, and kept in the hard one.

Lust not after her beauty in thine heart; neither let her take thee with her eyelids.

Lust starts in the heart long before anything happens outwardly. Catch it there.

Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

Paul doesn’t say resist; he says flee. Then he says follow, with others who call on the Lord. You aren’t meant to fight this alone. (In the KJV, charity means love.)

Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body. What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.

Your body isn’t a private matter between you and a screen. It’s the temple of the Holy Spirit, bought at a price.

But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.

Make no provision: don’t leave the door open. Removing easy access ahead of time is a biblical strategy, not a lack of faith.

This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.

The answer to the flesh isn’t only less of it but more of the Spirit. Walking in the Spirit crowds out the lust of the flesh.

Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;

Lust is at war with your soul. Calling it a war helps: it isn’t harmless, and it needs a plan.

But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.

Temptation has a sequence: desire, enticement, sin, death. The earlier you break the chain, the easier it breaks.

For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

The lust of the eyes is named for a reason, and it passes away. What lasts is doing the will of God.

Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:

Mortify means put to death. Paul calls this idolatry because it’s worship of something other than God.

For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication: That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour; Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God:

If you’ve wondered what God’s will for your life is, part of the answer is right here in plain words: your sanctification.

Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word.

How does a young man stay pure? By living according to God’s word. The question is ancient, and so is the answer.

Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.

Memorized Scripture is there when you can’t think straight. Hide it in your heart before you need it.

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Transformation comes by the renewing of your mind, a daily process rather than a single decision.

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

You can’t simply stop thinking about something; you have to think about something else. Paul gives you the list.

For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;

Grace isn’t only forgiveness after you fall. It teaches you to say no in the first place.

Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.

David prayed this after his own sexual sin. If he could pray it, so can you.

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Confession isn’t groveling. God is faithful and just to forgive, and to cleanse.

There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

Shame keeps you hiding, and hiding keeps you stuck. In Christ there is no condemnation, so get up and keep walking.