Whoever has never had a “lustful thought”, be the first to say yes.

How do we deal with such thoughts? In the light of Matt. 5:28, believers seem to be walking a tight rope everyday of their lives. But I believe lust is a very much misunderstood word and concept. It is precisely such a misunderstanding that caused Christians in the past to seclude themselves to living in caves apart from civilization. Perhaps this misunderstanding still prohibits Catholic priests from marrying. And it is this misunderstanding that leaves believers with the condemnation that they commit adultery every day of their lives.

I will argue, in this article, that
1) masturbation is not a sin,
2) lust means desire not thought, therefore erotic fantasies are not necessarily the lust Jesus spoke of in Matthew 5:28.

Common Misconceptions About Lust
When asked if masturbation is a sin, most “experts” would reply that the act is not wrong of itself, but the thoughts associated with it are (Matthew 5:28 is usually quoted at this point). Therein lies the first misconception concerning lust – equating lust with thoughts.Lust does not mean thought. The most common words translated as lust in the Bible are epithumeo, epipotheo, and orego. They all mean to desire, to covet, to long for intensely, to set one’s heart upon. The idea of intent or volition is strongly present. Consider 1 Tim 3:1

If any man desires (orego) the office of a bishop, he desires (epithumeo) a good thing.

Clearly both Greek words are being used interchangeably i.e. they are synonymous. No one who desires to be a bishop, sits and fantasizes all day about being a bishop. He actively pursues the calling. He does whatever he has to do to achieve his goal. The NIV translates orego here as “sets his heart on“. And since epithumeo means the same thing, in this context, the word lust means “to desire with intent“. It does not mean “to form mental images”. It’s the same word epithumeo that appears in Matt 5:28, which will be discussed later. Essentially, someone who has erotic thoughts may not necessarily be guilty of lust.

Others say that masturbation is an act that flows from an evil heart of lust.Therein lies the second misconception – that lust is always bad. Suffice it to say at this point that the driving force that motivates people to masturbate is the same driving force that moves husbands and wives to have sex with each other. Let’s face it, lust (sexual desire) is a very important part of sex. Lust is actually used in a good way in Matt. 13:17;Luke 22:15; 1 Tim 3:1; Heb. 6:11; and 1 Pet. 1:12. It is also used in a bad way in Matt. 5:28; Rom. 7:7; 13:9; 1 Cor. 10:6; and James 4:2.

Anything we desire is a lust. What makes it good or bad is the object of that desire. If we desire to be ministers of the Gospel, that is a good lust (1 Tim. 3:1). If we set our hearts on our neighbor’s wife, then that is a bad lust (Rom. 7:7; 13:9 cf. Ex. 20:17). Lust is actually the same word as covet in the Greek (Ex. 20:17). We can covet our neighbor’s stuff, or we can covet earnestly the best gifts (1 Cor 12:31). Just like adultery and fornication are perversions of God’s gift of sex, lust is a perversion of the sexual desire God gave us. Just like sex is only wrong if we have it with the wrong person, lust is wrong if we desire (covet) someone who is not our spouse.

Matthew 5:28
The most pertinent scripture in this discussion is Matt 5:28.

whosoever looketh on a woman to lust (epithumeo) after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart. (KJV)

The NIV translates this verse,

anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

Continue reading at http://theifedamolasblog.com/is-masturbation-a-sin/

Wow, You are right about LUST being a strong desire BUT YOU STILL HAVEN'T DEFINED CLEARLY WHERE THE BIBLE SAYS MASTURBATION IS NOT A SIN..... Am really so sorry for you. You have so much letter, so much greek and hebrew words BUT NO LIFE.

do you masturbate with pure thoughts? Even if I give you a gift and my motive was evil BEFORE GOD I AM EVIL AND WICKED simply because of my motive.

Assumption is costly in the school of spirit. Don't assume. What are the results of Masturbation.... are the results Godly? Are the results morally good?

PLS TELL ME, DO YOU USE ANOINTING OIL WHEN YOU ARE MASTURBATING? AND ARE YOU MASTURBATING WHILE THINKING OF HOLINESS OR PURE THOUGHTS?

Or is God no longer a judge of the intents of the heart? (Heb 4:12)

Did Jesus not say if you look at a woman lustfully you have sinned? WAS HE TALKING OF ANOTHER LUST?


pls dont let your ancestors become dizzy at your twisted misguided revelation. God will NEVER SUPPORT IT. It is a sin and it is DIRTY because it starts from IMPURE THOUGHTS.

Kindly help us explain how many people are delivered from it?

Kindly tell me how many people who are bound by porrnoographyyy and addicted to masturbation are seeking freedom because deep within them.... NOTHING JUSTIFIES IT.


Does God support waste? NO, masturbation wastes sperm and proteins and energy and TIMMMMEEEEE.

Quote for me scriptures that have greed words that deeply justify such sin.


Yes I know you may be quoting from Chris Oyakhilome or Chris Onayinka or even some NEW AGE REVELATION PREACHER BUT THEY ARE all WRONG.


If you did not copy and paste this post, kindly come back here and give scriptural details because your post has conflicting details... at the beginning you said MASTURBATION is not a sin, BUT at the end you are claiming it is the OBJECT OF THE THOUGHT that makes the thought bad or sinful... YOU ARE A CONFUSED HERETIC .... When ever is the object of masturbation a PURE OBJECT OR THOUGHT.


You need to really stop following men blindly.

ok

Yes....it is a sin... let's just call a spade a spade

Humphrizy:
Yes....it is a sin... let's just call a spade a spade

seconded

Ifedamolah:
Whoever has never had a “lustful thought”, be the first to say yes.

How do we deal with such thoughts? In the light of Matt. 5:28, believers seem to be walking a tight rope everyday of their lives. But I believe lust is a very much misunderstood word and concept. It is precisely such a misunderstanding that caused Christians in the past to seclude themselves to living in caves apart from civilization. Perhaps this misunderstanding still prohibits Catholic priests from marrying. And it is this misunderstanding that leaves believers with the condemnation that they commit adultery every day of their lives.

I will argue, in this article, that
1) masturbation is not a sin,
2) lust means desire not thought, therefore erotic fantasies are not necessarily the lust Jesus spoke of in Matthew 5:28.

Common Misconceptions About Lust
When asked if masturbation is a sin, most “experts” would reply that the act is not wrong of itself, but the thoughts associated with it are (Matthew 5:28 is usually quoted at this point). Therein lies the first misconception concerning lust – equating lust with thoughts.Lust does not mean thought. The most common words translated as lust in the Bible are epithumeo, epipotheo, and orego. They all mean to desire, to covet, to long for intensely, to set one’s heart upon. The idea of intent or volition is strongly present. Consider 1 Tim 3:1

If any man desires (orego) the office of a bishop, he desires (epithumeo) a good thing.

Clearly both Greek words are being used interchangeably i.e. they are synonymous. No one who desires to be a bishop, sits and fantasizes all day about being a bishop. He actively pursues the calling. He does whatever he has to do to achieve his goal. The NIV translates orego here as “sets his heart on“. And since epithumeo means the same thing, in this context, the word lust means “to desire with intent“. It does not mean “to form mental images”. It’s the same word epithumeo that appears in Matt 5:28, which will be discussed later. Essentially, someone who has erotic thoughts may not necessarily be guilty of lust.

Others say that masturbation is an act that flows from an evil heart of lust.Therein lies the second misconception – that lust is always bad. Suffice it to say at this point that the driving force that motivates people to masturbate is the same driving force that moves husbands and wives to have sex with each other. Let’s face it, lust (sexual desire) is a very important part of sex. Lust is actually used in a good way in Matt. 13:17;Luke 22:15; 1 Tim 3:1; Heb. 6:11; and 1 Pet. 1:12. It is also used in a bad way in Matt. 5:28; Rom. 7:7; 13:9; 1 Cor. 10:6; and James 4:2.

Anything we desire is a lust. What makes it good or bad is the object of that desire. If we desire to be ministers of the Gospel, that is a good lust (1 Tim. 3:1). If we set our hearts on our neighbor’s wife, then that is a bad lust (Rom. 7:7; 13:9 cf. Ex. 20:17). Lust is actually the same word as covet in the Greek (Ex. 20:17). We can covet our neighbor’s stuff, or we can covet earnestly the best gifts (1 Cor 12:31). Just like adultery and fornication are perversions of God’s gift of sex, lust is a perversion of the sexual desire God gave us. Just like sex is only wrong if we have it with the wrong person, lust is wrong if we desire (covet) someone who is not our spouse.

Matthew 5:28
The most pertinent scripture in this discussion is Matt 5:28.

whosoever looketh on a woman to lust (epithumeo) after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart. (KJV)

The NIV translates this verse,

anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

Continue reading at http://theifedamolasblog.com/is-masturbation-a-sin/

wonderful write up

www-nairaland-com.0.freebasics.com/5689733/scripture-shows-god-recognizes-masturbation?iorg_service_id_internal=1646953538912597">https://https-www-nairaland-com.0.freebasics.com/5689733/scripture-shows-god-recognizes-masturbation?iorg_service_id_internal=1646953538912597%3BAfoE74hW3HCaLuvy

Ifedamolah:
Whoever has never had a “lustful thought”, be the first to say yes.

How do we deal with such thoughts? In the light of Matt. 5:28, believers seem to be walking a tight rope everyday of their lives. But I believe lust is a very much misunderstood word and concept. It is precisely such a misunderstanding that caused Christians in the past to seclude themselves to living in caves apart from civilization. Perhaps this misunderstanding still prohibits Catholic priests from marrying. And it is this misunderstanding that leaves believers with the condemnation that they commit adultery every day of their lives.

I will argue, in this article, that
1) masturbation is not a sin,
2) lust means desire not thought, therefore erotic fantasies are not necessarily the lust Jesus spoke of in Matthew 5:28.

Common Misconceptions About Lust
When asked if masturbation is a sin, most “experts” would reply that the act is not wrong of itself, but the thoughts associated with it are (Matthew 5:28 is usually quoted at this point). Therein lies the first misconception concerning lust – equating lust with thoughts.Lust does not mean thought. The most common words translated as lust in the Bible are epithumeo, epipotheo, and orego. They all mean to desire, to covet, to long for intensely, to set one’s heart upon. The idea of intent or volition is strongly present. Consider 1 Tim 3:1

If any man desires (orego) the office of a bishop, he desires (epithumeo) a good thing.

Clearly both Greek words are being used interchangeably i.e. they are synonymous. No one who desires to be a bishop, sits and fantasizes all day about being a bishop. He actively pursues the calling. He does whatever he has to do to achieve his goal. The NIV translates orego here as “sets his heart on“. And since epithumeo means the same thing, in this context, the word lust means “to desire with intent“. It does not mean “to form mental images”. It’s the same word epithumeo that appears in Matt 5:28, which will be discussed later. Essentially, someone who has erotic thoughts may not necessarily be guilty of lust.

Others say that masturbation is an act that flows from an evil heart of lust.Therein lies the second misconception – that lust is always bad. Suffice it to say at this point that the driving force that motivates people to masturbate is the same driving force that moves husbands and wives to have sex with each other. Let’s face it, lust (sexual desire) is a very important part of sex. Lust is actually used in a good way in Matt. 13:17;Luke 22:15; 1 Tim 3:1; Heb. 6:11; and 1 Pet. 1:12. It is also used in a bad way in Matt. 5:28; Rom. 7:7; 13:9; 1 Cor. 10:6; and James 4:2.

Anything we desire is a lust. What makes it good or bad is the object of that desire. If we desire to be ministers of the Gospel, that is a good lust (1 Tim. 3:1). If we set our hearts on our neighbor’s wife, then that is a bad lust (Rom. 7:7; 13:9 cf. Ex. 20:17). Lust is actually the same word as covet in the Greek (Ex. 20:17). We can covet our neighbor’s stuff, or we can covet earnestly the best gifts (1 Cor 12:31). Just like adultery and fornication are perversions of God’s gift of sex, lust is a perversion of the sexual desire God gave us. Just like sex is only wrong if we have it with the wrong person, lust is wrong if we desire (covet) someone who is not our spouse.

Matthew 5:28
The most pertinent scripture in this discussion is Matt 5:28.

whosoever looketh on a woman to lust (epithumeo) after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart. (KJV)

The NIV translates this verse,

anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

Continue reading at http://theifedamolasblog.com/is-masturbation-a-sin/

wonderful write up

The answer is simple but the implications are different: Masturbation is the product of lust, like wise the actual act of sexual intercourse but sexual intercourse involves two persons in co-operate lust which has harder demonic implications and complications.
Most Folks get possesed by demons via co-operate sexual immorality unlike an individualistic and selfish activity such as masturbation which over an extended period of time makes the individual develop narcisstic habits, behaviours or charaters.
Both are unhealthy spiritually and opens doors for attacks from satan but one door is wider than the other.
Yet it's best to get married and enjoy sex with your spouse.