Is Masturbation a sin?

[Meowzltov]

It remains true there is no scripture opposed to masturbation and it would behoove God's children to not add to scripture what is not there.

Matt 5:28 "But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart."
touching yourself is essentially an act of lust, and is therefore a sin.

 

[Paul of Eugene OR]

Matt 5:28 "But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart."
touching yourself is essentially an act of lust, and is therefore a sin.

Masturbation is sometimes an escape from lust, and therefore a blessing.
But we can go back and forth all day, to no avail. Here's a final question . . . if someone was never aware masturbation was wrong, and then faces judgement day, would there be a judgement of sin on something the poor lady did in all ignorant innocence?

If not, then why bother to inform her it is a sin? Its not as if there was harm being done.

 

[Dave-W]

Matt 5:28 "But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart."
touching yourself is essentially an act of lust, and is therefore a sin.

How do you define "Lust?" Our Lord lusted. And he did NOT sin ever.

 

[dayhiker]

The same Greek word is also used of the good angels lusting ....

 

[Meowzltov]

How do you define "Lust?" Our Lord lusted. And he did NOT sin ever.

Christ did not lust.

 

[TheBarrd]

Christ did not lust.

There is no record of Him ever lusting...
However, we are assured that He was tempted just as we are tempted, yet without sin.

Heb 4:15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

 

[Meowzltov]

However, we are assured that He was tempted just as we are tempted, yet without sin.

Lust is more than temptation. Lust is choosing to dwell on the thought. Lust is a sin.

 

[TheBarrd]

Lust is more than temptation. Lust is choosing to dwell on the thought. Lust is a sin.

Lust is simply a strong desire.
Don't confuse it with lasciviousness...

 

[dayhiker]

If we look at this Greek word that is translated lust we find that it is used 20 sometimes in the NT. About half of them are used of good desires and about half of them are used of bad desires. An example of Jesus with a good desire or lust, is Jesus said he desired/lusted to eat the passover meal with the disciples. Same Greek word. So Jesus did lust.
The thing that makes a desire right or wrong, rightous or sinful is whether what is desired is ok to have or not. That is why lust has to be defined in my mind. The context of Mt.5:28 is the 10 commandments, the immediate context is the command to not commit adultery. So Jesus is saying its wrong to desire to commit adultery.

Now when I don't have that kind of lust and people that I've talked to that say they don't either when they touch. I think there fore very few men are sinning with bad sexual desires when they touch.

 

[Meowzltov]

Lust is simply a strong desire.

You can't confuse a fleeting thought with the choice to fantasize. No matter how strong a temptation is, it is not sin and it is not lust. Lust is the willful decision to DWELL on the object of one's temptation. Which is why masturbation is a sin.

 

[dayhiker]

You can't confuse a fleeting thought with the choice to fantasize. No matter how strong a temptation is, it is not sin and it is not lust. Lust is the willful decision to DWELL on the object of one's temptation. Which is why masturbation is a sin.

So I'm still curious as to what they temptation is exactly you are referring to? If one just has a desire for physical sexual feelings when they touch is that a sin? What is the desire, the lust that makes it sinful?

 

[Dave-W]

DaveW-Ohev said:
How do you define "Lust?" Our Lord lusted. And he did NOT sin ever.

Christ did not lust.

Actually He did. The word translated "lust" is epithumeo. It is used twice in this verse. I have put in the word [lust] where it appears.

Luke 22.15 And He said unto them, “With [lust] I have [lusted] to eat this Passover with you before I suffer;

That is the EXACT SAME WORD He used in here:

Matthew 5:28 But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

I would submit that if you put on an additional meaning to epithumeo in Matthew that does not apply to Luke - you are trying to CHANGE what the Word is saying. (not a good idea)

 

[Dave-W]

You can't confuse a fleeting thought with the choice to fantasize. No matter how strong a temptation is, it is not sin and it is not lust. Lust is the willful decision to DWELL on the object of one's temptation. Which is why masturbation is a sin.

There are a LOT of baseless assumptions in that statement. (like M being linked with fantasy)

The verse in question Matt 5.28 specifies it to a particular person. But often M is not specific to a person but the desire is for release and not attached to anyone, real or imagined.

Indeed, young children that discover those feelings sometimes touch with full adult intensity [bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse] but have no concept of sex at all. There is no "lust" there for anything but those intense good feelings.

 

[OGM]

Why would single people be created to have intense sexual desire before being married without having a release...that doesn't make sense.

 

[Meowzltov]

So I'm still curious as to what they temptation is exactly you are referring to? If one just has a desire for physical sexual feelings when they touch is that a sin? What is the desire, the lust that makes it sinful?

Don't play stupid with me.

 

[Meowzltov]

Luke 22.15 And He said unto them, “With [lust] I have [lusted] to eat this Passover with you before I suffer;

In this context it is used figuratively and not with regards to sex.

 

[Meowzltov]

Indeed, young children that discover those feelings sometimes touch with full adult intensity [bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse] but have no concept of sex at all. There is no "lust" there for anything but those intense good feelings.

And what small children do is not a sin.

 

[TheBarrd]

Don't play stupid with me.

How is it "stupid" to want to feel good? Would you say that someone with an intense desire for ice cream was "stupid"?

In this context it is used figuratively and not with regards to sex.

In your mind, lust is firmly attached to sex. I wonder why?

And what small children do is not a sin.

Well, I hate to be the one to break it to you...but small children lust...mostly after toys and candy, but it is definitely an intense desire.
And...yes they do touch. Boys and girls both.
How do I know this?
Because I raised seven of my own, and a whole bunch of everyone else's...

 

[Meowzltov]

In your mind, lust is firmly attached to sex. I wonder why?

Because I speak English.

 

[pure4u2]

I found this quote saying: Author Tim Challies refers to masturbation as selfish sex. Sex is meant to be an act of service to your spouse, with both of you receiving pleasure. However, according to Challies, when we participate in masturbation we make a mockery of the beautiful act that God created for our enjoyment.

I am still struggling with this, but think of it like this. When you touch you are pleasuring yourself and taking away something special for your future spouse. When you do meet someone you will have had so much pleasure from yourself not knowing what to do with your partner.