what exactly is lust of the eyes

[ssammoh]

im confused...
Does it mean looking at someone lustfully or looking at sexual stuff such as pornography

 

[Rhamiel]

im confused...
Does it mean looking at someone lustfully or looking at sexual stuff such as pornography

well... i have never heard the term before
but i think both of those things would be under lust
so yeah both?

a good way to fight lust is to just say a little prayer when you start to feel lustful
just something short like "Lord Jesus Christ have mercy on me a sinner" or just "Jesus save me"

 

[InSpiritInTruth]

It means you should not covet (lust after) fleshy and materialistic things like your neighbors spouse, or money, or goods, or house, or boat, or anything that can be seen with the eye and lusted upon and coveted in the heart.

 

[Rev Randy]

Good thread with very good answers. Looking alone is not lust. In this world we cannot help but see things we'd have rather not seen. We pass the theshold when we take those visions into our heart and willfully desire what we have seen.
It is not a sin to be tempted. It is a sin to fall for the temptation. The advice to ask God for help is pure wisdom.

 

[KJV1611Warrior]

A good example from scripture for lust of the eyes would be David looking upon Bathsheba as she was bathing and being overcome with lust. Much can be gleaned from that episode.

 

[Messy]

im confused...
Does it mean looking at someone lustfully or looking at sexual stuff such as pornography

Yes except when you look that way at your spouse. But I think other things can also be lust of the eyes, possessions of your neighbour you want, Eve looking at the fruit, it was a lust for the eye. That makes clear it was something else then only seeing it and you can't help it when a bird comes and sits on your head, you can do something about it making a nest there.

 

[pshun2404]

Not just sexual in nature but anything as we look that excites, mezmerises, beguiles, etc.,

Paul

 

[hmw]

1John 2:15-17
Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. 17 And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.

 

[jackmt]

Read Genesis 3:3 (about). There you will find "the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life." You will also find these 3 in the temptations of Christ.

 

[Rev Randy]

Had to look at the OP again. I saw the Op was female. That may explain why it's a question. Men know exactly what lust of the eye is. Women suffer more from lust of feelings. (like: I cheated on my husband because.....) Both lead to destruction. Both are lust of the flesh.

 

[Johnnz]

Its wrong to see 'lust of the eyes' or 'lusts of the flesh' as reference to sexual sins. The term is far wider than that. Eve saw the tree thus:
Gen 3:6 When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. NIV

'Good for food, pleasing to the eye, desirable for gaining wisdom' are far wider in application than just the sexual. Enjoying the prestige of 'ministry', keeping up with the latest fashion or technology when that's not necessary, concern for status, are examples that would come within the above biblical admonitions.

John
NZ

 

[Rev Randy]

Its wrong to see 'lust of the eyes' or 'lusts of the flesh' as reference to sexual sins. The term is far wider than that. Eve saw the tree thus:
Gen 3:6 When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. NIV

'Good for food, pleasing to the eye, desirable for gaining wisdom' are far wider in application than just the sexual. Enjoying the prestige of 'ministry', keeping up with the latest fashion or technology when that's not necessary, concern for status, are examples that would come within the above biblical admonitions.

John
NZ

It goes far beyond sex. But sex is a good way to explain the aspect of it. Money, things and even false gods can fall under this.

 

[SilverBlade]

For me, I guess it's a fine line between 'lust' and simply 'wants'.

For example, I would like to have a house, or at least my own apartment one day, but it just isn't possible right now. So would that be lust? I don't think so, since I'm not dwelling on it day and night, as I know someday in the future, I'll have my own place.

Not every single thing you want necessarily falls under 'lust'. For example: you see a movie that you thought was really good and you know you're going to buy it when it comes out. This isn't lust, at least not to me.

 

[RDKirk]

1John 2:15-17
Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. 17 And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.

I separate "lust of the flesh" from "lust of the eyes" noting that the lust of the flesh derives directly from natural needs of the body: Food, sexual intercourse, physical pleasure.

I consider "lust of the eyes" in terms of "self actualizing" desires created in the mind: Having a big, fancy house, jewelry, et cetera. Those desires come from things I see, not from things my body naturally needs.

I note that Jesus was tempted very specifically in those very three ways in the wilderness: Lust of the flesh was the temptation stemming from His natural hunger. Lust of the eyes was temptation stemming from seeing the wealth of the nations that could be His to own. Pride of life was the temptation to be personally aggrandized by a magnificent feat.

The sin is not in being tempted. Jesus was hungry.

The sin is letting those lusts control your decisions.

Don't you know that when you offer yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one you obey--whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness?
-- Romans 6

That which controls your decisions and is the primary input to your moral choices is your god.

If you "Obey Your Thirst," you are letting your flesh control your decisions. As Paul put it, "Their god is their bellies" -- Philippians 3

If you make your choices out of a desire to be famous, that's pride of life. Or the desire to own more, that's lust of the eyes.

It's very often enlightening to ponder past decisions and really ask, "What was I serving when I made that decision?"

 

[Near]

It would be the desires associated with what you see. There are things you see, for example a nice watch, you want it badly, but you dont have money, a thought crosses your mind, steal it.

That is a temptation, it must be resisted, for we know that theives go to the lake of fire, along with the rest of those who continue in their sins.

 

[cardoctor]

So i'm not sure I have a perfect answer for you but I have an interesting fact:

Being clear of eye was a Jewish idiom for being generous. Similarly having an evil eye meant to be miserly or cutthroat. So I'm speculating that to have a lustful eye would mean to be consumed by materialism.

I'm not saying that there is not more than one layer of meaning here or that my theory procludes a sexual lust prohibition but i thought it was worth posting