Bible Verses About Lust
Lust is a word that often carries with it a heavy connotation, and for good reason. It speaks of a longing, a craving that can be all-consuming and lead us down paths we never intended to travel. The Bible addresses this potent human experience with both wisdom and stern warnings, recognizing its destructive potential while also pointing us to a better way. From the earliest books of the Old Testament to the letters of the New Testament apostles, we find consistent counsel on how to understand and overcome the insidious nature of lust. It’s not merely about physical desire, though that is a significant aspect; lust can manifest in many forms, extending to an insatiable hunger for power, possessions, or acclaim. As we delve into the Scriptures, we will gain a clearer picture of what lust is, how it impacts our lives, and what God’s Word offers as a pathway to freedom and purity.
"You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor’s."
"Don’t lust after her beauty in your heart, nor let her captivate you with her eyelids."
"All day long he covets greedily; but the righteous gives and doesn’t withhold."
"but I tell you that everyone who gazes at a woman to lust after her has committed adultery with her already in his heart."
"but put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts."
"But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you won’t fulfill the lust of the flesh."
"that you put away, as concerning your former way of life, the old man, that grows corrupt after the lusts of deceit;"
"But those who are determined to be rich fall into a temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful lusts, such as drown men in destruction and perdition."
"Flee from youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart."
"But each man is tempted when he is drawn away by his own lust and enticed. Then the lust, when it has conceived, gives birth to sin; and the sin, when it is finished, brings forth death."
"Beloved, I beg you as foreigners and pilgrims, to abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;"
"For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, isn’t of the Father, but is of the world."
Frequently asked questions
- The Bible often speaks of lust as a desire that goes beyond healthy appreciation or natural attraction, becoming an uncontrolled and selfish craving. In its most common usage within scripture, it refers to sexual sin, but it is also applied to other powerful, unholy longings.