Key Scripture: Matthew 5:28
“But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” — Matthew 5:28 (ESV)
🧠 Hidden Sins, Real Consequences
Some sins are public—easy to see and call out. Others are private, festering below the surface, destroying from within. Lust and sexual fantasizing are among the most dangerous because they often remain hidden while slowly corrupting the soul.
Jesus didn’t just condemn adultery; He addressed its birthplace: the heart. In Matthew 5:28, He reframes the commandment, making it clear that the standard for purity isn’t just what we do—but what we desire. That teaching leaves no room for self-righteousness. We all stand exposed.
📖 What Is Lust?
Lust is not merely noticing beauty or attraction. It is a willful, lingering desire for sexual gratification that uses others as objects. It imagines scenarios that God forbids. It rewires the heart to crave, rather than to love.
Unlike love, which honors and sacrifices, lust takes and consumes. It is inherently selfish and never satisfied. No wonder Jesus equated it with adultery.
📚 Biblical Examples: Real People, Real Struggles
David and Bathsheba (2 Samuel 11:1–4)
“It happened, late one afternoon, when David arose from his couch… that he saw from the roof a woman bathing; and the woman was very beautiful. And David sent and inquired about the woman… So David sent messengers and took her, and she came to him, and he lay with her.” — 2 Samuel 11:2–4 (ESV)
King David’s story is one of the most sobering warnings in Scripture. What began with a look turned into an inquiry, then an act, and ultimately a cover-up and murder. Lust blinds, then binds.
Samson and Delilah (Judges 16)
Samson had a God-given calling, but his eyes were often set on women who led him into sin. His attraction to Delilah was not grounded in wisdom or faith, but in passion. He ignored every warning sign until it cost him his strength, his sight, and his freedom.
These examples are not just ancient stories—they are divine cautions. Lust doesn’t care about your calling. It’s not impressed with your past victories. That’s why Scripture tells us not to fight lust, but to flee it (see 2 Timothy 2:22).
💡 Lust Is Idolatry
Colossians 3:5:
“Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.”
Why does the Bible call lust idolatry? Because it replaces God with desire. It worships pleasure over purity. It says, “I want this now” instead of “I want God more.”
🧼 How Do We Purify the Heart?
- Confess clearly and regularly — “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” — 1 John 1:9
- Renew your mind daily — “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind…” — Romans 12:2
- Flee temptation quickly — “So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace…” — 2 Timothy 2:22
- Guard your eyes and your environment — “I will not set before my eyes anything that is worthless.” — Psalm 101:3
- Walk in the Spirit — “But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.” — Galatians 5:16
🛠 Practical Tools for the Battle
- Accountability software like Covenant Eyes or EverAccountable
- Memorize Scripture like Job 31:1 — “I have made a covenant with my eyes; how then could I gaze at a virgin?”
- Daily prayer of surrender — Start your day by surrendering your thoughts
- Fast from media that fuels fantasy
- Mentorship — walk with a spiritual mentor who checks in with you
- Redirect your imagination — use your mind for creativity, not corruption
❓ Frequently Asked Questions About Lust
Is lust a sin if I don’t act on it?
Yes. Jesus said that looking with lust is committing adultery in the heart (Matthew 5:28). Sin begins in the mind, not the bedroom.
Can I control my thoughts?
Not every thought—but you can control what you dwell on. Like birds flying overhead, you can’t stop every one—but you don’t have to let them build a nest. “Take every thought captive to obey Christ.” — 2 Corinthians 10:5
Is masturbation sinful?
The Bible does not name masturbation directly, but it consistently condemns lust. Since most masturbation involves sexual fantasy, it violates God’s design for sexual purity and self-control.
Can someone find freedom from habitual lust?
Absolutely. Many believers have walked out of years of fantasy and shame into purity and peace. You are not your sin. In Christ, you are new, clean, and empowered.
💬 Closing Thought
Lust is not harmless. It steals joy, numbs compassion, and blocks intimacy with God. But it is not unbeatable. Jesus didn’t die to make us slightly better—He died to make us holy.
If you are caught in a cycle of sexual fantasy, you are not alone, and you are not beyond redemption. Jesus sees your heart—and still calls you to freedom. Let today be the day you stop hiding and start healing. God wants more than behavior change. He wants to purify your thoughts, renew your desires, and fill your heart with something far better—Himself.
In the next article, we’ll tackle a modern epidemic: pornography—its grip, its cost, and how to break free.
