Key Scripture: Proverbs 6:26
“For the price of a prostitute is only a loaf of bread, but a married woman hunts down a precious life.” — Proverbs 6:26 (ESV)
💸 When Bodies Are Bought and Souls Are Sold
Prostitution is often called “the world’s oldest profession,” but Scripture presents it as something far different: not a profession, but a perversion of what God made holy. The buying and selling of sexual access to another person is the clearest picture of exploitation and the loss of dignity and identity. It is the commodification of a soul for momentary pleasure or gain.
Today, prostitution may be wrapped in glamour or masked by technology—escorts, OnlyFans, human trafficking, and pornography all exist on the same spectrum. But in God’s eyes, it remains what it has always been: sin. And yet, in that dark story, there is still room for redemption.
📜 What Does the Bible Say About Prostitution?
Scripture consistently warns against prostitution and speaks of it both literally and symbolically. In the Old Testament, it is associated with spiritual unfaithfulness. In the New Testament, it is listed among the sins that keep people from inheriting the kingdom of God.
1 Corinthians 6:15–16:
“Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute? Never!
Or do you not know that he who is joined to a prostitute becomes one body with her? For, as it is written, ‘The two will become one flesh.’”
This passage reveals something vital: sex always creates union—even when it’s transactional. To join the body to someone in prostitution is to violate both the body and the spiritual temple God has made it to be.
🔁 The Old Testament View
Prostitution is condemned frequently in the Law and the Prophets. Israel is often rebuked for acting like a harlot—chasing other gods instead of remaining faithful to Yahweh.
Leviticus 19:29:
“Do not profane your daughter by making her a prostitute, lest the land fall into prostitution and the land become full of depravity.”
Deuteronomy 23:17–18:
“None of the daughters of Israel shall be a cult prostitute, and none of the sons of Israel shall be a cult prostitute.
You shall not bring the fee of a prostitute or the wages of a dog into the house of the Lord your God.”
These commands show how seriously God took the sexual purity and dignity of His people. Exploitation not only corrupted the individuals involved—it polluted the land and dishonored God’s name.
💔 Exploitation in Today’s World
Modern prostitution and sex work are rarely about liberation—they are about desperation. Many who are trafficked or choose prostitution do so out of poverty, addiction, or coercion. And many consumers are not seeking love—they’re looking to control, degrade, or use someone else for their pleasure.
We must speak plainly: those who buy sex are exploiting. Those who sell sex are being exploited—even if they don’t see it yet.
📖 Jesus and the Prostitutes
One of the most beautiful truths in Scripture is that Jesus never turned away the broken. In fact, some of the women who followed Him most faithfully had come out of sexual sin—including prostitution.
The Woman at Jesus’ Feet (Luke 7:36–50)
A woman, described only as “a sinner,” enters a Pharisee’s house where Jesus is dining. She weeps at His feet, anoints them with perfume, and wipes them with her hair. The religious leaders are scandalized.
“Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much.” — Luke 7:47 (ESV)
Jesus doesn’t minimize her sin. But He also doesn’t shame her. He forgives her. He dignifies her. He sets her apart.
Rahab — From Harlot to Hero
Rahab was a prostitute in Jericho who hid the Hebrew spies. In doing so, she aligned herself with Israel and their God. She was saved from judgment and later included in the lineage of Christ (see Matthew 1:5).
God doesn’t just rescue prostitutes. He rewrites their legacy.
🛠 How Do We Respond to Exploitation and Prostitution?
- Refuse to consume it — Whether in person or through media, do not fund or entertain any form of paid sex or simulated sex
- Support ministries that rescue and restore — Partner with those who are helping women (and men) escape trafficking and rebuild their lives
- Speak dignity to the broken — Never mock, dismiss, or reduce someone to their past. Proclaim who they can become in Christ
- Help the vulnerable — Many are lured into sex work by poverty or addiction. Addressing root issues is part of gospel compassion
- Teach sexual ethics boldly and biblically — In youth groups, churches, and families, build a theology of the body that values purity and purpose
❓ Frequently Asked Questions About Prostitution
Is prostitution always wrong—even if consensual?
Yes. The Bible does not distinguish “consensual” from coercive prostitution when describing sin. Sex is sacred, not transactional. Even if no one is “harmed,” the soul is degraded and God’s image dishonored.
Can someone be saved out of prostitution?
Absolutely. The Bible is filled with stories of deliverance. Whether by choice or force, no one is beyond God’s grace. He redeems, restores, and redefines identity.
What about those who struggle with using prostitutes?
Freedom is possible. That struggle is rooted in lust, control, and idolatry. The same gospel that sets free from any sin can free those who purchase sex—and change their hearts from users to servants of others.
How should churches minister to former sex workers?
With grace, truth, accountability, and love. They should be welcomed, discipled, and equipped just like anyone else. Their testimony can become powerful tools for God’s glory.
💬 Closing Thought
Prostitution and sexual exploitation destroy dignity—but Jesus restores it. He doesn’t just forgive sin. He gives the sinner a new name, a new identity, and a new future. Whether you’ve been exploited, or have exploited others, the blood of Jesus is enough.
If you’re caught in a cycle of sin—buying, selling, or justifying—there is a way out. There is forgiveness. There is a future. There is a Father waiting for you to come home.
In the next article, we’ll confront some of the darkest sexual sins recorded in Scripture—incest and family sexual abuse—and how the Bible addresses healing and justice for the wounded.
