Is Masturbation a Sin?

3 thoughts on “Is Masturbation a Sin?”

1. That question came up a lot during this last political season based on the comments made openly by Christine O’Donnell. Even tho to my knowledge The Holy Scriptures do not address the issue of Masturbation directly, it does say “That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.” Now trying to say this as clean as I can, it is impossible to from what I know to perform the act without looking upon someone without the lust, even if you are only looking in your mind. This according to the previously mentioned scripture would put you in violation of Exodus 20:14 “Thou shalt not commit adultery.” So while the act itself may not be sin, to be successful in this, you would have to sin. Fortunately ALL our sin debt has already been paid. I do hope this helps.

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2. My apologies. I left out a scripture reference in my response The first verse I quoted was from Matthew 5:28 But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart Which appears in the sermon on the Mount.

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3. Thanks for your comment. If one always thought about some woman or man when engaging in masturbation, then your argument would shut the case on the matter. But what about the person who says that when they masturbate, they do not think of any other person or body? Are we to say that as long as they do not think about another, they are okay?

   I structured my answer in an attempt to meet this argument. I cannot point to a passage of Scripture saying that masturbation apart from desiring another is wrong, or that masturbation while thinking about one’s spouse is a sin. And, since for me, Scripture is our authority, I am generally not willing to call things sin that God has not called sin. This was part of the error of the Pharisees. I do not want to put on people burdens that neither we nor they are able to bear. And sex is one of those areas that can be a big burden to single people and to married people who have spouses that are unwilling or unable to participate in sex.

   Accordingly, my intent was to point people to a different way of looking at the matter and to see the value of building into their lives self-control in the matter of one’s thought life. Such self-control, being part of the fruit of the Holy Spirit, is a great enhancer of life.

   But I suspect, in the vast majority of situations, your reference to Matthew 5:28 would directly address the matter. Thanks.

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