Excuse the crude nature of this post, I just have really been struggling with this lately. Is it a sin? Where is the line drawn?
Is masturbation really a sin?
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https://www.gotquestions.org/masturbation-sin.html
Masturbation—is it a sin according to the Bible?
The Bible does not mention masturbation, self-gratification, or “solo sex,” as it’s sometimes called. In its silence on the subject, the Bible does not say that masturbation is (or is not) a sin. Some people take the view that masturbation is a lustful act and is always wrong; others believe it involves a normal bodily function and has nothing to do with sin.
A passage frequently associated with masturbation is the story of Judah’s son Onan in Genesis 38. In fact, another word for masturbation is onanism, coined from the Genesis passage. Some interpret Genesis 38:9–10 to say that “spilling seed”—the squandering of semen—is a sin. However, God condemned Onan not for “spilling his seed” but for his rebellion. Onan refused to fulfill his duty to provide an heir for his deceased brother. Masturbation does not figure into the story at all; Onan’s punishment was the result of his failing to fulfill a family obligation.
A second proof text sometimes used to argue that masturbation is a sin is Matthew 5:27–30. Jesus speaks against having lustful thoughts and then says, “If your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away” (verse 30). While there is often a connection between lustful thoughts and masturbation, it is unlikely that Jesus was alluding to masturbation in this passage.
Though the Bible nowhere explicitly addresses masturbation, it does outline the purpose of sex. According to 1 Corinthians 7:2–5, “Each man should have sexual relations with his own wife, and each woman with her own husband. The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband. The wife does not have authority over her own body but yields it to her husband. In the same way, the husband does not have authority over his own body but yields it to his wife. Do not deprive each other except perhaps by mutual consent and for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.” Implicit in this passage are these truths:
– God’s plan for sex requires relationship, namely, that of a husband and wife (1 Corinthians 7:2). Masturbation is sex disconnected from relationship.
– Foundational to God’s plan for sex is giving one’s body to another (1 Corinthians 7:4). Masturbation is the keeping of one’s body to oneself.
– The solution to a time of deprivation is to “come together” (1 Corinthians 7:5). Masturbation is done alone, not together.
Paul taught that it was good to “stay unmarried” (1 Corinthians 7:8) due to the “crisis” facing the Corinthians (verse 26). At the same time, the apostle is careful to say that marriage is preferrable to struggling against constant sexual temptation: “If [the unmarried] cannot control themselves, they should marry, for it is better to marry than to burn with passion” (1 Corinthians 7:9). Marriage is not sinful (verse 28), but allowing passion to burn out of control will lead to sin. All believers have the responsibility to resist sexual immorality. For those not gifted with singleness, marital intimacy—not masturbation—is a good and proper deterrent to sexual sin (see 1 Corinthians 7:2).
Some see sexual fulfillment as a need akin to the need to eat or the need to scratch an itch. They point to nocturnal emissions as evidence that the body requires sexual release. Some go further and say this makes masturbation morally and ethically neutral—it is simply something the body needs and is no more sinful than urinating. However, the Bible never presents sexual fulfillment as a need, especially when the fulfillment relies on self-stimulation.
Regardless of the morality of the act of masturbation itself, certain actions often associated with masturbation are decidedly sinful: entertaining lustful thoughts, seeking inappropriate means of sexual arousal, and viewing pornography, for example. If these sins are curtailed, masturbation becomes less of a temptation. Many people struggle with guilt concerning masturbation when they would be better off repenting of the sins that lead them to masturbate.
So, is masturbation a sin? The Bible does not directly answer this question, but there are biblical principles that apply to what we do with our bodies:
(1) “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31). If we cannot give God glory for something, we should not do it.
(2) “Everything that does not come from faith is sin” (Romans 14:23). If we are not fully convinced that an activity is honoring to God, it is a sin for us.
(3) “I will not be mastered by anything” (1 Corinthians 6:12). Christians should avoid anything that might enslave them.
(4) “I discipline my body and keep it under control” (1 Corinthians 9:27, ESV). Self-discipline is difficult but necessary to “receive the prize” in the spiritual race we run (1 Corinthians 9:24).
(5) “The fruit of the Spirit is . . . self-control” (Galatians 5:22–23). Masturbation is almost always a sign of a lack of self-control.
(6) Do “not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want” (Galatians 5:16–17). We are called to self-denial, not self-gratification.
In light of these principles, it is doubtful that masturbation can be a God-honoring activity. If masturbation could be done with
• no lust in the heart
• no immoral thoughts
• no pornography
• no self-gratification of the flesh
• full assurance that it is good and right
• thanks given to God
then perhaps it would be allowable. But those qualifiers seem to negate the most common reasons people masturbate.
In the beginning, God intended a husband and wife to be “united” to each other, becoming “one flesh” and being unashamed in their nakedness with each other (Genesis 2:24–25). The very least we can say about masturbation is that it departs from God’s design for sexual expression and is thus not His best for us.
Masturbation—is it a sin according to the Bible?
The Bible does not mention masturbation, self-gratification, or “solo sex,” as it’s sometimes called. In its silence on the subject, the Bible does not say that masturbation is (or is not) a sin. Some people take the view that masturbation is a lustful act and is always wrong; others believe it involves a normal bodily function and has nothing to do with sin.
A passage frequently associated with masturbation is the story of Judah’s son Onan in Genesis 38. In fact, another word for masturbation is onanism, coined from the Genesis passage. Some interpret Genesis 38:9–10 to say that “spilling seed”—the squandering of semen—is a sin. However, God condemned Onan not for “spilling his seed” but for his rebellion. Onan refused to fulfill his duty to provide an heir for his deceased brother. Masturbation does not figure into the story at all; Onan’s punishment was the result of his failing to fulfill a family obligation.
A second proof text sometimes used to argue that masturbation is a sin is Matthew 5:27–30. Jesus speaks against having lustful thoughts and then says, “If your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away” (verse 30). While there is often a connection between lustful thoughts and masturbation, it is unlikely that Jesus was alluding to masturbation in this passage.
Though the Bible nowhere explicitly addresses masturbation, it does outline the purpose of sex. According to 1 Corinthians 7:2–5, “Each man should have sexual relations with his own wife, and each woman with her own husband. The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband. The wife does not have authority over her own body but yields it to her husband. In the same way, the husband does not have authority over his own body but yields it to his wife. Do not deprive each other except perhaps by mutual consent and for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.” Implicit in this passage are these truths:
– God’s plan for sex requires relationship, namely, that of a husband and wife (1 Corinthians 7:2). Masturbation is sex disconnected from relationship.
– Foundational to God’s plan for sex is giving one’s body to another (1 Corinthians 7:4). Masturbation is the keeping of one’s body to oneself.
– The solution to a time of deprivation is to “come together” (1 Corinthians 7:5). Masturbation is done alone, not together.
Paul taught that it was good to “stay unmarried” (1 Corinthians 7:8) due to the “crisis” facing the Corinthians (verse 26). At the same time, the apostle is careful to say that marriage is preferrable to struggling against constant sexual temptation: “If [the unmarried] cannot control themselves, they should marry, for it is better to marry than to burn with passion” (1 Corinthians 7:9). Marriage is not sinful (verse 28), but allowing passion to burn out of control will lead to sin. All believers have the responsibility to resist sexual immorality. For those not gifted with singleness, marital intimacy—not masturbation—is a good and proper deterrent to sexual sin (see 1 Corinthians 7:2).
Some see sexual fulfillment as a need akin to the need to eat or the need to scratch an itch. They point to nocturnal emissions as evidence that the body requires sexual release. Some go further and say this makes masturbation morally and ethically neutral—it is simply something the body needs and is no more sinful than urinating. However, the Bible never presents sexual fulfillment as a need, especially when the fulfillment relies on self-stimulation.
Regardless of the morality of the act of masturbation itself, certain actions often associated with masturbation are decidedly sinful: entertaining lustful thoughts, seeking inappropriate means of sexual arousal, and viewing pornography, for example. If these sins are curtailed, masturbation becomes less of a temptation. Many people struggle with guilt concerning masturbation when they would be better off repenting of the sins that lead them to masturbate.
So, is masturbation a sin? The Bible does not directly answer this question, but there are biblical principles that apply to what we do with our bodies:
(1) “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31). If we cannot give God glory for something, we should not do it.
(2) “Everything that does not come from faith is sin” (Romans 14:23). If we are not fully convinced that an activity is honoring to God, it is a sin for us.
(3) “I will not be mastered by anything” (1 Corinthians 6:12). Christians should avoid anything that might enslave them.
(4) “I discipline my body and keep it under control” (1 Corinthians 9:27, ESV). Self-discipline is difficult but necessary to “receive the prize” in the spiritual race we run (1 Corinthians 9:24).
(5) “The fruit of the Spirit is . . . self-control” (Galatians 5:22–23). Masturbation is almost always a sign of a lack of self-control.
(6) Do “not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want” (Galatians 5:16–17). We are called to self-denial, not self-gratification.
In light of these principles, it is doubtful that masturbation can be a God-honoring activity. If masturbation could be done with
• no lust in the heart
• no immoral thoughts
• no pornography
• no self-gratification of the flesh
• full assurance that it is good and right
• thanks given to God
then perhaps it would be allowable. But those qualifiers seem to negate the most common reasons people masturbate.
In the beginning, God intended a husband and wife to be “united” to each other, becoming “one flesh” and being unashamed in their nakedness with each other (Genesis 2:24–25). The very least we can say about masturbation is that it departs from God’s design for sexual expression and is thus not His best for us.
Why does the adversary work to have us focus on a list of do's and don'ts when Jesus requires us to hear His voice and nor follow another?
blessings
blessings
Awesome explanation, there are physical/medical benefits to human health from what i glean.
blessings
I agree with this. In my own life, when I realized I wasn't going to get married ever, God took that desire right out of me. The Holy Spirit really is powerful to help us say no or resist any temptation!
Yes it is deviant and unnatural to have sex with yourself.
I would likely recommend you place this in third person. 9 out of 10 times this topic comes up, it is done by trolls. That being said it is sin.
Self-gratification is a type of idolatry. One of a sexual kind. Out of the abundance of one's heart, these issues arise. Sexual ADDITION, which most were introduced to this by 1. pornography, 2. sexual abuse, 3. homosexuality. This act begins with a perverted thought process, which leads to an addiction and a stronghold. Built of sexual fantasies and pleasure, one gets from this. One needs to be counseled and have accountability. No access to PC, phone, and other venues where one can see Porn, like social media. You need to see this for what it is. And know you are not the only one who has struggled with this. You have self-control or you don't.
I have a lot of trouble fighting this. I don’t have many people I can talk to about this, which is why I came here. It almost reminds me of, in genesis, when the serpent asked eve ‘did God really say not to eat the fruit?’ That’s my mind, it’s like ‘did God really say it’s a sin?’ how can I fight this more? How can I purge this from myself?
I would humbly ask you to speak to your local pastor, and I would also encourage you to check out this book. I know this brother personally and have been a counselor through Pure Life Ministries. Remember, self-gratification is not the cause, but the effect of something. The issue is what causes you to do it.
May I ask, what happened? Did you just not want to get married or did you never find a wife/husband? There are benefits to being single. Some people like being alone. God's lonely man.I agree with this. In my own life, when I realized I wasn't going to get married ever, God took that desire right out of me. The Holy Spirit really is powerful to help us say no or resist any temptation!
Post #3 covers the issue very well, but the bottom line is that the Bible does not cite masturbation as a sin,
however, GW condemns fornication and lust, which would include pornography--so those cross the line.
For those who say the bible does say this is a sin. The bible doesn't use the term transgender, but it is sin and child abuse nonetheless. Or the words that describe many ungodly things, such as :
All ungodly actions that God would never do, nor would He need to say so. The actions speak for themselves. They are not praise-worthy. They are not edifying, and would you do it in front of your wife or in the presence of God? If one can't discern that the very action is ungodly and a sin that one does to themselves, and can't stop doing it, it proves the action is wrong because you have no self-control, which is an attribute of the believer.
- trafficking
- sniffing cocaine
- defecating in public
All ungodly actions that God would never do, nor would He need to say so. The actions speak for themselves. They are not praise-worthy. They are not edifying, and would you do it in front of your wife or in the presence of God? If one can't discern that the very action is ungodly and a sin that one does to themselves, and can't stop doing it, it proves the action is wrong because you have no self-control, which is an attribute of the believer.
Some people believe masturbation is not a sin thinking it is not fornication, and it does not offend a person so no harm done.
But I believe it is in the category of sexual perversion.
I believe there is to be no pleasure but only in marriage between the couple.
Doing it would be a violation for pleasure is only valid being a married couple.
Which that is how God instituted it.
You can buy a car but do not steal it.
You can have pleasure being married but not on your own.
You can only have pleasure if you buy in to marriage not steal it doing it on your own.
Also can a person masturbate without lusting after the opposite sex whether in the mind or on the internet.
For if they do then that is a sin for thinking the act is a sin just like doing the act.
That is why Jesus said if a person lusts after a married woman it is adultery, and if you hate a person you are a murderer.
Also it can be addictive taking up time.
I was going to go to Church but uh you know.
I was going to witness to the Jones family but uh you know.
The fact that many people whether Christian or the world are ashamed of doing that act tells it is wrong.
Why such big shame if it is supposed to innocent.
Why does their conscious bother them so much concerning it.
Why such big doubt.
And if there is doubt whether wrong or right it is sin.
Ecc 9:10 Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.
This does not include masturbation.