Is it ever not a sin to masturbate?
Clarify (1)
•
Share
•
Report
•
Asked July 01 2013
•
Anonymous (via GotQuestions)
Community answers are sorted based on votes. The higher the vote, the further up an answer is.
Lynn Willis
Again, it seems some here focus on men having a more difficult time dealing with a lack of sex during separation from their partners. Well, I'm here to say that women are sexual beings too because that is the way God made us! Having been very sexual all of my life (fornication ++) prior to meeting Christ just under 2 years ago, masturbation was always touted (by me) as being 'a gift from God' and that we were made 'to be our own self contained pleasure vessels' and that 'masturbation doesn't HURT anyone'. BLESSEDLY, my past is washed clean as snow by the blood of the Lamb, I am forgiven, I am redeemed, and I am a new woman in Christ, and for the first time in a long time... i truly LIKE the woman He is making me into! Praise the Lord! One brother above asserted that for one to masturbate, one could most definitely do so by avoiding lustful thoughts. But the one thing that resonates for me on this issue is and has been... is the act one that is considered holy and honouring our bodies before the Lord at the same time? ARE we made to self-pleasure? Methinks that if the Lord felt it was OK it would be encouraged in scripture as such, but instead what IS mentioned is how our bodies are the temples of the Holy Spirit and we are to honour THAT and the Lord above all else. I do not believe masturbation does that on any level, even with lust removed, for it elevates sex over spirit, and even in times of distance between partners, or as an act that is just self-pleasuring for 'release', it is not holy. These exceptions herein all sound like excuses to me for selfish motives for pleasure, not sacrifice, and do not honour the Lord. For example fasting... an act that humbles us before the Lord but brings us closer to Him. We endure the hunger pangs for Him and are happy to do so (at least I am!) If one can not survive without sexual release, I do not believe one is depending on the Lord for/in ALL things, or in scriptural reference the essence that in order for Him to live (in me), I must die. John 3:30: He must increase, but I must decrease. So let me just offer this food for thought: A Christian who masturbates regularly, over time, wouldn't lust just naturally creep in, and then, isn't it sinning and not just something unholy to the Lord? Is sexual desire borne out of lust and not love holy? Doesn't satan revel in perverting our sexuality for his purposes in such a sex obsessed world as it is/has always been? Isn't it evil's mandate to separate us from Christ? Wouldn't the evil one also use masturbation/self sexual pleasure to his advantage? Shouldn't we be wiser once the Holy Spirit indwells than to try to justify sexual release in this way? I'd rather turn my attention to scripture or focus my mind on something more productive than masturbation, and save my body for the Lord or potential husband to share and enjoy, in the way the Lord decreed because THEN I know the Lord is down with it! Blessings, in HIM, Lynn
S. Michael Houdmann
Supporter
As a background, please read our article on "Is masturbation a sin?" While that article deals with the issue in a generic sense, the purpose of this article is to address the "is it a sin to mastur...
Login or Sign Up to view the rest of this answer.
Rick Gratschmayr
My opinion is that masterbation is giving in to a selfish desire. It is satisfying self. It is a very Temporary release and can easily become an addiction. Christ never did it. He was always about the Father's business and we are to be imitators of Him. Things to research are idolatry in the Old Testament. Also Paul mentioned abstaining as a married couple to "draw closer to God". That action of "loving self" or "pleasing self" will draw you away from God.
Philip Davies
Masturbation is not a sin. The Bible tells us that sins only happen when you break one of God's laws. If there is no law against something, then no sin can be committed. Where there is no law, there is no sin Rom 4:15 There is no law of God prohibiting masturbation. Therefore there can be no sin in masturbating. Our difficulty is that because of our culture or our upbringing or our own personal sense of taste and decency, we may object to sexual pleasure and we tell others that they are sins to bring them in line with our own views. Humans like nothing more than to create all kinds of additional rules which are not in the Bible and we make other people feel guilty quite unnecessarily. We think nothing about tying human burdens on men's backs but don't lift a finger to help them. Let's not load people down with guilt in order to satisfy our personal consciences. So to all those out there who have strong sexual urges and no partner has been given to them remember: God has no law against masturbation, and where there is no law, there is no sin. Regards, Philip
Michael Strickland
My answer is based on the premises that this soldier and his wife have agreed to do this while reflecting on times they shared with each other. So let's see if we can find anything that qualifys as pornography, adultery or sinful lust between the two. 1Cr 7:9 But if they cannot contain, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn. They are married so surly it can't be any adultery or sinful lust by desiring each other. Mat 5:27 Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: Mat 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. Again they are married so it can't be adultery for them to look or think of each other in this way. Heb 13:4 Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge. The bed is undefiled so surely we can't judge what is ok when its only involving the two. Rom 4:15 Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression. I think we would be hard pressed to find anywhere in the word where it expressively say it is a sin for married couples to engage in masterbation. In fact due to certain physical conditions this is the only way some people can have relations. Rom 14:4 Who art thou that judgest another man's servant? To his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand. If they have faith in the what they have decided they shall be able to stand regardless of others opinions. Rom 14:5 One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind. Now Rom 14:5 is important because the mentioning days shows us that this chapter is not just speaking about meat and drinks but anything that is not expressly named as a sin. Rom 14:6 He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it. He that eateth, eateth to the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, to the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks. This may not be for others, but let us not judge them by what they allow in bed together. Rom 14:13 Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother's way. If it works for their marriage let us not be opsticals as long as they keep it among themselves. Rom 14:14 I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself: but to him that esteemeth any thing to be unclean, to him it is unclean. If this is how they choose to cope with thier situation and it keeps them from being unfaithful by thinking of each other at these times, I say let God be the judge. Rom 14:22 Hast thou faith? Have it to thyself before God. Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth. If they have faith in what they are doing and don't condemn themselves I believe this marriage will be Happy. Rom 14:23 And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin. If they doubt themselves that's when it becomes sin. May Christ who is able keep us all
Nathan Toronga
What is sin? 1 John 3:4KJV, "Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the Law: FOR SIN IS THE TRANSGRESSION OF THE LAW." We therefore cannot talk of "sin" without direct reference to the Law. So where is the Law that prohibits masturbation? None. Zilch. It is very surprising to see people do everything in their power to extricate themselves from the Law so that they can sin willy-nilly, and at the same time spring and craft all sorts of definitions to 'generate' new 'sins', which 'sins' they feel they are able to handle, hence creating a form of righteousness for themselves. Isaiah was right when he prophesied about this people: Isa 4:1 'And in that day seven women shall take hold of one man, saying, We will eat our own bread, and wear our own apparel: only let us be called by thy name, to take away our reproach.' This is symbolic prophecy, so here's the key: Seven - complete Woman - church or apostate church Husband - God/Jesus Bread - Doctrine, the Word Apparel - Righteousness So, the prophet is saying, 'the complete number of churches (apostate of course) will hold to Jesus and say, WE SHALL HAVE OUR OWN DOCTRINE (different from what is written in Scripture), and WE SHALL HAVE OUR OWN RIGHTEOUSNESS (not that which the Messiah gives), JUST LET US BE CALLED CHRISTIANS!' There it is! Just as Jesus rebuked the Pharisees and the teachers of the Law at Matthew 15:1-3 for they were now branding unwashed hands as 'unclean', so this is a similar scenario. While Jesus would not go about encouraging, or even condoning unhygienic practices like eating with unwashed hands, so we do not encourage or condone masturbation. But the fact remains - it is NOT sin to masturbate. Those who want to avoid sin MUST avoid breaking the Law. That's how simple it is. The apostle Paul also spoke about this people: 2 Timothy 4:3-4, 'For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4 And they shall turn away their ears from the TRUTH, and shall be turned unto fables.' What is TRUTH? Psalm 119:142 Thy righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and thy law is the TRUTH. Psalm 119:151 Thou art near, O LORD; and all thy commandments are TRUTH. John 1:17 For the law was given by Moses, but grace and TRUTH came by Jesus Christ. John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. (you read this together with John 1:1 to fully understand) John 17:17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is TRUTH. ‘Truth’ is not a poetic concept: it’s real. It’s the Word of God, as revealed in the Torah and the prophets. I hope you find this useful. A word of advice - desist from masturbation. It demeans you psychologically. Bless.
Greg Kelly
Is it a sin too look upon a woman and lust after her in your heart? Proverbs 6:25 / Colossians 3:5 / 1 Thessalonians 3-5 / Matthew 5:27-28 Jesus said it was. So what is on your mind during masturbation, doing the dishes? If you are with your wife (even when away) and she is the focus of your "psychological interlude", maybe not, but otherwise I think it's pretty clear to each person the answer based on the second question of this answer.
Ken Grundstein
From personal experience, masturbation is ALWAYS a sin. You might be able to not think lustful thoughts a time or two but it's a slippery slope that leads to sin eventually. I'm not telling married military couples it's a sin - that's for them to decide. But my personal opinion is that the Lord is honored by abstaining from such practices. There is too much at stake. Seek holiness - He will show you the way. But then again, this could be bad advice for such couples. Pray for wisdom and be sensitive to the Spirit's leading.
Perry Duff
Genesis 38th chapter, 8-10 verses clearly explains what GOD HIMSELF thinks of masturbation! Masturbation is NOT ONLY A GREAT SIN before God, it's enough to make GOD HIMSELF move AGAINST YOU! PERIOD! FLEE....... from ANY LUST of THE FLESH! Those who masturbate risk DIRECT WRATH from GOD HIMSELF! Genesis 38:8-10 8. Then Judah said to Onan, "Go in to your brother's wife and perform the duty of a brother-in-law to her, and raise up offspring for your brother." 9. But Onan knew that the offspring would not be his. So whenever he went in to his brother's wife he would waste the semen on the ground, so as not to give offspring to his brother. 10. And what he did was wicked in the sight of the Lord, and he PUT HIM TO DEATH also.
Sunday Okorie
Masturbation is a sin before God, though most men at one point or the other have masturbated consciously or unconsciously. It's an easy means of satisfying sexual lust/desires alone. It elevates and satisfies the desires of the flesh and not the desires of the spirit (God's spirit in us). 1 John 2:20, says "but you have an unction from the Holy one and you know all things". If you are indeed a child of God, He will always minister to you if by chance you are about to go into this sinful act.
Sibusiso Manana
Paul said to get married rather than BURN with passion. Give to each other so that you do not give the devil a foothold. Abstain from anything that LOOKS LIKE SIN. What does the Spirit of God say when you want to do it or when you do it? Let's not judge you, but if God lives in you - what is he saying about it to you? Because you are the one accountable to God, not us. He lives in you as much as He lives in us.
Dinganie Soko
This is one grey area that would probably fit into what the apostle Paul called ‘disputable matters’ and we should avoid prescribing our ‘beliefs’ to others as Paul advises us in Romans 14:1-4: “1Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on disputable matters. 2One man’s faith allows him to eat everything, but another man, whose faith is weak, eats only vegetables. 3The man who eats everything must not look down on him who does not, and the man who does not eat everything must not condemn the man who does, for God has accepted him. 4Who are you to judge someone else’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls. And he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand.” I would like to repeat the last part of verse 4: “And he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand.” We have different levels of spiritual maturity and faith. I have read good arguments for and against masturbation, both with varying levels of biblical ‘insight’. Therefore, I think the best answer to this question is to direct the person asking the question to God who is the only one that can give a ‘correct’ answer through the Holy Spirit in line with James 1:5 "If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him."
James Wachepa
Genesis 38:8-10 speaks of Onan who wasted his seed to the ground. This may sound out of context, yet the truth remains that at a certain point in time, God was and may never be pleased with a man who waste his seed. The challenge on this subject is that not much has the Bible revealed. However, could we consider John 21:25; & John 16:12-13. Jesus could not tell us everything because we did not have the capacity to bear His words. The Holy Spirit was and is the answer to every word which He or the Bible did not say. The Holy Spirit is the guide in all matters concerning the truth. Therefore, the Holy Spirit is not only in us (if we genuinely walk in a relationship with Christ) but also is with us to guide us into all truth! A guide does not leave, he comes along! The mind is the gate through which decisions are made. God desires to control your decisions, unfortunately, satan longs to occupy the same. In his mind Onan knew that the offspring would not be his, and brought displeasure before God. IT ALL STARTED IN THE MIND. Masturbation is the fruit of lustful thoughts. Lust is immoral and not of faith. When the act (masturbation) is done, I believe man significantly provides the discharge for/at the altar of immorality. Christians aught to exercise "Self Control or Discipline" as far as life in Christ is concerned. Corinthians 9:27. It is something that God will NOT impose on man, but rather, man WILLINGLY OR INTENTIONALLY holds himself for the fear of missing heaven. Not through human strength, but His Holy Spirit! Romans 12:1-3 I know that the Bible did not say much about this subject, but I believe the Holy Spirit has a lot to say with every individual. If it is sin, He will always let you know it is. Sin never leaves joy but misery. By "joy" I do not mean the fleshly pleasure you feel after relieving yourself, but rather the pleasure of God that gets lost inside of you.
Ferdy Mercado
Gal. 5:25 says "If we live in Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit." Rom. 8:1 also says "There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit." Rom. 8:6-8 also says "6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. 8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God." So, to avoid being burned with the desire to masturbate, Christians have to always walk in Spirit and to always remember that to be carnally minded (desire to fleshly lust) is death and cannot please God. But if we fall into it, we do not have to condemn ourselves for God's mercy is more than enough to give us another chance (1 John 1:9). God bless us all!
Ben Jones
Onan was killed not because he spilled his seed on the ground. This is a Roman Catholic teaching and is unbiblical. Since there is no OT law that specifically prohibits this we must look at what is stated in the passage. Onan was killed because he refused to raise up children for his brother. Deu 25:5&6 “If two brothers are living together on the same property and one of them dies without a son, his widow may not be married to anyone from outside the family. Instead, her husband’s brother should marry her and have intercourse with her to fulfill the duties of a brother-in-law. The first son she bears to him will be considered the son of the dead brother, so that his name will not be forgotten in Israel." Verses 7 thru 10 are important also because they allow the living brother to biblically refuse to have intercourse with her if he is willing to suffer the penalty.
Georg Kouz
Matthew 5:28 But I (Jesus) tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. By this we understand much that if a person doing it by using his body and imagination it is sin. In the Old Testament Onan was punished severely because of using his organ only for personal satisfaction and auto-erotism.
Teresa Wiltz
It has been my experience that masturbation was performed to pleasure oneself whenever a lustful thought aroused the physical body. God provides us with a detailed list of sins that are against His nature and will never be acceptable to Him. The following scriptures highlight such sins that will prohibit one’s residence in God’s eternal Kingdom (Heaven): Galatians 5:16 ~ I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. 17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. 19 Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, 21 envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. The Bible does not actually use the word masturbation; however as shown above, the acts of lewdness, selfish ambitions, and walking in the lust of the flesh rather than walking in the Spirit are all against God’s Will. Also, the Bible emphasizes that self-control is produced by the fruit of the Spirit and self-control means exactly what it says that we should learn how to control our lustful ways. I also believe that masturbation can be a result of watching pornography, lusting after others, or entertaining any other deceitful thoughts which overtake fleshly desires. But, if we learn how to focus our attention and desires on ways that are pleasing and honorable to God only then will we overcome the temptation of self-pleasing desires, namely masturbation. “Therefore, submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.” ~James 4:7. There were so many self-indulgent sins that I personally used to engage in without much thought. I was living a worldly life caught up in its desires. But, once I began taking my Christianity seriously and started to really focus on our Heavenly Creator and what this life is genuinely all about, I accepted the truth of His Word into my heart and by accepting His Word, I accepted His Spirit to live inside of me. There is a spiritual transformation that follows that type of acceptance and with it comes a higher desire to fulfill the desires of the spirit and walk away from the sinful desires of the flesh. I am not proclaiming to be perfect because God says that we are all sinners and whoever denies this truth is a liar (If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. ~1 John 1:8). The only perfect living soul who ever set foot on this earth was Jesus Christ and only He was able to resist ALL temptation because of His purpose to fulfill God’s plan to save all mankind from sin. Jesus taught us to focus on the things above because that’s where our true treasure is. The things of this world are only temporary but the things in Heaven are eternal and the only way that we will ever receive its reward is to crush our lustful appetites of the flesh and live by the fruit of the Spirit through accepting Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. In the end, God teaches all of us how to live a righteous life through His inspired Word: I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. ~Romans 12:1-2!
Add your Answer
All answers are REVIEWED and MODERATED.
Please ensure your answer MEETS all our guidelines.
A good answer provides new insight and perspective. Here are guidelines to help facilitate a meaningful learning experience for everyone.
- Adhere to the eBible Statement of Faith.
- Your answer should be complete and stand-alone.
- Include supporting arguments, and scripture references if possible. Seek to answer the "why".
- Adhere to a proper tone and spirit of love and understanding.
- For more info see The Complete Guide to eBible