“But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.” — Matthew 5:28 (KJV)
Understanding the Nature of Lust
Lust is more than a passing temptation; it is a willful inward desire that seeks satisfaction outside of God’s holy boundaries. The Greek term for lust, epithumeo, carries the sense of a craving, an intense longing, a desire that pushes beyond God’s design. Lust is not merely noticing beauty—it is the heart choosing to meditate upon, fantasize about, or covet that which God has forbidden.
Jesus elevated the discussion of lust beyond external actions. Under the Law, adultery was a physical act; under the authority of Christ, the heart is judged before the act ever occurs. In Matthew 5:28, the Lord reveals a doctrine that penetrates the secret places of a person’s mind. Lust is spiritual adultery—sin committed in the unseen realm long before it becomes visible.
Lust is also deceptive. Peter warns believers to “abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul” (1 Peter 2:11). These desires do not remain passive; they declare war, seeking to gain ground in the heart and take the will captive. Lust is not harmless; it is a spiritual aggressor.
Paul calls lust a work of the flesh (Galatians 5:19), categorizing it with sins that corrupt and enslave. Lust is inherently self-focused, seeking pleasure without covenant, relationship, or holiness. It ignores consequence. It seeks immediate gratification at the cost of long-term destruction.
Lust Corrupts the Heart
Before lust destroys a life externally, it first corrupts the heart internally. James gives the divine order of how lust operates: “But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.” (James 1:14–15)
This progression reveals a spiritual pregnancy. Lust conceives. It grows. It births sin. And sin gives birth to death. That death may manifest as:
- death of purity
- death of intimacy with God
- death of peace
- death of relationships
- ultimately, if unrepented, eternal death
Lust always begins small, but it never remains small. A seed becomes a harvest.
Lust Destroys Marriages, Families, and Relationships
The seventh commandment—“Thou shalt not commit adultery” (Exodus 20:14)—is not merely a prohibition against physical infidelity. It is a protection of the home, the covenant, and the generations that follow. Lust attacks all three.
Solomon warns that lustful desire leads a man “as an ox goeth to the slaughter” (Proverbs 7:22). The language is prophetic and tragic; the man believes he is pursuing pleasure, but in truth he is walking into ruin.
Lust:
- breaks trust
- erodes intimacy
- causes secrecy, deceit, and double-mindedness
- plants seeds of suspicion and insecurity
- introduces spiritual darkness into the home
Jesus declared that the pure in heart shall see God (Matthew 5:8). Lust clouds the spiritual vision. It dims discernment and exchanges the light of holiness for the fog of carnality.
Lust Enslaves the Mind and Body
Paul’s warning in Romans 1 shows the downward spiral of a society given over to lustful desires. When individuals reject God’s truth, they are eventually “given up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts” (Romans 1:24). Lust becomes both the pit and the chains.
Lust:
- forms addictive patterns
- traps the mind in fantasies and imaginations
- weakens self-control
- hardens the conscience
- opens the door to greater sins
The eyes become windows through which impurity is drawn in. The mind becomes a battlefield where images, memories, and cravings replay. The body becomes an instrument of unrighteousness (Romans 6:13). What began as desire becomes bondage.
Lust Invites God’s Judgment
The consequences of lust reach into eternity. The apostle Paul declares plainly:
“For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man… hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.” — Ephesians 5:5 (KJV)
Lust is not a trivial matter. It is a sin that, when unrepented, disqualifies a person from God’s kingdom. Jesus spoke of lust in terms of eternal consequence, warning that if the eye causes one to sin, drastic measures must be taken (Matthew 5:29). This hyperbolic language underscores the seriousness of lust’s danger—nothing is worth the loss of a soul.
Paul warns that the wrath of God comes upon the children of disobedience (Colossians 3:5–6). A society that normalizes lust invites judgment. A believer who tolerates lust invites chastening. A sinner who embraces lust invites eternal separation from God.
Victory Over Lust Through Christ
Though lust is powerful, it is not unconquerable. God never commands purity without providing power. The believer is not left to fight alone.
Scriptural weapons include:
The renewal of the mind
“Be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind” (Romans 12:2).
The mind must be washed daily with the Word.
Covenant with the eyes
“I made a covenant with mine eyes” (Job 31:1).
A deliberate commitment to purity.
Walking in the Spirit
“Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh” (Galatians 5:16).
Victory is found not by willpower but Spirit-power.
Fleeing temptation
“Flee fornication” (1 Corinthians 6:18).
The wise do not negotiate with lust—they run from it.
Confession and cleansing
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive” (1 John 1:9).
Christ breaks chains and restores purity.
There is hope. There is deliverance. There is freedom in Christ.
Conclusion
Lust is a sin that wages war against the soul, corrupts the heart, destroys families, enslaves the mind, and invites the judgment of God. Scripture does not soften its danger nor minimize its consequences. Jesus declared that lust begins in the heart, and therefore purity must begin in the heart as well.
Yet through the power of the Holy Spirit, the washing of the Word, and the sanctifying grace of Christ, every believer can walk in victory. The call is not merely to avoid lust—it is to pursue holiness. For without holiness, no man shall see the Lord (Hebrews 12:14).
May the people of God guard their eyes, purify their hearts, and walk in the light, refusing the darkness of lust and embracing the righteousness found only in Christ.