Masturbation
First Word
·
This is a controversial and offensive subject to many,
depending on the setting, but I will attempt to put it forth here in a modest
manner so that Christians of all flavors, men, women and teenagers alike
might feel comfortable and not left to flounder about through the moral maze
that side steps the subject, with just a few noncommittal comments.
·
While scripture spells out
in detail about other sexual sins the scripture is SILENT on the universal issue of
masturbation which is a common human experience.
·
The Bible does not tell us that it is wrong to smoke
marijuana or use profane language, but our Christian principals tell us to NOT do
it. - So what does your Christian principals tell you about masturbation? -
Were you taught that using “The Pill” or a “Condom” or Spilling your
seed was tantamount to ABORTION? – Is what you believe only what someone else
has told you, or did you read it in the Holy Scriptures?
·
I think it would be wrong for me to go beyond
what God has written by just offering my opinion, because what is right or
wrong for me might not be right or wrong for you.
·
Scripture speaks about holiness “controlling your
body”, impurity, and passions of lust. – If we can put the cookies on the lower
shelf where you can get to them, you will find that the bottom line of the real
issue is; what is in your mind and what is in your
thoughts? - Do you masturbate often, or just once in a great while? - Is
your act of masturbation because of lustful thoughts or is it a “pent up” release?
·
When Sexual Temptations
come,
and they will; Masturbation, Fondling, Oral Sex, and other such things are all
given as acceptable possibilities to refrain from sinning. – We are told in scripture that when
temptation presents itself to us, God makes a way of ESCAPE; however Satan
makes a way of EXCUSE. - PONDER THAT FOR A WHILE –
1 Corinthians 4:6 - Not to go beyond what is written
6 I have applied all these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, brothers, that you may learn by us NOT TO GO BEYOND WHAT IS WRITTEN, that none of you may be puffed up in favor of one against another. (ESV)
6 I have applied all these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, brothers, that you may learn by us NOT TO GO BEYOND WHAT IS WRITTEN, that none of you may be puffed up in favor of one against another. (ESV)
1 Thessalonians 4:7-8 – God has called us in
holiness
7 For God has not called us for impurity, but in holiness.
8 Therefore whoever disregards this, disregards not man but God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you.
7 For God has not called us for impurity, but in holiness.
8 Therefore whoever disregards this, disregards not man but God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you.
(ESV)
1 Thessalonians 4:4 - Learn to control your own body
4 that each of you should learn to control your own body in a way that is holy and honorable, (NIV2011)
4 that each of you should learn to control your own body in a way that is holy and honorable, (NIV2011)
1 Corinthians 10:13 – God provides a WAY OF ESCAPE
13 No temptation has
overtaken you
but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow
you to be TEMPTED beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will
provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it. (NASB)
Wasting the seed
·
I want to address the most
used scripture
for condemning masturbation; it pretty much says that wasting or spilling your
semen on the ground is WICKED.
·
Let’s look at the story of
Onan and Tamar. - Er the husband of Tamar was a wicked man
and God killed him. Under their laws was
the tradition “To perform the duty of a brother in law”, which was to
see to it that a brother’s widow had a son to pass on the family heritage. That would include taking her into the family
and having children with her.
·
It fell to Onan to take
Tamar
and have a child with her to “perform the duty”. Onan seemed to be OK with the SEX part as he
lay with Tamar, but cheated her by spilling his seed on the ground, probably
because he didn’t want to have a child by her to share in the inheritance with
his other children. – Just saying -
·
God said he was WICKED not because he had
spilled his seed on the ground, but because he had failed to perform “the
duty of a brother in law” and produce a child. – So God killed him too.
·
So this scripture is not about wasting the
seed or spilling it on the ground as one would do in masturbation; this story
is about obedience and responsibility.
Genesis 38:6-11 - The duty of
a brother-in-law
6 And Judah took a wife for Er his firstborn, and her name was Tamar.
7 But Er, Judah’s firstborn, was wicked in the sight of the LORD, and the LORD put him to death.
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.
11 Then Judah said to Tamar his daughter-in-law, “Remain a widow in your father’s house, till Shelah my son grows up”—for he feared that he would die, like his brothers. So Tamar went and remained in her father’s house. (ESV)
6 And Judah took a wife for Er his firstborn, and her name was Tamar.
7 But Er, Judah’s firstborn, was wicked in the sight of the LORD, and the LORD put him to death.
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.
11 Then Judah said to Tamar his daughter-in-law, “Remain a widow in your father’s house, till Shelah my son grows up”—for he feared that he would die, like his brothers. So Tamar went and remained in her father’s house. (ESV)
Your Right Hand
·
Jesus was addressing some of His followers
concerning LUST, and said that just looking at a person with lust, you have
already sinned in your heart.
·
He said, “If your RIGHT HAND
causes you to sin, to cut it off”. – Was He referring to masturbation?
·
The entire story is about
Lust in
the heart and in the mind; Jesus is stating the seriousness of the
condition of a man’s heart. That it
would be better to lose an eye or a hand than to go to hell because of the sin
of LUST.
·
Once again, I do not see this as an
indictment on masturbation. Some
masturbate just to relieve themselves, so as to not have any of those “fantasy affair”
dreams of the mind.
Matthew 5:27-28 - Already committed adultery in his heart
27 You have heard that it was
said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’
28 But I say to you that
everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already
committed adultery with her in his heart.
Matt 5:29-30 - If your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off 29 If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell.
30 And IF YOUR RIGHT HAND CAUSES YOU TO SIN, CUT IT OFF and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go into hell. (ESV)
Matt 5:29-30 - If your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off 29 If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell.
30 And IF YOUR RIGHT HAND CAUSES YOU TO SIN, CUT IT OFF and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go into hell. (ESV)
Sexual Desires
·
In the beginning God said that it was not good for man to be alone and gave
him a wife and the two of them became one; intoxicated with one another.
·
God made man and woman to
procreate,
to have sex, to have children and many of them. - He created them to have a natural
Sexual desire for each other that they might have optimum pleasure
the way they were intended.
·
Sex in marriage not only gives pleasure,
but expresses love, unity, and commitment to each other.
·
Satisfying the desires of the flesh is generally the root cause of masturbation. - Since masturbation begins in the mind, it
might be called having an “AFFAIR OF THE MIND”.
·
The problem with
masturbation
is that it not only can become habit forming and addictive, but is an act of self-gratification
rather than a part of giving gratification which provides pleasure to
one’s partner. - Of course sexual urges,
in and of themselves are not sinful, but perhaps the use of sexual
toys to obtain that gratification is.
·
Self-Control of the body is part of the Fruit of
the Spirit. – Scripture pretty much says if you PLAY with you private parts,
you are going to get burned. – It’s in the Book -
·
All
things are lawful for the believer,” but all things are not
helpful. “All things are lawful,” but the believer should not be
dominated by anything and that includes masturbation.
Genesis 2:18 – It’s not good for a man to be alone
18 Then the LORD God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone; I will make him a helper suitable for him." (NASB)
18 Then the LORD God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone; I will make him a helper suitable for him." (NASB)
Genesis 2:24 – Man & Wife – the two shall
become one
24 therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.
24 therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.
(ASV)
Genesis 1:28 – God made man and woman to have
children
28 And God blessed them: and God said unto them, Be FRUITFUL, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it; and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the heavens, and over every living thing that moves upon the earth.
28 And God blessed them: and God said unto them, Be FRUITFUL, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it; and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the heavens, and over every living thing that moves upon the earth.
(ASV)
Proverbs 5:18-19 – Rejoice & be intoxicated
with your wife
18 Let your fountain be blessed, and rejoice in the wife of your youth,
19 a lovely deer, a graceful doe. Let her breasts fill you at all times with delight; be INTOXICATED always in her love.
18 Let your fountain be blessed, and rejoice in the wife of your youth,
19 a lovely deer, a graceful doe. Let her breasts fill you at all times with delight; be INTOXICATED always in her love.
(ESV)
Galatians 5:22-23 – Self-Control is a fruit of the
Spirit
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
23 gentleness, SELF-CONTROL; against such things there is no law.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
23 gentleness, SELF-CONTROL; against such things there is no law.
(ESV)
1 Thessalonians 4:2-8 – Control your own body
2 For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus.
3 For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from SEXUAL IMMORALITY;
4 that each one of you know how to CONTROL HIS OWN BODY in holiness and honor,
5 not in the passion of lust like the Gentiles who do not know God;
6 that no one transgress and wrong his brother in this matter, because the Lord is an avenger in all these things, as we told you beforehand and solemnly warned you.
7 For God has not called us for impurity, but in holiness.
8 Therefore whoever disregards this, disregards not man but God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you.
2 For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus.
3 For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from SEXUAL IMMORALITY;
4 that each one of you know how to CONTROL HIS OWN BODY in holiness and honor,
5 not in the passion of lust like the Gentiles who do not know God;
6 that no one transgress and wrong his brother in this matter, because the Lord is an avenger in all these things, as we told you beforehand and solemnly warned you.
7 For God has not called us for impurity, but in holiness.
8 Therefore whoever disregards this, disregards not man but God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you.
(ESV)
1 Corinthians 6:12 – Do not be dominated by anything
12 All things are lawful for me,” but NOT ALL THINGS ARE HELPFUL. “All things are lawful for me,” but I will not be dominated by anything. (ESV)
12 All things are lawful for me,” but NOT ALL THINGS ARE HELPFUL. “All things are lawful for me,” but I will not be dominated by anything. (ESV)
Proverbs 6:27 – Don’t PLAY around, your PANTS catch
on fire
27 Can you build a FIRE IN YOUR LAP and not BURN YOUR PANTS?
27 Can you build a FIRE IN YOUR LAP and not BURN YOUR PANTS?
(MSG)
1 Corinthians 6:19-20 – Your body is a temple of
the Holy Spirit
19 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own,
20 for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body. (ESV)
19 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own,
20 for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body. (ESV)
Galatians 5:17-18 - Desires of the flesh are against the Spirit
17 For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do.
18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
17 For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do.
18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
(ESV)
Matthew 26:41 - The flesh is weak
41 Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
41 Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
(ESV)
2 Timothy 2:22 - Run from lustful passions
22 So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.
22 So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.
(ESV)
1 John 2:16 - Lust of the eyes and flesh are not
from God
16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world.
16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world.
(NASB)
Job 31:1 – Make a covenant
to not look with lust at another
1 I made a COVENANT with my eyes not to look with lust at a young woman.
1 I made a COVENANT with my eyes not to look with lust at a young woman.
(NLT)
Facts
of Life
·
All living creations have been
created with a desire for sex; it is awakened in people at various ages and
stages of life. – Masturbation
is obviously “natural” and therefore “morally neutral”. - It is NOT forbidden by God, but with that said, God
does address keeping your body under control.
·
For the single person, man or woman, masturbation
keeps you from sin and all the consequences of premarital sex, which includes damaged
emotions, unwanted children and diseases such as AIDS.
·
For the married person who has come
apart from the spouse for a period of time, but still desires each other, the consequences
of un-faithfulness or Adultery is avoided. – According to scripture
masturbation is not a sin, it can occur because of scheduling problems,
travel, or just fatigue of the spouse.
·
However it’s the thoughts
that is in your mind that brings on Sin; Immoral thoughts, Pornography and
Lust. The believer should denounce all forms of sexual impurity & FANTASIES whether they
are actual or MENTAL.
Building a Case for Sin
·
The case for Sin comes
down to this;
1.
Sexual immorality must not
be named among you.
2.
Whatever does not proceed
from faith is sin.
3.
Your body is the temple of
the Holy Spirit.
4.
Do
not use your body members for sin.
5.
You are to do everything
to the glory of God.
·
Nothing in itself is
unclean,
but it’s UNCLEAN FOR ANYONE WHO THINKS IT UNCLEAN What is right for you may
not be right for someone else.
Ephesians 5:3 – Sexual immorality must not be
among you
3 But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. (ESV)
3 But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. (ESV)
Romans 14:14-23 - Whatever
does not proceed from faith is sin
14 I know and am persuaded in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself, but it is UNCLEAN FOR ANYONE WHO THINKS IT UNCLEAN.
22 The FAITH that you have, keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the one who has no reason to pass judgment on himself.
23 But whoever has doubts is condemned if he eats, because the eating is not from faith. For whatever does not proceed from FAITH is sin. (ESV)
14 I know and am persuaded in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself, but it is UNCLEAN FOR ANYONE WHO THINKS IT UNCLEAN.
22 The FAITH that you have, keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the one who has no reason to pass judgment on himself.
23 But whoever has doubts is condemned if he eats, because the eating is not from faith. For whatever does not proceed from FAITH is sin. (ESV)
1 Corinthians 6:19-20 - Your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit
19 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own,
20 for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body. (ESV)
19 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own,
20 for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body. (ESV)
Romans 6:13 – Do not use your body members for sin
13 Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness. (ESV)
13 Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness. (ESV)
1 Corinthians 10:31 – Do everything to the glory
of God
31 So, whether you eat or drink, or WHATEVER YOU DO, do all to the glory of God. (ESV)
31 So, whether you eat or drink, or WHATEVER YOU DO, do all to the glory of God. (ESV)
Withholding SEX
·
If masturbation is used to
avoid or deny sex with your spouse, then IT IS A SIN. Scripture is clear that a man and his wife
should not deny each other sex except for an agreed upon time, lest Satan get a
foothold in their life.
1 Corinthians 7:1-5 – Withhold sex as punishment -
Masturbate
1 Now regarding the questions you asked in your letter. Yes, it is good to live a celibate life.
2 But because there is so much sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife, and each woman should have her own husband.
3 The husband should fulfill his wife’s sexual needs, and the wife should fulfill her husband’s needs.
4 The wife gives authority over her body to her husband, and the husband gives authority over his body to his wife.
5 Do not deprive each other of sexual relations, unless you both agree to REFRAIN from sexual intimacy for a LIMITED TIME so you can give yourselves more completely to prayer. Afterward, you should come together again so that Satan won’t be able to tempt you because of your LACK OF SELF-CONTROL. NLT
1 Now regarding the questions you asked in your letter. Yes, it is good to live a celibate life.
2 But because there is so much sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife, and each woman should have her own husband.
3 The husband should fulfill his wife’s sexual needs, and the wife should fulfill her husband’s needs.
4 The wife gives authority over her body to her husband, and the husband gives authority over his body to his wife.
5 Do not deprive each other of sexual relations, unless you both agree to REFRAIN from sexual intimacy for a LIMITED TIME so you can give yourselves more completely to prayer. Afterward, you should come together again so that Satan won’t be able to tempt you because of your LACK OF SELF-CONTROL. NLT
Last Thoughts
·
Drinking Alcohol is not a sin; Drunkenness
is the Sin – Masturbation is not a sin; Lust is the Sin. – NYOBS 03.21 - BEER BOOZE AND BUBBLY
·
I can build a case with
enough scripture
that masturbation is a SIN, but I think I would be going beyond what God has said
or not said. – Consider this; is it ESCAPE or ESCUSE?
·
Can you masturbate without
sinning?
– Are you having an AFAIR OF THE MIND? - We should not pass judgment on one
another with the stumbling block of our opinion. - What works for you may not
work for someone else. - Each person must give an account to God for their own
self.
·
We have the Holy Spirit
within us,
and do not live for the earthly passions anymore; we are DONE WITH SIN, our
thoughts are on “the will of God”. – There is therefore now no condemnation for
those who are in Christ Jesus. – NYOBS 30.16 – SINLESS ESCAPE OR ESCUSE
1 Peter 4:1-2 – Through the Holy Spirit – We are
done with Sin
1 Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has CEASED FROM SIN,
2 so as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God. (ESV)
1 Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has CEASED FROM SIN,
2 so as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God. (ESV)
Rom 7:20 – IT IS SIN
LIVING IN ME THAT SINS – NOT ME
20 Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is
no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it. NIV
Romans 8:1 – We are no longer condemned as
Christians
1 Therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. (ESV
1 Therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. (ESV
Romans 14:12-13 – Don’t pass judgment on one
another
12 So then each of us will give an account of himself to God.
13 Therefore let us not pass judgment on one another any longer, but rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother. (ESV)
12 So then each of us will give an account of himself to God.
13 Therefore let us not pass judgment on one another any longer, but rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother. (ESV)
In the multitude of counselors,
there is wisdom.
Proverbs 11:14
I
am grateful to those that went before me providing concepts, ideas, historical
information,
and scripture verses. Because of them I
can stand on their shoulders
and
see further that I otherwise ever could have.
Antiquity of the Jews – Flavius Josephus Matthias
Apocrypha - Goodspeed
Bible Almanac; The – Packer-Tenney-White
Bible Dictionary – Harper and Row
Cherubim Chariots – Josh Peck
Dake’s Annotated Bible – Dake
English Standard Version
Bible – ESV
Exo-Vaticana – Chris Putnam & Thomas Horn
Expositor’s Bible
Commentary – Frank E. Gaebelein
Illustrated Bible
Dictionary – Nelson’s
Illustrated Bible
Dictionary; The – Tyndale
Interlinear Greek-English
New Testament - Baker
King James Version Bible –
KJV
Mysteries of the Bible – Readers
Digest
Nave’s Topical Bible - Zondervan
New International
Dictionary of the Bible; The – Douglas -
Tenney
New International Version
Bible – NIV
On the Path of Immortals – Thomas Horn & Chris Putnam
Thru the Bible – J. Vernon McGee
Who’s Who in the Bible – Paul D. Gardner
Wikipedia –
Zondervan Pictorial
Encyclopedia of the Bible; The – Tenney
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