Okay, so the subject of "lust" came up in church recently and a friend and I have been discussing and debating about this. We know that Jesus said that if a man looks at a woman with lust, then he has committed adultery with her in his heart… but it came to mind “what constitutes ‘lust’?”
I mean, is it looking at a woman and thinking she’s cute? Is it looking a woman up and down and thinking of ways to seduce her? Okay, that second one is an obvious yes, but you get the point… where is the line?
Webster’s dictionary says lust is “intense longing for possession or enjoyment; passionate or lewd desire”… but does that really cover what Jesus meant? Is looking a woman over and saying she’s hot constitute lust? The argument was even brought up that if that is lust, then what about when a guy looks at a hot car (like a classic Corvette or Mustang) the same way? is that lust as well?
2007-10-07 14:20:50 · 10 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
As you can probably tell, we’ve been talking about this extensively. Since we have the same background growing up in the same church and whatnot, I’m just looking for some external input to add to the conversation/debate.
Serious answers only… and please give some reference or reason to back up your answer (not just a generic answer).
2007-10-07 14:21:15 · update #1
Wow, I'm not used to so many answers so quickly. Yes, I was referring to the passage:
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.
But the part we're debating on is what level that lust is. I brought up Webster because that was a basic starting point... I'm looking for more of a deep answer, I guess.
I mean, (for example) would I have to imagine me having sex with a woman to make it lust? Or would it just be looking a woman over and thinking "Dang! She is HOT!"? How intense does the longing have to be to hit the level of lust?
For lack of any better terms, I guess I'm looking for more of deep or philosophical answers... but the answer so far are helpful.
2007-10-07 14:49:36 · update #2
Lust does not have to be physical or sexual in nature...lust in many places in the scriptures refer to a spiritual lust or "the lust of the flesh". Basically lust is about giving into fleshly desires no matter how wrong or destructive they are.
YOur soul longs to be righteouss and your flesh will continually war against that.
Psalm 81:12
So I gave them up unto their own hearts' lust: and they walked in their own counsels.
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.
John 8:44
Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.
Romans 1:24
Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:
Romans 6:12
Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.
Romans 13:14
But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.
2007-10-07 14:25:47 · answer #1 · answered by Robert K 5 · 4⤊ 0⤋
Lust in the "woman" area is you fantacize and imagine you were sexually with her and so you might as well have done it because you didn't "resist the thought and you entertained the behavior"; and would act upon it if you could without being caught. What we think of and imagine and invite in and fantacize, we ARE guilty of doing.
Lust is the same in the area of "lusting for money or 'stuff'" and would take it if you could get away from it; you are a thief, hatred to the point of desiring the death or a person is murder, etc. What you desire, fantacize, imagine; you HAVE committed/ done.
Thoughts in your mind go into your heart unless you renounce and resist them, repent for intertaining them and replace your thinking with God's words. These thoughts carried to the point of lust are actions of the soul.
2007-10-07 14:30:57 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 0⤋
Looking at a woman with desire to have sex with her is lust. Admiring a woman's beauty is not. Yes Webster's hit the nail on the head.
2007-10-07 14:32:40 · answer #3 · answered by Curtis 6 · 4⤊ 0⤋
Biblical proportions means 3 x 4 1/2 x 1 inch. Doesn't say much for the Biblical God, no matter what you attribute to Him.
2016-05-18 03:45:32 · answer #4 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You almost answered Your own question From Webster"s Dictionary. Jesus Would Have explained it the same way I'm sure.
Always remember: LUST TAKES >>>LOVE GIVES. O>K? (smile)
2007-10-07 14:37:16 · answer #5 · answered by minnetta c 6 · 2⤊ 1⤋
simply lust is the intent to sin, such as coveting another man's wife or stealing someone's property with no forethought to the consequences
2007-10-07 14:24:17 · answer #6 · answered by Ahmad H 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
It is inappropriate desire to fulfill an appropriate appetite = it is an intense or unrestrained sexual craving.
2007-10-07 15:06:09 · answer #7 · answered by Nina, BaC 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
when you think "have to have her".Lust
She is pretty.probably not lust
I want that candy-apple red '64 Mustang (gotta have it!).probably coveting.
2007-10-07 15:01:02 · answer #8 · answered by robert p 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I vote for the "lewd desire" dictionary definition.
2007-10-07 14:25:18 · answer #9 · answered by Chapter and Verse 7 · 1⤊ 3⤋
Baal is the symbol of male fertility. Look up his symbol then ask the question again!!! Hehe
2007-10-07 17:12:31 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 4⤋