Short Answer: The Bible does not mention masturbation directly, but it clearly condemns lust and calls believers to sexual self-control, so masturbation is sinful when it involves lust, pornography, or being mastered by sexual desire.
Long Answer: The Bible does not mention masturbation directly, but it clearly condemns lust and calls believers to sexual self-control, so masturbation is sinful when it involves lust, pornography, or being mastered by sexual desire.
Many people ask this with guilt, confusion, or secrecy. The goal isn’t shame—it’s freedom. God’s commands are not meant to crush you but to guide you into holiness, joy, and wholeness.
Does the Bible mention masturbation?
No verse explicitly says, “masturbation is a sin.” That means we shouldn’t pretend Scripture gives a direct one-sentence ruling. But the Bible does give clear teaching about the heart, the body, and sexual purity, and those principles speak strongly to this issue.
What Scripture clearly teaches about sexual purity
Lust is sin
Jesus teaches that sexual sin is not only about actions, but also about the desires we choose to cultivate (Matthew 5:27–28). For many people, masturbation is closely tied to fantasizing about someone who is not their spouse, replaying images, or consuming pornography. That is lust, and Scripture calls us to repent of it.
Sexual sin is something to flee, not manage
Paul says to “flee” sexual immorality and to honor God with your body (1 Corinthians 6:18–20). That includes what we do privately. God’s claim on our lives doesn’t stop at the bedroom door or behind a locked phone.
Self-control is part of discipleship
God’s will is our sanctification—learning to control our bodies in holiness and honor (1 Thessalonians 4:3–5). The fruit of the Spirit includes self-control (Galatians 5:22–23). If masturbation is compulsive, habitual, or connected to porn, it often functions less like “relief” and more like bondage.
What about masturbation “without lust”?
Some ask whether masturbation is still wrong if a person claims they are not fantasizing. Scripture does not answer that scenario directly. But wise questions to ask are:
- Is this training my heart toward self-giving love or self-centered gratification?
- Am I being mastered by this habit (1 Corinthians 6:12)?
- Is it connected to pornography or sexual fantasy in any way?
- Does it weaken my desire for purity, prayer, and obedience?
- Can I do this with a clear conscience before God (Romans 14:23)?
For most people, masturbation doesn’t stay detached from lust. Even when it begins that way, it often drifts toward fantasy, porn, secrecy, and shame. That’s why many Christians conclude it’s not a wise or holy practice.
What to do next
- Confess honestly to God and receive his forgiveness (1 John 1:9).
- Cut off porn access aggressively (Matthew 5:29–30 principles): filters, accountability software, removing apps, boundaries with your phone.
- Replace the habit, not just resist it: Scripture, prayer, exercise, sleep, and healthy friendships.
- Talk to a mature believer or pastor. Bringing sin into the light is often the turning point (James 5:16).
- If you fall, don’t give up. Repent quickly, learn the trigger, and keep walking.
Jesus doesn’t just forgive sexual sinners—he restores them. The path forward is not despair, but repentance, help, and steady growth in holiness.
Key Scriptures: Matt 5:27–30; 1 Cor 6:12, 18–20; 1 Thess 4:3–5; Gal 5:22–23; 1 John 1:9; James 5:16; Rom 14:23