What does the Bible say about touching yourself?
Bible Topic · WEB
The Bible calls Christians to honor God with their bodies, pursue sexual purity, and seek his grace and strength in the fight against sinful desires. Scripture does not directly address every modern question about private sexual behavior, but it teaches that our bodies belong to the Lord and should not be used in ways that cultivate lust or self-indulgence. Jesus urges decisive resistance to sin in Mark 9:43-45, while Philippians 4:8 directs believers toward pure and worthy thoughts. Galatians 6:7-8 warns that habits of the flesh bear harmful fruit, yet Romans 8:1 and 1 John 1:9 assure repentant believers of no condemnation in Christ and full forgiveness. Through the Spirit, Christians can grow in self-control, holiness, and hope.
Top passages, ranked by readers
Rankings: OpenBible.info Topical Bible (CC BY) · Scripture: World English Bible
- Leviticus 15:16 15 votes
“‘If any man has an emission of semen, then he shall bathe all his flesh in water, and be unclean until the evening.
- Mark 9:43-45 13 votes
If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life maimed, rather than having your two hands to go into Gehenna, into the unquenchable fire, ‘where their worm doesn’t die, and the fire is not quenched.’ If your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life lame, rather than having your two feet to be cast into Gehenna, into the fire that will never be quenched—
- James 4:7 12 votes
Be subject therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
- James 4:7-8 11 votes
Be subject therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners. Purify your hearts, you double-minded.
- 1 Thessalonians 4:1-18 9 votes
Finally then, brothers, we beg and exhort you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God, that you abound more and more. For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus. For this is the will of God: your sanctification, that you abstain from sexual immorality, that each one of you know how to control his own body in sanctification and honor, not in the passion of lust, even as the Gentiles who don’t know God, that no one should take advantage of and wrong a brother or sister in this matter; because the Lord is an avenger in all these things, as also we forewarned you and testified. For God called us not for uncleanness, but in sanctification. Therefore he who rejects this doesn’t reject man, but God, who has also given his Holy Spirit to you. But concerning brotherly love, you have no need that one write to you. For you yourselves are taught by God to love one another, for indeed you do it toward all the brothers who are in all Macedonia. But we exhort you, brothers, that you abound more and more; and that you make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, even as we instructed you, that you may walk properly toward those who are outside, and may have need of nothing. But we don’t want you to be ignorant, brothers, concerning those who have fallen asleep, so that you don’t grieve like the rest, who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus. For this we tell you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will in no way precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with God’s trumpet. The dead in Christ will rise first, then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. So we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore comfort one another with these words.
- 1 John 1:9 7 votes
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us the sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
- Galatians 6:7-8 6 votes
Don’t be deceived. God is not mocked, for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption. But he who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.
- Philippians 4:8 4 votes
Finally, brothers, whatever things are true, whatever things are honorable, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report: if there is any virtue and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.
- Romans 8:1 4 votes
There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who don’t walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.
- 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 4 votes
Or don’t you know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. Therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.
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