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What does the Bible say about unclean thoughts?

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The Bible teaches that unclean thoughts arise from the sinful human heart, defile us before God, and must be confessed, resisted, and renewed by his grace. Jesus says that lustful looking is heart-level adultery, and Mark 7:20-23 traces evil thoughts to the heart. James 1:14-15 warns that sinful desire, when cherished, leads to sin and death. Yet believers are not left helpless: through Christ, they are called to take thoughts captive, put off the old self, and be transformed by the renewing of their minds. Philippians 4:8 directs us to dwell on what is true, honorable, pure, and praiseworthy, while Psalm 51:10 teaches us to pray, “Create in me a clean heart, O God.”

Top passages, ranked by readers

Rankings: OpenBible.info Topical Bible (CC BY) · Scripture: World English Bible

  • Philippians 4:8 7 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.

  • 2 Corinthians 10:5 6 votes

    throwing down imaginations and every high thing that is exalted against the knowledge of God and bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,

  • James 1:14-15 6 votes

    But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own lust and enticed. Then the lust, when it has conceived, bears sin. The sin, when it is full grown, produces death.

  • Romans 12:2 6 votes

    Don’t be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what is the good, well-pleasing, and perfect will of God.

  • Psalms 51:10 6 votes

    Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a right spirit within me.

  • Ephesians 4:22-24 5 votes

    that you put away, as concerning your former way of life, the old man that grows corrupt after the lusts of deceit, and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and put on the new man, who in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of truth.

  • Matthew 5:28 5 votes

    but I tell you that everyone who gazes at a woman to lust after her has committed adultery with her already in his heart.

  • Galatians 5:19-21 4 votes

    Now the deeds of the flesh are obvious, which are: adultery, sexual immorality, uncleanness, lustfulness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, strife, jealousies, outbursts of anger, rivalries, divisions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these; of which I forewarn you, even as I also forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit God’s Kingdom.

  • Mark 7:20-23 4 votes

    He said, “That which proceeds out of the man, that defiles the man. For from within, out of the hearts of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, sexual sins, murders, thefts, covetings, wickedness, deceit, lustful desires, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, and foolishness. All these evil things come from within and defile the man.”

  • 1 Peter 1:13-16 4 votes

    Therefore prepare your minds for action. Be sober, and set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ— as children of obedience, not conforming yourselves according to your former lusts as in your ignorance, but just as he who called you is holy, you yourselves also be holy in all of your behavior, because it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”

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