Tl;dr

>tl;dr

matt 5:28 and job 31:1 aren't saying what you think they are, because lust doesn't mean what you think it means.

>but, what does "lust" mean?

if you said "sexual desire," or something along those lines, you're be wrong. after all, we have idioms like "lust" for power, referring to an evil dictator, or a "lust" for money for someone who cares too much about making it.

so, lust must naturally refer to something outside the sexual arena. my working definition for the purposes of this write-up is:

>a desire (un)regulated, such that it seeks fulfillment unlawfully

and i aim to prove that sexual fantasy, masturbation, and the use of pornography, do not fall under condemnations of lust.

i will be making my case using linguistic hermeneutics, or, interpretation from the original language. it may seem complicated, but i can promise you on my honor as a christian, i am not playing a shell game here; my argument is true, and my intentions are righteous.

let's begin.

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>1. lust is synonymous with covet and used interchangeably

the words "lust" and "covet" and are rendered from the same root word in the christian greek scriptures, epithumeo and its roots and conjugations. translators decide based on context and intended meaning whether to use "lust" "covet" or simply "desire."

at romans 7:7, the apostle paul uses "epithumia" and "epithumeo" ("lust, lust," "covet, covet," or most helpfully, "lust, covet" in the KJV) to refer back to the 10th commandment, exodus 20:17, which uses "tahmod," rendered "covet, or sometimes "lust."

christ is also referring to the 10th commandment in matt 5:28 with "lust." so we know lust can be used interchangeably with covet, to denote some sort of wrong desire, my best definition of which i gave at the outset.

some things these two words are not:

>2. coveting something is not the same as desiring something

exodus 20:17, the 10th commandment, reads: “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male servant, or his female servant, or his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor’s.”

was this scripture condemning the mere desire of another person's property? duh, no, because the desire to own something that belongs to someone else is the basis for all commerce, which the scriptures endorse (prov 31:16, if you'd like a simple proof text).

>3. what is lust?

if lust is NOT merely the "desire" for something, what is it? what actually would coveting your neighbor's house, oxen, or wife look like?

since we know it is entirely lawful to notice your neighbor's nice house, to imagine owning it, living in it, and to offer to buy it from him, "lust" must be something else not included in these things.

I'll reiterate my chosen definition at the outset: lust and covetousness are "the desires (un)regulated, such that it seeks fulfillment unlawfully." it is the desire to STEAL something, or otherwise use it unlawfully.

for your neighbor's house, this might look like knowing your neighbor keeps a spare key under his mat, thinking that he's leaving for vacation for a week, and imagining entering his house without his permission while he's gone.

for your neighbor's oxen, this might be sabotaging their confinement so that they escape, and capturing them for yourself, or sneaking under dead of night to saddle them away.

with me so far, right? don't steal, don't violate property, don't fantasize about it either (what matt 5:28 is actually saying). basic stuff, right?

well, to covet your neighbor's wife, this would usually involve thoughts on how one might entice her to fornicate. perhaps you learn what she likes, learn some pick-up lines, flirt and slowly build up a relationship, then one day when her husband is away...

but, and here's where christians would have trouble following along, this would NOT be finding your neighbor's wife attractive. this would NOT be imagining what it would be like to have her as your wife. and this would NOT even be fantasizing about what she looks like naked, having sex with her, and masturbating to that thought.

why not? for the same reason fantasizing about your neighbor's house or your neighbor's oxen is not inherently wrong.

it's only WRONG if that harmless desire or fantasy morphs into a desire so strong you'd be willing to violate law to fulfill it. THAT'S the thought Jesus commanded we be guarded against at matt 5:28.

source material for this writeup largely from biblicalsexology.com/does-the-bible-condemn-sexual-fantasy-masturbation/

praise Jehovah

>i will be making my case using linguistic hermeneutics
If you have to use mental gymnastics to justify your opinion, it's probably wrong. Porn is obviously evil because outside of the consumer it promotes grooming and human trafficking.Try again Satan.

nice try rabbi

sneed

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This. Porn destroys societies. Fuck off op.

it means im using original language in greek and hebrew to help precisely define the words in english.

>casually disregarding the point about grooming and human trafficking
Why are you shilling for the porn jew? How much are they paying you?

i'm not being paid anything. it's my goal to enhance the understanding of Christ's followers as to his intended meaning.