Lust or craving for something extends beyond sexual desire. Yes, I too thought of sex the first time lust was mentioned. However, after decades of research and study, I know it covers a broad range of topics. Reward yourself in 17 minutes with more knowledge about this amazing topic!

Lust: I Want It, I Don’t Care About Consequences

STM Bible Lesson

Lesson focus: 1 John 2:16. Bible lesson background 1 John 2:15-17: Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary: 1. The lust of the flesh—that is, the lust which has its seat and source in our lower animal nature. 2. And the lust of the eyes—the avenue through which outward things of the world, riches, pomp, and beauty, inflame us. 3. The pride of life—literally, “arrogant assumption”: vainglorious display.

“Do Not Love the World” is the sub-heading for this advice. Because, surprise, the world (the world system) is your enemy.

1 John 2:16 [read 1 John 2:15-17 (16)]

For everything that is in the world—the desire for fleshly gratification, the desire for possessions, and worldly arrogance—is not from the Father but is from the world. (ISV)

KJV: For all that is in the world, the lust^G1939 of the flesh, and the lust^G1939 of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father but is of the world.

G1939 epithumia – lust

G1939 ἐπιθυμία epithumia (e-piy-thï-miy’-a) n. craving, longing, desire especially for what is forbidden, lust. [from G1937] KJV: concupiscence, desire, lust (after). Lust: Romans 7:7, Galatians 5:16, James 1:14-15, 2 Peter 1:4 and 2:10, and 1 John 2:16-17.

Lust is a sinful act

Paul says the law revealed that lust was a sin.

Romans 7:7 [read Romans 7:7-12 (7)]

You might think I am saying that sin and the law are the same. That is not true. But the law was the only way I could learn what sin meant. I would never have known it was wrong to want something that is not mine. But the law said, “You must not want what belongs to someone else. (ERV)

KJV: What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet.

Exodus 20:17 [read Exodus 20:1-17 (17); compare Deuteronomy 5:1-22 (21)]

“Do not desire another man’s house; do not desire his wife, his slaves, his cattle, his donkeys, or anything else that he owns.” (GNT)

KJV: Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbor’s.

Strong cravings for selfish pleasure

I created a timeline of the words that were used before they were translated as “lust.”

• 405 AD: The Latin Vulgate used concupiscence.
• 1395: Wycliffe used covetousness.
• 1534: Tyndale appears to have been the first English translator to use lust.

A. Selfish desires

We can learn from OT examples, in particular, from the Israelites. The Lord did many wonderful things for them, but instead of praise and worship, they disappointed Him because of their selfish desires.

1 Corinthians 10:6 [read 1 Corinthians 10:1-13 (6)]

These things were examples for us, so we won’t crave evil things like they did. (CEB)

KJV: Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.

B. Craving for sensual gratification

Matthew 5:28 [read Matthew 5:27-30 (28)]

But I say, anyone who even looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart. (NLT)

KJV: But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust^G1937 after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.

G1937 ἐπιθυμέω epithumeo (e-piy-thï-me’-ō) v. of sexual desire; to lust after, crave, covet (have an evil desire). [from G1909 and G2372] KJV: covet, desire, would fain, lust (after). Related findings for epithumeo: Romans 7:7 and 13:9; 1 Corinthians 10:6; Galatians 5:17; and James 4:2.

C. Wanting to please our sinful selves

Galatians 5:17 [read Galatians 5:16-26 (17)]

For the flesh desires what is against the Spirit, and the Spirit desires what is against the flesh; these are opposed to each other, so that you don’t do what you want. (HCSB)

KJV: For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.

Greedy desires for things

Sadly, we, all people, suffer the consequences of Eve’s decision!

A. The drive to possess whatever we see is called greed

It is also a natural or habitual appetite, a longing for some form of fulfillment for the body or the mind. A need or great desire for exciting things, food, or drink is another example.

Genesis 3:6 [read Genesis 3:1-24 (6)]

Eve saw that the fruit of the tree appeared good to eat. It looked very attractive. She really wanted it so she could become wise. So she took some of its fruit and ate it, and she gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it too. (FBV)

KJV: And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.

Eve saw that the fruit was pleasing [KJV: pleasant – ta’avah] to the eye and also desirable [KJV: desired – chamad] for gaining wisdom…[from (NIV) read ].

B. Greedy longings of the mind

Lust is the extreme desire for wealth and the greedy longing to have more and more.

Luke 12:15 [read Luke 12:13-21 (15)]

Beware! Don’t always be wishing for what you don’t have. For real life and real living are not related to how rich we are.” (TLB)

KJV: And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.

C. An example of ‘lust of the eyes’

Wanting the sinful things we see for ourselves, the desire for possessions, and the ambition to buy everything that appeals to you.

Joshua 7:1 and 21 [read Joshua 7:1-26 (1 and 21)]

1 The Lord had said that everything in Jericho belonged to him. But Achan from the Judah tribe took some of the things from Jericho for himself. And so the Lord was angry with the Israelites, because one of them had disobeyed him. 21 (Achan explains:) While we were in Jericho, I saw a beautiful Babylonian robe, 200 pieces of silver, and a gold bar that weighed the same as 50 pieces of gold. I wanted them for myself, so I took them. I dug a hole under my tent and hid the silver, the gold, and the robe.” (CEV)

KJV: 1 But the children of Israel committed a trespass in the accursed thing: for Achan, the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took of the accursed thing: and the anger of the LORD was kindled against the children of Israel. 21 When I saw among the spoils a goodly Babylonish garment, and two hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold of fifty shekels weight, then I coveted them, and took them; and, behold, they are hid in the earth in the midst of my tent, and the silver under it.

“The lust of the eyes”: The mind receives information through its five physical sense gates (eyes, ears, touch, taste, and smell). Since the eyes are man’s primary sense gate, it is used in this phrase to represent all five of man’s physical senses. These sense gates “lust” in the sense that man’s physical senses crave to be stimulated. We instinctively look, listen, touch, smell, and taste the things of the world around us. The carnal man uses his senses to satisfy his physical desires. Everett

Confident arrogance about possessions

The timeline for ‘the pride of life’ in early modern English and Latin Vulgate varies slightly. All translations*, except for Tyndale and Matthew, use the same phrase, ‘the pride of life’. I.e., worldly arrogance regarding material things.

• * All translations include Wycliffe, Tyndale, Coverdale, Matthew, Great, Geneva, and Bishops.
• 1534: Tyndale replaced ‘life’ with ‘goods’: ‘the pride of goods.’
• 1537: the Matthew Bible translators also used ‘goods’.

A. Foolish pride; the pompous sense of superiority

Proverbs 11:2 [read Proverbs 11:2]

Pride leads only to shame. It is wise not to be proud. (ICB)

KJV: When pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly is wisdom.

B. Assurance in one’s resources or the stability of earthly things

The Bible Knowledge Commentary: Pride leads to one’s downfall (cf. 18:12; 29:23). Pride is so despicable that a person should avoid it even if it means being economically oppressed. One may share plunder (acquired through violent or dishonest means) with the proud, but such dishonesty will not go unpunished (cf. 15:25).

Proverbs 16:18 [read Proverbs 16:18-19 (18)]

Pride leads to destruction [comes before a disaster]; a proud attitude brings ruin [pride comes before a fall]. (EXB)

KJV: Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.

C. Being too proud of what we have; extravagant lifestyles; pretentious life

James 4:4-6 [read James 4:1-6 (4-6) Proverbs 3:34]

You are as wives and husbands who are not faithful in marriage and do sex sins. Do you not know that to love the sinful things of the world and to be a friend to them is to be against God? Yes, I say it again, if you are a friend of the world, you are against God. 5 Do you think the Holy Writings mean nothing when they said, “The Holy Spirit Whom God has given to live in us has a strong desire for us to be faithful to Him”?
6 But He gives us more loving-favor. For the Holy Writings say, “God works against the proud but gives loving-favor to those who have no pride.” (NLV)

KJV: Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God. 5 Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy? 6 But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.

The wrong attitude

Pride is overconfidence in and focus on one’s abilities, successes, situation, belongings, or position; exaggerated self-esteem. The opposite of humility, which is the correct attitude one should have toward God, is pride. Because it gives itself praise and honor that belong only to God, it is in revolt against God. Since they refuse to acknowledge their sinful situation, proud people do not feel the need to ask for forgiveness.

We should care about what will happen

Lust is a strong or greedy want with an ‘I don’t care about the consequences’ attitude. It is like saying or thinking, “I want what I want, no matter what.” In fact, it shows a complete disregard for the consequences of a person’s actions. But the person should care about the result!

James 1:13-15 [read James 1:12-18 (13-15)]

Let no one say that when he is tempted [undergoing a trial], I am tempted from God  [for temptation does not originate from God, but from our own flaws]. For God is incapable of being tempted by [what is] evil and He Himself tempts no one. 14 But every person is tempted when he is drawn away [lured], enticed, and baited [to commit sin] by his own [worldly] evil desire (lust, passions).
15 Then the evil desire, when it has conceived, gives birth [leads] to sin, and sin, when it is fully matured [or becomes full-grown], brings forth [leads to] death. (AMPC)

KJV: Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: 14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. 15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.

What I have is never enough; I want more, better—the best!

One of the consequences of lust is punishment from God

Colossians 3:5-6 and 25 [read Colossians 3:1-11 (5-6) and 18-25 (25)]

So, put to death [i.e., stop practicing the desires of] your physical bodies [such as] sexual immorality, [moral] impurity, lust, evil desires, and greed, which is [in reality] idolatry. 6 For the wrath of God will come [upon disobedient people] for practicing such things.
25 And the person who does what is wrong will be repaid [receive the consequences; punished] for his wrongdoing, for there is no favoritism [with God]. (AUV)

KJV: Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: 6 For which things’ sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:
25 But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons.

Yes, my friends, lust may give pleasure, things, and a sense of power, but is it worth it? Remember the words of Christ,

Is it worth it?

Matthew 16:26 [read Matthew 16:26 (26)]

What good is it if someone gains the whole world but loses their soul? Or what can anyone trade for their soul? (NIRV)

KJV: For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

Lust recap

Therefore, lust is fueled by

1. Our flesh, with its hunger for sensual fulfillment, selfish wants, and the desire to please our sinful selves.

2. The eyes that let objects that arouse our appetites enter our minds and arouse emotion.

3. Because pride gives itself the glory and respect that belong only to God, pride is a form of rebellion against God. Since they refuse to admit their sinful state, proud people do not feel the need to ask for forgiveness.

So don’t let your desires become lust, because that sin produces death. I pray that you have enjoyed this Bible lesson. Thank you for taking the time to read this Bible lesson. I urge you to make full use of it. Blessings to you and your loved ones—♥ Tim. ☺

Related studies, lessons, and snacks for further spiritual growth:

Pride is Arrogance; Be Humble and Give God Credit – an estimated 15-minute read.

Greed; God’s Children Should Not Be Greedy, Are You? – an estimated 14-minute read.

Love Yourself: Learn to Self-love in a Good Way – an estimated 6-minute read.

Positive Attitude; Welcome to a New Way of Being! – an estimated 19-minute read.

Let God Take Care of Your Worries and Concerns – an estimated 4-minute read.

See the latest on the Sound Truth Ministry website.

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