Can a thought be a sin?

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Can a thought be a sin?

Some say thoughts aren’t sins unless you put them into action, but I’m not so sure. Of course, what I or someone else thinks about thoughts isn’t worth much, so let’s see what Jesus says about it.

In Matthew 5:21, 22, our Lord says,

Ye have heard that it was said … Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment: But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment.

I don'y think He was actually calling someone like this a murderer, but He was discussing the importance about thinking angry thoughts and letting them go unchecked.

Now jump down to verse 27:

“Ye have heard that it was said … Thou shalt not commit adultery: But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.”

Here the Lord is telling us that sin is not always an action, it’s an attitude. It’s thoughts.

In the Sermon on the Mount, our Lord spent a lot more time talking about the attitude of pride and arrogance and sinful thoughts than the actual deeds, because every sinful deed originates with a thought in the mind. So if we’re going to squelch sin, we need to begin by asking the Lord to get our minds and our thoughts captive to the Holy Spirit. That’s where all sin originates.

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39 Comments

Vakeros

These verses don't have Jesus saying that a thought is a sin. The whole context is about what CAUSES you to sin.
If I lust (that is covet) my neighbours wife, then my actions will mean my relationship with him and her and others will be wrong.
As James highlights the thought of lust gives birth to sin. It is a key part of what leads us to sin, but isn't in itself sin. It is when we realise we are lusting that we must deal with our thoughts and desires and reorient them towards God's.

Jo got heart problems

This helped a lot

Bryan

Sexual thoughts are mostly out of our control based on how much hormones like Testosterone your body is producing so if producing a little Testosterone then your sexual appetite will be lean and sex wont be in the mind as much as if you have a higher level of Testosterone. Knowing this is half the battle and these days of skin tight yoga pants, sex on every tv show, movie, billboard, magazine, youtube, government websites and porn we really have to keep our guard up and pray. Sometimes your lustful thoughts feel like you're rebelling against God but just keep fighting. Dont look, dont watch when you see someone you just want to lick from head to toe and it'll get easier. Never give in and remember to talk to Christ he loves you.

Grinchpa

My 2 cents worth.

We are bombarded every day, sex in every ad, LGBTQ...., transgender, boys in girls bathrooms and girls in boys bathrooms. Today I am a boy, tomorrow I'll be a girl next week I'll be neither, we cannot get away from it. Nor should we.

We are here to spread God's word, we are doing a great disservice to our brothers, sisters, sons, daughters and grandchildren, not to mention God, if we run and hid from this onslaught, the Bible is Gods word, our sword, we need to use it.

In order to do that we need to read the Bible learn how to fight temptation and teach others how to do the same. Especially the reading part.

Temptation is the presentation of an opportunity to start to sin by chasing that temptation with our thoughts, it puts that thought out there for you to embrace and pursue or to stomp out and beat it to death with God's word.

No-one can do this by themselves, we are God's tools, his servants, we are here to do his bidding.

Mark 10:45 KJV

Rod

Hello,
Matthew 5:27 has been used by a lot of churches to condemn men from looking at women in a lustful way. Like, guys have an on/off switch from looking to lust. The book, IS IT LUST OR, LEGALISM explains it very well. The word lust translated is to covet. A completely different context. Briefly, it is the intent to take possession, a plan to get that woman in bed, not the 18 year old guy looking at the cheerleader, and saying, wow. Anger is no different. Someone cuts you off in traffic, you swear, get mad and that is it, no big deal. Option two, you follow the other driver home, pull out a gun and shoot him, that is what Jesus meant by anger. Intent, a plan, not just getting mad. These two examples are like many verses that way over simplified.

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MarkDarrelle

God knows what's inside in your heart

kwame

if i call someone a fool in my head, can i revoke it and would God forgive me even though i cant ask the person for forgiveness

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Alex loves GOD

GOD can forgive all sins but the unforgivable sin Bc it’s one that shouldn’t be done but in this situation do what you feel the HOLY SPIRIT is calling you to do I would ask GOD for forgiveness first then I would maybe go to that person and talk to them and bring up the subject and ask for forgiveness I’ve had this same thing happen to me and what I did was say sorry but didn’t say why I was a coward you can do so much more don’t be like me in this situation remember GOD’s always by yourside

Moderator

Amazing Facts

Thank you for your question! Unfortunately, we're unable to answer Bible questions here, so if you would like to receive a personal Bible answer from Amazing Facts, you can ask it at this link: https://www.amazingfacts.org/about-us/bible-questions We look forward to answering your question!

Chauncey Uppercrust

If thoughts are sinful, none of us has a prayer of getting into Heaven!

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Pastor Wyatt

Sinful thoughts can be forgiven as much as sinful actions. Sinful thoughts can be overcome as much as sinful actions. Jesus is the answer and our hope!

Davel

🙏

Breazyboo

What if I can't control my thoughts and they become intrusive? Is it still a sin even tho I don't want to

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bob_folklord

the short answer is, no, intrusive thoughts can't be sinful, because nowhere in scripture are we told to keep our minds free from evil suggestions. this is not the yoke christ intended for us to carry, friend :'). the truth is, in this world we'll come across all sorts of evil suggestions, whether on billboards or in our heads. having these thoughts isn't sinful. the fact these thoughts bother you is a clear indication that your heart is aligned w/ our savior. so don't worry about your salvation when these thoughts come - instead, simply ignore them! we serve a shepherd, from whose hands nothing can snatch us (John 10:28) - including our intrusive thoughts :). if you've been struggling w/ this for a long time, then it's very possible that you struggle w/ obsessive compulsive disorder (ocd). I pray you'll find rest in christ, friend. christ is more than able to keep that which you've committed to him (2 Timothy 1:12) - and our savior's still got you, even when these thoughts pop into your head :).

Pastor Wyatt

Romans 7 describes the unconverted man who does the things he doesn't want to do. Romans 8 describes the man who is converted, who keeps the righteousness of the law. When thoughts become intrusive, we have some Bible promises to work with:

"For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ" (2 Corinthians 10:4-5).

"No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it" (1 Corinthians 10:13).

Moderator

Amazing Facts

Thank you for your question! Unfortunately, we're unable to answer Bible questions here, so if you would like to receive a personal Bible answer from Amazing Facts, you can ask it at this link: https://www.amazingfacts.org/about-us/bible-questions We look forward to answering your question!

matthew

i am getting this thought and invoice saying and thinking like things like that i am doing blasphemy but i am not doing it

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Pastor Wyatt

"For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ" (2 Corinthians 10:4-5).

Do what Jesus did in Matthew 4: Quote Scripture to overcome these thoughts! May God give you the victory. Another principle that will help you is to drown out the ugly voices with the voice of God. "Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good" (Romans 12:21).

Graeme

If I understand right, the idea that sin lies in thought is similar to the idea that the soul precedes the flesh. And that the spirit, not the letter of the law, matters most.

As the lawyers say: mens rea matters. So the act itself is not a crime without the will, the bad intent. That which is done by a babe or a sleepwalker is not a sin: it's just an unfortunate action.

This doesn't mean the mere thought of ill is wrong. Rather, it is the thought inspiring the harmful act that makes the wrong.

Olivia

I'm a married woman. I love my husband but our sexual appetite is on polar opposites. He is very "vanilla" whereas I am not. While having sex my mind conjures images that drive me to sexual satisfaction and which are not of him because he is not of that mind. Is this considered sexual immorality and a sin?

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Graeme

No. It's a subterranean fantasy, not a real desire. Play is not will. We don't judge taste (vanilla or chile). The body is one with the heart spirit: but in the logos those three are quiet.

Amazing Facts

Thank you for your question! Unfortunately, we're unable to answer Bible questions here, so if you would like to receive a personal Bible answer from Amazing Facts, you can ask it at this link: https://www.amazingfacts.org/about-us/bible-questions We look forward to answering your question!

Joseph B

If sinful thoughts by themselves were sin then Jesus sinned? What is temptation except a thought to do something contrary to the will of God? As Jesus was tempted in every way as we are, a mere thought would mean that he sinned. There is a difference between a bird flying by your head and nesting in your head.

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Greg

DISAGREE-a tempting thought is not a sin but once you entertain the thought ie. lust for example. the thought itself becomes sinful even if you do not act on it.
Yoru mind is delighting in something God says is evil.

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Halle

I agree. I’m looking for a bible text for this. Do you have any?

Cody

I feel that if you do have a sinful thought, don’t act on it and you will be fine.
That’s just what I’ve heard

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Greg

Not true-we are to have the mind of Christ. Yes we will be tempted to sin and temptation in itself is not a sin but once we do not take e the thought captive and begin to take pleasure in it our thought is sinful even if we never act on it.

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Ademola Kareem

Trying to lure people to sin is a sin, so temptation is a sin.
Now, not all thoughts results to sin. That I thought about lying and eventually not lying doesn't make me a sinner.
However, the thought of having sex with someone who's not my wife already is a sin, and iw was stated clearly in the Bible. So, not all thoughts proves you a sinner.

Max

I believe if you think a sinful thought... CATCH it. Replace it with a positive thought (could be a verse in the Bible or a secular thought). After replacing a negative for a positive thought over and over---you will think more positive and less negative thoughts. It takes time but it really works.

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Doris

I treally believe the good out way the bad thought we just need to keep it in practice .use it as are dealy reminder..resist the Devil an he shall flee from you...

Krissy

Wow!! Very very smart idea, I will try it thank you 🙏😊🙌💕✨

edwinmcotto

I can not agree with this. Yes, thoughts can be sins, but there is a process. Thoughts that go unchecked become sin. Those verses imply action. Looking at her "TO" lust. James 1:14-15 shows what the process it:
"But every man is tempted, when he is (step 1) drawn away of his own lust, and (step 2) enticed. Then when lust hath (step 3) conceived, it bringeth forth (step 4) sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth (final step) death."
Example, Eve did not sin by looking at the fruit of the forbidden tree until she "desired it."
Ellen White bears this out in no clearer terms:
"The strongest temptation cannot excuse sin. However great the pressure brought to bear upon the soul, transgression is our own act. It is not in the power of earth or hell to compel any one to do evil. Satan attacks us at our weak points, but we need not be overcome. However severe or unexpected the assault, God has provided help for us, and in His strength we may conquer." —Patriarchs and Prophets, 421

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Linda

So Eve just simply wanting the forbidden fruit is sinful? What if someone has sinful thoughts, without any actions, just gets distracted and forgets about it? Is that sinful?

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Amazing Facts

Thank you for your question! Unfortunately, we're unable to answer Bible questions here, so if you would like to receive a personal Bible answer from Amazing Facts, you can ask it at this link: https://www.amazingfacts.org/about-us/bible-questions We look forward to answering your question!

Anonymous

In verse 27 do you think looking with your eyes is the sin,? rather than the thought. I think Jesus is talking about what you choose to look at rather than what your thinking and as you commit that action/looking, you stimulate lots of bad thoughts.So the first action is to look rather than think. lm not sure if this is a good verse to use if your trying to explain, thoughts as sin, because as l read this verse it seems to me that an action has taken place through the eyes first. Let me know what you think :)

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joeydave

Yes this is the way I interpret this verse also.

Anonymous

To change the way we think we need to guard our hearts. What we see and hear affects our thinking. We can't always filter out everything we hear and see but we can pray that god gives us the strength to divert our impure thoughts and make them into pure ones.

shermainewilson

Awesome

Anonymous

The Old Testament brought us the letter of the Law. Jesus, as he said he came for, fulfilled it, by giving us the "Spirit" of the Law. I don't fulfill the Law by not having a physical adulterous affair with my neighbor's wife, I fulfill it by LOVING my neighbor so much, that I could never do such a thing to him (or her).