QUESTION: Is masturbation sin?

ANSWER: Masturbation is a stimulation of the sexual organs. Such stimulation, whether personal or reciprocal, as a prelude to sexual intercourse between a husband and his wife would not be considered sin. However, such stimulation for the purposes of self-gratification invariably stems from, and includes, immoral thoughts. This would, indeed, be sinful! The following passages of scripture are violated in this activity: Proverbs 4:23, “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life;” Proverbs 23:7, “For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he;”

Matthew 5:28, “But I say unto you, that whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart;” Matthew 15:19, “For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witnesses, blasphemies;” Philippians 4:7-8, “And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Jesus Christ. Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just; whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” The temptation to engage in the subject activity can be thwarted by obedience to this scripture!

Remember too, I Corinthians 10:13, “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not permit you to be tempted above that ye are able to bear; but will with the temptation also make a way of escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” God has clearly provided a way of escape from this sinful activity: I Corinthians 7:2, “Nevertheless to avoid fornications, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband.” There is also an applicable principle in I Corinthians 7:9, “But if they cannot contain, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn.”