Immorality is a broad term that encompasses a wide range of sinful behaviors that go against God’s standards of righteousness. The Bible has a lot to say about various forms of immorality and impurity. Here is an overview of some key Bible passages that address the topic:
Sexual Immorality
Sexual immorality refers to any sexual activity outside of marriage between a man and a woman. This includes adultery, fornication, homosexuality, lust, pornography, and prostitution. Some verses that warn against sexual immorality include:
- 1 Corinthians 6:18 – “Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body.”
- Galatians 5:19 – “Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality…”
- 1 Thessalonians 4:3-5 – “For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality; that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor…”
- Revelation 21:8 – “But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”
Greed/Covetousness
Greed and covetousness involve an excessive desire for wealth, possessions, power, or status. This is identified as a form of idolatry in the Bible. Relevant verses include:
- Luke 12:15 – “And he said to them, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”
- Ephesians 5:3 – “But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints.”
- 1 Corinthians 6:10 – “Nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.”
- Colossians 3:5 – “Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.”
Drunkenness
Habitual drunkenness is condemned as a sinful lifestyle that leads to debauchery and reckless behavior. Verses include:
- Proverbs 23:20-21 – “Be not among drunkards or among gluttonous eaters of meat, for the drunkard and the glutton will come to poverty, and slumber will clothe them with rags.”
- 1 Corinthians 5:11 – “But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler—not even to eat with such a one.”
- Galatians 5:21 – “Envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.”
- 1 Peter 4:3 – “For the time that is past suffices for doing what the Gentiles want to do, living in sensuality, passions, drunkenness, orgies, drinking parties, and lawless idolatry.”
Dishonesty/Lying
The Bible condemns all forms of deception, dishonesty, and lying. Truthfulness is a virtue that reflects God’s character. Relevant verses include:
- Proverbs 12:22 – “Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord, but those who act faithfully are his delight.”
- Colossians 3:9 – “Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices…”
- Revelation 21:8 – “But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”
- Proverbs 6:16-17 – “There are six things that the Lord hates, seven that are an abomination to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood…”
Hatred/Bigotry
The Bible condemns hatred, bigotry, and prejudice towards others based on race, ethnicity, gender, or social status. All people are created equal in God’s eyes. Verses include:
- 1 John 2:9 – “Whoever says he is in the light and hates his brother is still in darkness.”
- 1 John 4:20 – “If anyone says, ‘I love God,’ and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen.”
- Proverbs 6:16-19 – “There are six things that the Lord hates, seven that are an abomination to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that make haste to run to evil, a false witness who breathes out lies, and one who sows discord among brothers.”
- James 2:1-4 – “My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory. For if a man wearing a gold ring and fine clothing comes into your assembly, and a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in, and if you pay attention to the one who wears the fine clothing and say, “You sit here in a good place,” while you say to the poor man, “You stand over there,” or, “Sit down at my feet,” have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?”
Greed/Selfishness
The Bible condemns self-centeredness, greed, and pursing one’s own interests at the expense of others. As Christians, we are called to be generous and put others first. Relevant verses include:
- Philippians 2:3 – “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.”
- James 3:14 – “But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth.”
- 1 Corinthians 13:5 – “[Love] does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful…”
- Luke 12:15 – “And he said to them, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”
Hypocrisy
The Bible strongly warns against hypocrisy and pretending to live one way outwardly while harboring secret sin inwardly. God sees the heart and desires genuineness. Verses include:
- Matthew 23:27-28 – “”Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people’s bones and all uncleanness. So you also outwardly appear righteous to others, but within you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.”
- Matthew 7:5 – “You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.”
- James 1:26 – “If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless.”
- 1 Peter 2:1 – “So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander.”
Adultery/Unfaithfulness
The Bible clearly prohibits adultery, which is marital unfaithfulness to one’s spouse. Faithfulness within marriage is highly valued. Relevant verses include:
- Exodus 20:14 – “You shall not commit adultery.”
- Proverbs 6:32 – “He who commits adultery lacks sense; he who does it destroys himself.”
- Hebrews 13:4 – “Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous.”
- Matthew 5:27-28 – “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart.”
Pride
The Bible warns against pride and arrogance. God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble. Living humbly and gently towards others is encouraged. Verses include:
- Proverbs 16:18 – “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.”
- 1 John 2:16 – “For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world.”
- James 4:6 – “But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”
- Philippians 2:3 – “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.”
Anger/Bitterness
The Bible instructs believers to control their anger and avoid rage, bitterness, and grudges towards others. We are to be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger. Relevant verses include:
- Ephesians 4:31 – “Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.”
- James 1:19-20 – “Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.”
- Proverbs 15:1 – “A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.”
- Ecclesiastes 7:9 – “Be not quick in your spirit to become angry, for anger lodges in the heart of fools.”
Gossip/Slander
The Bible instructs us to avoid gossip, slander, and speaking negatively about others when they are not present. Words have power and we are to build others up. Relevant verses include:
- Proverbs 16:28 – “A dishonest man spreads strife, and a whisperer separates close friends.”
- 2 Corinthians 12:20 – “For I fear that perhaps when I come I may find you not as I wish, and that you may find me not as you wish—that perhaps there may be quarreling, jealousy, anger, hostility, slander, gossip, conceit, and disorder.”
- Proverbs 26:20 – “For lack of wood the fire goes out, and where there is no whisperer, quarreling ceases.”
- Psalm 34:13 – “Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit.”
Idolatry
The Bible condemns idolatry, which is worshiping a false god or putting anything else above the one true God. This includes covetousness and greed. Relevant verses include:
- Exodus 20:3 – “You shall have no other gods before me.”
- Colossians 3:5 – “Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.”
- 1 Corinthians 10:14 – “Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.”
- Ezekiel 14:6 – “Therefore say to the house of Israel, Thus says the Lord God: Repent and turn away from your idols, and turn away your faces from all your abominations.”
Laziness
The Bible encourages diligence, hard work, and warns against laziness and living off of others’ generosity when one is capable of working. Relevant verses include:
- 2 Thessalonians 3:10 – “For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat.”
- Proverbs 20:4 – “The sluggard does not plow in the autumn; he will seek at harvest and have nothing.”
- Proverbs 13:4 – “The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing, while the soul of the diligent is richly supplied.”
- Proverbs 21:25 – “The desire of the sluggard kills him, for his hands refuse to labor.”
Stealing
The Bible prohibits stealing, fraud, and taking what rightfully belongs to others. Integrity and honest work is praised. Verses include:
- Exodus 20:15 – “You shall not steal.”
- Leviticus 19:11 – “You shall not steal; you shall not deal falsely; you shall not lie to one another.”
- Ephesians 4:28 – “Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need.”
- Titus 2:10 – “Not pilfering, but showing all good faith, so that in everything they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior.”
Abortion
The Bible does not directly prohibit abortion, but there are principles and passages that lead many Christians to believe it is wrong based on the value God places on human life, including unborn life. Relevant verses include:
- Psalm 139:13-16 – “For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb…Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.”
- Psalm 22:9-10 – “Yet you are he who took me from the womb; you made me trust you at my mother’s breasts. On you was I cast from my birth, and from my mother’s womb you have been my God.”
- Exodus 20:13 – “You shall not murder.”
- Genesis 9:6 – “Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed, for God made man in his own image.”
The Bible warns against many forms of immorality that go against God’s standards of righteousness. Key areas highlighted include sexual immorality, dishonesty, greed, pride, idolatry, hatred, hypocrisy, and laziness. Scripture calls followers of Christ to live in purity, integrity, generosity, humility, patience, diligence, and self-control by the power of the Holy Spirit.