Is pornography a sin?

from the old testament

• God designed sex as a good and sacred gift to be enjoyed within the covenant of marriage between one man and one woman. From the beginning, God created male and female and blessed their union, commanding them to be fruitful and multiply (Genesis 1:27-28).
• Marriage is portrayed as a profound, joyful bond, where a man leaves his father and mother and holds fast to his wife, and they become one flesh (Genesis 2:24). Sex and sexual activity is for a man and woman to experience and enjoy within the context of marriage.
• God’s laws protected the purity of sexual relationships, clearly forbidding sexual immorality and honoring marriage as holy (Exodus 20:14; Leviticus 18:1-30).
• The Song of Solomon celebrates the beauty and passion of marital love, portraying it as a treasured and righteous joy when experienced within God's design (Song of Solomon 4:9-12). Pornography degrades and distorts this beautiful gift.
• The Hebrew word for iniquity, 'awon, infers a perversion of life, truth, and intent. Pornography certainly fits this. The images are a perversion in that they take God's intent (intimate sexual relations within a marriage) and pervert or twist that intent. The Bible calls men to "rejoice in the wife of your youth" (Proverbs 5:18), not in images of the bodies of strangers.
• The Hebrew word, rasha', connotes turbulence and restlessness or something ill-regulated (Job 3:17; Isaiah 57:20-21; Psalm 1:4-6). Pornography leads to turbulence and restlessness in our lives.
• Amal is the suffering and trouble that sin brings to sinners or to those we sin against (Job 5:6-7; Psalm 7:14; Habakkuk 1:3). Exposure to pornography deeply wounds those who indulge in it. It damages natural physiological reactions, drawing people towards more and more desire until the addiction perverts normal relationships. It also damages those who participate, because it celebrates the direct defiance of God's plan for people who are made in His image and because its sourcing often involves manipulation, threats, and violent repercussions if participants refuse.

from the new testament

• The New Testament confirms that sex and sexual activity was designed by God to be experienced and enjoyed in the context of marriage between one man and one woman (Matthew 19:4-6; 1 Corinthians 7:2-5; Hebrews 13:4). Pornography robs our spouse of what God designed for just the covenant relationship, it is an offense to God, and it degrades people made in God’s image to our own consumption and lust.
• First John 2:16 tells us that sin falls under the categories of the “lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life.” Pornography fuels lust of the flesh and eyes, reveals a heart that seeks validation apart from God, distorts self-worth, misrepresents the value of others, offers counterfeit satisfaction, and perverts God's good gift of sex.
• Philippians 4:8 tells us of what we are to focus our minds on: “whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” Pornography does not qualify as one of the things we are to think about.
• Pornography is addictive, and we are not to be mastered by anything (1 Corinthians 6:12; 2 Peter 2:19).
• Lusting in the mind, which is the essence of pornography, is offensive to God (Matthew 5:28) and destructive (see Proverbs 6:25-28; Ephesians 4:19).
• Pornography twists the way we see each other. We are to see each person as valuable in God’s eyes because they are made in God’s image. We are to relate to each other as brothers and sisters, in all purity, not as tools for our own gratification (1 Timothy 5:1-2).
• Repeated exposure to pornography creates a loss of control, an addiction. We are to be filled with the Holy Spirit, which is in direct opposition to the desires of the flesh (Galatians 5:16-17).
• There is no such thing as ethically sourced pornography. Even if all participants consent, pornography treats people as objects rather than honoring their dignity (Matthew 5:28; 1 Thessalonians 4:3-5) and violates God’s call to purity and love that seeks the good of others, not their exploitation.
• This Greek word hamartia can mean a governing principle or power that leads a group to miss the mark. Pornography is a sin and feeds this power. It feeds the lies that pornography is a personal sin that doesn’t impact others, that indulging in activities that contradict God's plan for us is a physiological necessity, and that sex is meant for our own gain and lustful gratification. Romans 6:12 tells us, “Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions.”

implications for today

Believers should never treat pornography casually or excuse it as harmless entertainment. It perverts God's good gift of sex and damages our hearts and minds. We must actively guard what we allow into our eyes and minds—setting up internet filters, avoiding sexually suggestive shows, and scrolling past sexually explicit content on social media. If we are tempted, we can practice immediate redirection by turning our attention to what is pure and good, just as Philippians 4:8 commands. For example, memorizing Scripture, listening to worship music, or even going outside for a walk can help break the cycle of temptation in the moment.

Pornography also shapes how we view other people and ourselves. It negatively impacts the brain, mental health, view of the opposite sex, emotional health, and relationships. Instead of indulging in pornography, we should see ourselves, others, and sex the way God does, through the lens of their God-given worth rather than through a lens of selfish desire. This means treating even strangers with respect and value, rather than allowing impure thoughts to go unchecked. Accountability is also important: having a trusted Christian friend or mentor to talk to and pray with can make a huge difference in resisting temptation. Married couples should honor and cherish each other with loyalty in heart, mind, and body, finding joy in the covenant relationship God designed (Proverbs 5:18).

When struggles with pornography seem overwhelming, we must remember that real freedom comes through God’s power, not through sheer willpower. We should regularly pray, confess our sins, and intentionally fill our hearts with God's truth. Practically, setting daily times of Bible reading and prayer helps strengthen our spirit against the desires of the flesh (Galatians 5:16-17). When we stumble, instead of hiding in shame, we should run to God in repentance, remembering that He is faithful to forgive and cleanse us (1 John 1:9). Every small step toward purity, by God's grace, helps reshape our minds and hearts according to His design.