What Does the Bible Say About Bad Or Unwanted Desire?

James 1:14-15 ESV / 6 helpful votes

But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.

1 John 2:16 ESV / 5 helpful votes

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.

Galatians 5:16-17 ESV / 5 helpful votes

But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do.

1 Peter 2:11 ESV / 4 helpful votes

Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul.

James 4:1-2 ESV / 4 helpful votes

What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask.

1 Thessalonians 4:3-5 ESV / 4 helpful votes

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, not in the passion of lust like the Gentiles who do not know God;

Colossians 3:5 ESV / 4 helpful votes

Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.

Ephesians 4:22 ESV / 4 helpful votes

To put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires,

Galatians 5:19-21 ESV / 4 helpful votes

Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, 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.

Romans 13:14 ESV / 4 helpful votes

But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.

Romans 8:5 ESV / 4 helpful votes

For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit.

Proverbs 6:25 ESV / 4 helpful votes

Do not desire her beauty in your heart, and do not let her capture you with her eyelashes;

Psalm 119:36 ESV / 4 helpful votes

Incline my heart to your testimonies, and not to selfish gain!

13 Bible Verses about Bad Or Unwanted Desire

James 1:14-15 ESV / 6 helpful votes

1 John 2:16 ESV / 5 helpful votes

Galatians 5:16-17 ESV / 5 helpful votes

1 Peter 2:11 ESV / 4 helpful votes

James 4:1-2 ESV / 4 helpful votes

1 Thessalonians 4:3-5 ESV / 4 helpful votes

Colossians 3:5 ESV / 4 helpful votes

Ephesians 4:22 ESV / 4 helpful votes

Galatians 5:19-21 ESV / 4 helpful votes

Romans 13:14 ESV / 4 helpful votes

Romans 8:5 ESV / 4 helpful votes

Proverbs 6:25 ESV / 4 helpful votes

Psalm 119:36 ESV / 4 helpful votes

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Enter a Verse Reference (e.g., John 3:16-17)

13 Bible Verses about Bad Or Unwanted Desire

James 1:14-15 ESV / 6 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 John 2:16 ESV / 5 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Galatians 5:16-17 ESV / 5 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 Peter 2:11 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

James 4:1-2 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 Thessalonians 4:3-5 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Colossians 3:5 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Ephesians 4:22 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Galatians 5:19-21 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Romans 13:14 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Romans 8:5 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 6:25 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Psalm 119:36 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Suggest a Verse

Enter a Verse Reference (e.g., John 3:16-17)

James 1:14-15 ESV / 6 helpful votes

1 John 2:16 ESV / 5 helpful votes

Galatians 5:16-17 ESV / 5 helpful votes

1 Peter 2:11 ESV / 4 helpful votes

James 4:1-2 ESV / 4 helpful votes

1 Thessalonians 4:3-5 ESV / 4 helpful votes

Colossians 3:5 ESV / 4 helpful votes

Ephesians 4:22 ESV / 4 helpful votes

Galatians 5:19-21 ESV / 4 helpful votes

Romans 13:14 ESV / 4 helpful votes

Romans 8:5 ESV / 4 helpful votes

Proverbs 6:25 ESV / 4 helpful votes

Psalm 119:36 ESV / 4 helpful votes