Lasciviousness refers to the practice of debauchery, lewdness, or licentiousness. In a word, to be lascivious is to be lustful. Lasciviousness was condemned not only by Jesus, but also by Jude and the apostles Peter and Paul. Interestingly, the word lasciviousness is not used in the more modern Bible translations, but is found in the older versions such as the American Standard Version, Young’s Literal Translation, and the King James Version.
The King James Version translates Mark 7:22–23 this way: “Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.”
The NIV renders the same passage like this: “For from within, out of men’s hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. All these evils come from inside and make a man ‘unclean.’”
The NIV replaces “lasciviousness” with “lewdness.” The NLT uses the words “lustful desires.”
Other passages in the New Testament including this word are 1 Peter 4:3; 2 Corinthians 12:21; Ephesians 4:19; Galatians 5:19; and Jude 1:4.
Lasciviousness also means “excessive indulgence in sensual pleasures.” It’s having a complete disregard for the integrity and honor of others. Examples of such behavior include that of the people of Sodom and Gomorrah (2 Peter 2:6–7) and false teachers who promise freedom but who are themselves “slaves of depravity” (2 Peter 2:2, 18–19). Also, Paul used the word lasciviousness in reference to sexual excess (Romans 13:13; 2 Corinthians 12:21; Galatians 5:19). Jesus’ words recorded in Mark 7:22 have the same implication.
Lascivious behavior may include the way we dress, when our goal is to appear sexy or sensual. Lasciviousness also encompasses viewing sexually explicit media. This would include salacious magazines, movies, and television, as well as outright pornography. Numerous studies have shown that pornography is highly addictive, and countless marriages have been destroyed as a result of it. It has also been determined that many child molesters, sexual predators, and even murderers have been influenced by such material.
Without question, today’s postmodern society encourages men and women to be “sexy,” but we must understand that Christians are to be virtuous. In his letter to the church in Corinth, the apostle Paul said..
18 “Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body.
19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?
20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.” 1 Corinthians 6:18–20
It’s important to understand that those who indulge in lasciviousness are putting their souls in dire jeopardy. Paul makes this abundantly clear in his letter to the Galatians.
“19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.” Galatians 5:19–21