The Alleged Equivalence of Desire and Lust in Scripture

The statement that Jesus lusted is a misunderstanding of Scripture and a misinterpretation of the Greek word used in the Bible. Paul writes in Romans 8:28 that "we know that for those who love God all things work together for good," but this does not imply that Jesus, who is fully God and fully man, experienced sinful lust. The Greek word "epithymia" can indeed be translated as "desire" or "lust," but context is crucial in understanding its meaning. When Jesus says "with great desire I have desired to share this Passover with you" in Luke 22:15, He is expressing a deep longing to fellowship with His disciples, not a sinful lust.

This truth addresses the heart of the matter, which is the nature of Jesus Christ and the distinction between holy desires and sinful lusts. The Bible teaches that Jesus was tempted in every way as we are, yet without sin, as Hebrews 4:15 states. This means that while Jesus may have experienced human emotions and desires, He never gave in to sinful lust or acted on it. The idea that lust is not sin is a dangerous and unbiblical notion that can lead people astray and undermine the gospel message of redemption from sin.

The Reformed theological perspective emphasizes the importance of understanding Scripture in its proper context and recognizing the distinction between holy and sinful desires. This truth has significant implications for how we understand human nature, sin, and redemption, and it highlights the need for a biblical understanding of desire and lust. By recognizing the error in the statement that Jesus lusted, we can better appreciate the beauty of the gospel and the perfect righteousness of Christ, who lived a sinless life and died to redeem us from our sins.