Pornography in the Bible? Isaiah and Jesus do not discuss today’s media landscape. Yet their words about nakedness, compassion and lustful looks offer an important perspective on sexual fantasies and pornography: We can learn to see people through Jesus’ eyes and honor their dignity. By Kai Mester

Clothing the naked—what does that mean today?

Today, we rarely encounter people who are naked because they lack clothing. The cool temperatures in our part of the world alone make warm clothing necessary for a much greater part of the year than in Israel, where Isaiah said, “When you see someone naked, clothe them.”

Today, people are naked for other reasons. Naturists seek closeness to nature and freedom, relaxation and health, acceptance of their own bodies and release from social conventions—a community without status symbols.

Many people, however, dress scantily or revealingly for a different reason. They want to be attractive, express confidence, or allow themselves to be exploited for pornographic purposes.

Jesus takes up Isaiah’s instruction and says approvingly, “I was naked and you clothed me,” or, in rebuke, “I was naked and you did not clothe me.” He thus makes our response in this matter a criterion for whether we inherit the kingdom or go into eternal fire.

Of course, we can apply this instruction to other situations in which someone is in need and we help relieve their distress. But is there also an application to physical nakedness in Central Europe today?

Stopping the mental movies and changing our gaze

I also see the instruction to clothe the naked as a call directed at our thoughts. Far too many people, especially men, habitually undress people they encounter in everyday life in a kind of mental movie, indulging in sexual fantasies.

Jesus speaks about this too: Anyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

Many men who turn away from their sins want to leave this habit behind completely. Yet they struggle because it is difficult to concentrate on not doing something.

It is much simpler and more beautiful to do the opposite: When you see someone naked, clothe them.

The mental habit of looking at people respectfully and clothing them rather than undressing them is a great blessing. Many missionaries had to learn this in regions where local people wore no clothing: to clothe them with their eyes by respectfully looking at their faces rather than studying their nakedness.

A covenant with the eyes

I can see every person through Jesus’ eyes—with a gaze of respect. Their dignity can become so precious to me that I protect them through the way I look at them.

Job says that he made a covenant with his eyes not to look lustfully at a young woman.

This also keeps me from watching pornography. I want to respect every person’s dignity and protect them from harm, including moral harm.

The individual and their story become important to me. I want to approach their wounds and vulnerabilities with particular sensitivity so that healing can progress quickly.

Honoring every person’s dignity

Instead of using images for my own sexual gratification, I can care deeply about every person’s well-being. That is why I will also treat other people’s nakedness with as much respect as possible, even when they have chosen it themselves.

Sadly, there is little freedom of choice in the pornography industry. Behind the images are people whose lives may involve terrible suffering.

Anyone who loves Jesus sees every person through his eyes, because each person suddenly becomes deeply precious to them. In their mind, they clothe every naked person.

Bible passages to explore

• Isaiah 58:7
• Matthew 25:36, 43
• Matthew 5:28
• Job 31:1

What helps you see people with greater respect in everyday life? Share an encouraging thought in the comments.

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