You'll not find a Scripture in the Bible that says, "Thou shall not masturbate," but the Bible does forbid this type of activity. Notice what Jesus said:
You have heard that it was said to those of old, "You shall not commit adultery." But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. And if your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell" (Matt. 5:27-30, NKJV).In the Old Testament God dealt with outward sins only because man was incapable of keeping his thoughts pure. Since Jesus died and was resurrected, He gives, to all those who accept Him as Savior, the power and ability to live holy. For this reason, Jesus said that we shouldn't even look at a woman lustfully, let alone fantasize sexually.
In the Old Testament God dealt with the outward sin of adultery. In the New Testament, He's dealing with the root of adultery, our thought life. Since it is impossible to masturbate without fantasizing, or thinking wrong thoughts, we must conclude that masturbation is wrong. God created sex to be enjoyed between the husband and wife. It was never meant to be a self-centered act.
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