Does the Bible say anything about prostitution? Will God forgive a prostitute?

TL;DR:

Prostitution violates God’s design for sex within the covenant of marriage, but no one is beyond His forgiveness. Through faith in Christ, even those who have lived in sin can be redeemed, forgiven, and used for God’s purposes.

what does the bible say?

Scripture condemns prostitution as a sin. The Genesis account of God’s creation of Adam and Eve shows that sex was to be within the covenant of marriage (Genesis 2:24-25). Old Testament Mosaic Law made it clear that God considers prostitution a sin (Deuteronomy 23:17-18). God often used the metaphor of Israel as a prostitute because they had turned to other gods, committing idolatry (Hosea 4:12). But the Bible also shows that God is willing to and has forgiven those involved in prostitution. The most famous account in the Bible is a prostitute named Rahab, who lived in Jericho, and protected Israeli spies. Through her actions, she showed she believed in the God of Israel. The result was that God protected Rahab and her family when Israel defeated Jericho and then used Rahab in the family line of King David and Jesus. In fact, the Jewish religious leaders of Jesus’ day criticized Jesus for associating with prostitutes and other sinners, but Jesus was showing Himself as the Great Healer, One who could save sinners (Luke 7:36-50; Mark 2:17). Prostitutes and other sinners can accept Christ as Savior, confess and repent of their sins, and become new creations in Christ. (1 John 1:9; 2 Corinthians 5:17).

from the old testament

The story of Rahab gives hope that prostitutes can be forgiven and used by God to accomplish His mission (Joshua 2:1, 6:17-25).
Engaging in prostitution is done to one’s own detriment and harm (Proverbs 5:3-5, 23:27-28).
Old Testament Mosaic Law shows that God considers prostitution a sin (Deuteronomy 23:17-18) and compared Israel’s idolatry to prostitution (Hosea 4:12).

from the new testament

Through God’s grace of salvation, prostitutes can enter God’s kingdom and gain eternal life. (Matthew 21:31-32)
A Pharisee criticized Jesus because of a prostitute who “wet his [Jesus’] feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head and kissed his feet and anointed them with the ointment” (Luke 7:38). But Jesus pointed out that the woman’s faith in Him had “saved her” and that her sins were forgiven (Luke 7:47, 50).
God desires that we remain pure and use our bodies for His plans and glory (Romans 6:13, 1 Corinthians 6:13-15).

implications for today

God forbids prostitutions and involvement with prostitutes because it damages men and woman and is not in keeping with the holiness He expects from those who are His image-bearers (Genesis 1:26). Prostitution not only destroys marriages, families, and lives, but it destroys the spirit and soul in a way that leads to physical and spiritual death. God’s desire is that we stay pure and use our bodies as tools for His use and glory.

Although prostitution is sinful, prostitutes are not beyond God’s scope of forgiveness. Those who have engaged with prostitutes are also not beyond forgiveness upon repentance. Like anyone else, prostitutes have the opportunity to receive salvation and eternal life from God, to be redeemed of all their unrighteousness and be given a brand-new life in Christ. All they must do is turn away from their sinful lifestyle and turn to the living God, whose grace and mercy are endless.

understand

Prostitution is forbidden by God and damaging to those who engage in it.
The Bible presents hope for prostitutes and all sinners through the redeeming work of Christ.
A prostitute has the same offer of forgiveness and salvation from God as anyone else.

reflect

How has the forgiveness you have in Christ influenced your view of prostitution and other sins?
How do you best model a Christ-like attitude toward those living in sin without conveying approval of the sin?
How do the boundaries God sets around human sexuality help you to better understand His heart for relationships?

engage

Many consider prostitution a “victimless crime.” How can we lovingly refute that claim with Scripture?
How can we uphold God’s view of sexuality in preparation for confronting the world’s view of sexuality?
How can the forgiveness Christ offers to prostitutes and other sinners be best communicated in evangelistic efforts?