Gluttony is defined as habitual greed or excess in eating. The Bible has a lot to say about gluttony and warns against overindulgence and uncontrolled appetite. Here are some key Bible verses about gluttony:
Proverbs 23:20-21 – “Be not among drunkards or among gluttonous eaters of meat, for the drunkard and the glutton will come to poverty, and slumber will clothe them with rags.” This verse warns that gluttony leads to poverty and misery.
Proverbs 28:7 – “The one who keeps the law is a son with understanding, but a companion of gluttons shames his father.” This verse contrasts self-control with uncontrolled gluttony, stating that gluttony brings shame.
Philippians 3:19 – “Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things.” This verse criticizes those who view their appetites as a god and pursue fleshly desires.
Titus 1:12 – “One of the Cretans, a prophet of their own, said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.”” This verse associates gluttony with laziness and other sinful behaviors.
Proverbs 23:2 – “and put a knife to your throat if you are given to appetite.” A dramatic call to self-control when it comes to appetites.
Ecclesiastes 10:17 – “Happy are you, O land, when your king is the son of the nobility, and your princes feast at the proper time, for strength, and not for drunkenness!” A contrast between proper feasting and gluttonous overindulgence.
Proverbs 25:16 – “If you have found honey, eat only enough for you, lest you have your fill of it and vomit it.” A warning to practice moderation and restraint when enjoying something pleasurable.
Deuteronomy 21:20 – “And they shall say to the elders of his city, ‘This our son is stubborn and rebellious; he will not obey our voice; he is a glutton and a drunkard.'” Gluttony is associated here with rebellion against authorities.
Matthew 11:19 – “The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look at him! A glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ Yet wisdom is justified by her deeds.”” Jesus was falsely accused of gluttony by those who opposed his ministry.
Proverbs 23:21 – “for the drunkard and the glutton will come to poverty, and slumber will clothe them with rags.” Another reminder that overindulgence leads to poverty.
Galatians 5:19-21 – “Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.” Gluttony is associated with other fleshly sins that can keep one from God’s kingdom.
Titus 2:12 – “training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age.” Self-control is lifted up here as the alternative to following fleshly passions.
1 Corinthians 10:31 – “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” A call to glorify God even in mundane daily activities like eating.
Proverbs 13:25 – “The righteous has enough to satisfy his appetite, but the belly of the wicked suffers want.” Contrasts the contentment of the righteous with the insatiable greed of the wicked.
Psalm 78:18 – “They tested God in their heart by demanding the food they craved.” Israel’s demanding of meat in the wilderness is presented as an example of sinful craving.
Proverbs 23:1-3 – “When you sit down to eat with a ruler, observe carefully what is before you, and put a knife to your throat if you are given to appetite. Do not desire his delicacies, for they are deceptive food.” More warnings against overindulging when presented with lavish meals.
Numbers 11:4-6 – “Now the rabble that was among them had a strong craving. And the people of Israel also wept again and said, “Oh that we had meat to eat! We remember the fish we ate in Egypt that cost nothing, the cucumbers, the melons, the leeks, the onions, and the garlic. But now our strength is dried up, and there is nothing at all but this manna to look at.”” The Israelites sinfully craved the foods of Egypt rather than being content with God’s provision of manna.
Luke 21:34 – “But watch yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life, and that day come upon you suddenly like a trap.” A warning to be spiritually alert and self-controlled rather than falling into gluttonous dissipation.
Romans 13:13-14 – “Let us walk properly as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in quarreling and jealousy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.” Contrasts living to gratify fleshly desires with living to honor Christ.
1 Corinthians 6:12-13 – “All things are lawful for me,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful for me,” but I will not be dominated by anything. “Food is meant for the stomach and the stomach for food”—and God will destroy both one and the other. The body is not meant for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body.” While food has its proper place, we must not be mastered by appetites for food or any other desires.
Proverbs 28:21 – “To show partiality is not good, but for a piece of bread a man will do wrong.” Warning against valuing food above what is right and just.
Isaiah 22:13 – “And behold, joy and gladness, killing oxen and slaughtering sheep, eating flesh and drinking wine. “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.”” Live-for-the-moment gluttony is portrayed as a sinful mindset.
Genesis 25:29-34 – “Once when Jacob was cooking stew, Esau came in from the field, and he was exhausted. And Esau said to Jacob, “Let me eat some of that red stew, for I am exhausted!” (Therefore his name was called Edom.) Jacob said, “Sell me your birthright now.” Esau said, “I am about to die; of what use is a birthright to me?” Jacob said, “Swear to me now.” So he swore to him and sold his birthright to Jacob. Then Jacob gave Esau bread and lentil stew, and he ate and drank and rose and went his way. Thus Esau despised his birthright.” Esau’s gluttony and shortsightedness caused him to foolishly sell his birthright.
In addition to these passages, the Bible contains various stories and examples that warn against gluttony and uncontrolled appetite:
– The Israelites lusting after meat in the wilderness and as a result receiving judgment from God (Numbers 11, Psalm 78:18-31)
– Esau selling his birthright for a bowl of stew, showing misplaced priorities (Genesis 25:29-34)
– The rich man and Lazarus, where the rich man’s wealth and greedy appetites are contrasted with the poor man Lazarus (Luke 16:19-31)
– The prodigal son who lives recklessly and ends up envying even the food of his father’s servants when he is in need (Luke 15:11-16)
– Examples of leaders like Belshazzar and Amnon who abused their power by indulging in lavish feasts and drunkenness (Daniel 5, 2 Samuel 13:1-19)
– Repeated association between gluttony and drunkenness as paired works of the flesh to be avoided (Deuteronomy 21:20, Proverbs 23:20-21)
– Adam and Eve’s sin in the garden which involved gratifying physical appetite for food over obedience to God’s command (Genesis 3:1-7)
In summary, the Bible consistently presents gluttony as a serious issue and a sin. It is connected with greed, indulgence, lack of self-control, rebellion against God, shortsighted behavior, wastefulness, poverty, and selfishness. Followers of God are called to be content with what they have, to be generous with their resources, to seek first God’s kingdom, and to find their satisfaction in Him. Moderation, self-discipline, and sober-mindedness are held up as virtues in contrast with mindless satiation of appetite. While food and celebration have their proper place, the Bible warns that gluttony leads to negative consequences. Christians should take these warnings seriously and examine their own hearts and habits in light of biblical principles of wisdom, moderation and self-control by God’s power and for His glory.