Scripture condemns an excessive greed for food. Its unrestrained self-indulgence often leads to deeper iniquity and represents a rejection of godly moderation.
Gluttony is a form of idolatry and therefore condemned as offensive to God
Ephesians 5:5; Philippians 3:19 See also Psalm 10:3; Isaiah 22:12–14 Gluttony as escapism, trying to avoid God's requirements; Zechariah 7:4–6 Even their religious feasts were nothing but self-indulgence; Mark 7:21–23; 1 Corinthians 6:9–10, 1 Corinthians 10:7; Colossians 3:5; James 5:5
For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure, or greedy person (that is, an idolater) has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.
Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and their glory is in their shame. Their minds are set on earthly things.
Gluttony is closely linked with drunkenness
Exodus 32:6; Judges 9:27; 1 Samuel 25:36
The destructive consequences of gluttony
Proverbs 23:20–21, Proverbs 28:7 See also Proverbs 15:27, Proverbs 28:25; Ecclesiastes 6:7
Do not join those who drink too much wine or gorge themselves on meat. For the drunkard and the glutton will come to poverty, and drowsiness will clothe them in rags.
A discerning son keeps the law, but a companion of gluttons disgraces his father.
Warnings against gluttony
Proverbs 23:1–2; Luke 12:15; Ephesians 5:3; Colossians 3:5 See also Luke 12:19–20, Luke 21:34; 1 Corinthians 5:9–11; Galatians 5:19–21; Titus 1:12–13; 1 Peter 4:3–4
When you sit down to dine with a ruler, consider carefully what is set before you, and put a knife to your throat if you possess a great appetite.
And He said to them, “Watch out! Guard yourselves against every form of greed, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”
But among you, as is proper among the saints, there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed.
Put to death, therefore, the components of your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires, and greed, which is idolatry.
Examples of gluttony
Genesis 25:29–34 Esau putting food before his birthright; Numbers 11:32 the children of Israel gorging on quail; 1 Samuel 30:16 an Amalekite raiding party; 1 Kings 1:24–25 Adonijah feasting with his supporters; Daniel 5:1 King Belshazzar; Matthew 11:19 parallel Luke 7:34 Jesus Christ falsely accused of gluttony; Matthew 23:25 parallel Luke 11:39 the Pharisees; Matthew 24:49 parallel Luke 12:45 the irresponsible servant; Luke 15:13 the prodigal son; 2 Peter 2:13–14 false teachers
Related themes
Dictionary of Bible Themes © 1999 Martin Manser, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Bible Aquifer. Formatted for this site, with Scripture from the Berean Standard Bible.