Greed, condemnation of

Greed is condemned by Scripture as contrary to the purposes of God.

Greed is a feature of the fallen world

Psalm 10:3; Romans 1:29 See also 1 Corinthians 5:10

For the wicked man boasts in the cravings of his heart; he blesses the greedy and reviles the LORD.

They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed, and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, and malice. They are gossips,

Greed is an expression of sinful human nature

Mark 7:21–22 parallel Matthew 15:19–20 See also Ezekiel 33:31; Romans 7:8

For from within the hearts of men come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, wickedness, deceit, debauchery, envy, slander, arrogance, and foolishness.

Examples of greed

Of individuals

Joshua 7:21; Ezekiel 22:12; Daniel 5:23

Of false teachers

Matthew 23:25 See also Jeremiah 6:13, Jeremiah 8:10; Luke 11:39; 2 Peter 2:3, 2 Peter 2:14

Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence.

Greed invites God's judgment both now and later

Ephesians 5:5 See also Proverbs 15:27, Proverbs 28:8, Proverbs 28:25, Proverbs 29:4; Ezekiel 18:10–13, Ezekiel 28:5–7; Amos 8:4–7; Micah 2:1–3; Habakkuk 2:5–6; 1 Corinthians 6:9–10

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.