What does the Bible say about gluttony?
Bible Topic · WEB
The Bible warns that gluttony is a sinful misuse of God’s good gifts, revealing a heart ruled by appetite rather than by love for God and self-control. Proverbs 23:20-21 cautions against joining drunkards and gluttons, whose excess brings poverty, while Proverbs 25:16 urges moderation even with honey. Philippians 3:18-19 soberly describes those whose god is their belly, contrasting them with those who live as citizens of heaven. Scripture calls believers to honor God with their bodies as His temple and to do all things, including eating and drinking, for His glory (1 Corinthians 3:16-17; 10:31). In Christ, we seek thankful, disciplined enjoyment rather than bondage to desire.
Top passages, ranked by readers
Rankings: OpenBible.info Topical Bible (CC BY) · Scripture: World English Bible
- Philippians 3:19 6 votes
whose end is destruction, whose god is the belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who think about earthly things.
- Proverbs 23:20-21 5 votes
Don’t be among ones drinking too much wine, or those who gorge themselves on meat; for the drunkard and the glutton shall become poor; and drowsiness clothes them in rags.
- Proverbs 23:2 4 votes
put a knife to your throat if you are a man given to appetite.
- 1 Corinthians 3:16-17 3 votes
Don’t you know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives in you? If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him; for God’s temple is holy, which you are.
- Proverbs 25:16 3 votes
Have you found honey? Eat as much as is sufficient for you, lest you eat too much, and vomit it.
- Proverbs 23:21 3 votes
for the drunkard and the glutton shall become poor; and drowsiness clothes them in rags.
- Psalms 78:18 2 votes
They tempted God in their heart by asking food according to their desire.
- 1 Corinthians 10:31 2 votes
Whether therefore you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
- Philippians 3:18-19 2 votes
For many walk, of whom I told you often, and now tell you even weeping, as the enemies of the cross of Christ, whose end is destruction, whose god is the belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who think about earthly things.
- Deuteronomy 21:20 2 votes
They shall tell 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.”
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