40 Bible Verses About Gluttony

Gluttony is often overlooked as a sin, yet the Bible warns against it multiple times. It is not just about overeating but also about excessive indulgence in anything that leads to a lack of self-control. Understanding what the Bible says about gluttony can help believers live a disciplined and spiritually enriched life. In this post, we will explore 40 Bible verses about gluttony, analyze what the Bible says about gluttony, and provide examples of gluttony in the Bible to offer a deeper understanding of its consequences.

What Does the Bible Say About Gluttony?

The Bible consistently warns against gluttony and excessive indulgence. It teaches that self-control is a virtue and that overconsumption, whether of food, drink, or material possessions, can lead to spiritual and physical harm. Here are a few key biblical perspectives on gluttony:

Gluttony leads to destruction – Proverbs 23:20-21 warns that excessive eating and drinking can lead to poverty and ruin.
Gluttony is linked to a lack of self-control – Galatians 5:22-23 highlights self-control as a fruit of the Spirit.
Our bodies are God’s temple – 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 reminds us that our bodies should be treated with respect and care.
Gluttony can become idolatry – Philippians 3:19 states that those who worship their appetite rather than God are on a dangerous path.

Examples of Gluttony in the Bible

Here are examples of gluttony in the bible:

Esau (Genesis 25:29-34) – Esau sold his birthright for a meal, showing how indulgence can lead to poor decisions.
The Israelites in the Wilderness (Numbers 11:4-6, 31-34) – Their craving for meat led them to complain against God, resulting in divine punishment.
Sodom (Ezekiel 16:49) – Their sin included being “overfed and unconcerned.”
The Rich Man and Lazarus (Luke 16:19-31) – The rich man lived in luxury while ignoring the needy, demonstrating selfish indulgence.

40 Bible Verses About Gluttony

Here are 40 Bible verses about gluttony that provide wisdom, warnings, and encouragement for living a life of self-control and moderation:

Proverbs 23:20-21 – “Do not join those who drink too much wine or gorge themselves on meat, for drunkards and gluttons become poor, and drowsiness clothes them in rags.”
Proverbs 25:16 – “If you find honey, eat just enough—too much of it, and you will vomit.”
Proverbs 28:7 – “A discerning son heeds instruction, but a companion of gluttons disgraces his father.”
Luke 21:34 – “Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you suddenly like a trap.”
1 Corinthians 10:31 – “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.”
Philippians 3:19 – “Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is set on earthly things.”
Proverbs 23:2 – “Put a knife to your throat if you are given to gluttony.”
Ecclesiastes 10:17 – “Blessed is the land whose king is of noble birth and whose princes eat at a proper time—for strength and not for drunkenness.”
Deuteronomy 21:20 – “They shall say to the elders, ‘This son of ours is stubborn and rebellious. He will not obey us. He is a glutton and a drunkard.’”
Proverbs 13:25 – “The righteous eat to their hearts’ content, but the stomach of the wicked goes hungry.”
Matthew 11:19 – “The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’ But wisdom is proved right by her deeds.”
Titus 1:12 – “One of Crete’s own prophets has said it: ‘Cretans are always liars, evil brutes, lazy gluttons.’”
Proverbs 23:3 – “Do not crave his delicacies, for that food is deceptive.”
1 Peter 4:3 – “For you have spent enough time in the past doing what pagans choose to do—living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable idolatry.”
Galatians 5:19-21 – “The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.”
Proverbs 25:27 – “It is not good to eat too much honey, nor is it honorable to search out matters that are too deep.”
Ecclesiastes 6:7 – “Everyone’s toil is for their mouth, yet their appetite is never satisfied.”
Psalm 78:18 – “They willfully put God to the test by demanding the food they craved.”
Proverbs 30:21-22 – “Under three things the earth trembles, under four it cannot bear up: a servant who becomes king, a godless fool who gets plenty to eat…”
Isaiah 22:13 – “But see, there is joy and revelry, slaughtering of cattle and killing of sheep, eating of meat and drinking of wine! ‘Let us eat and drink,’ you say, ‘for tomorrow we die!’”
Romans 13:14 – “Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh.”
Proverbs 21:17 – “Whoever loves pleasure will become poor; whoever loves wine and olive oil will never be rich.”
1 Corinthians 6:12 – “‘I have the right to do anything,’ you say—but not everything is beneficial. ‘I have the right to do anything’—but I will not be mastered by anything.”
Ecclesiastes 2:24 – “A person can do nothing better than to eat and drink and find satisfaction in their own toil. This too, I see, is from the hand of God.”
Proverbs 30:8-9 – “Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread. Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, ‘Who is the Lord?’ Or I may become poor and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God.”
Luke 12:19 – “And I’ll say to myself, ‘You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.’”
1 Timothy 5:6 – “But the widow who lives for pleasure is dead even while she lives.”
Proverbs 23:1-3 – “When you sit to dine with a ruler, note well what is before you, and put a knife to your throat if you are given to gluttony. Do not crave his delicacies, for that food is deceptive.”
Psalm 141:4 – “Do not let my heart be drawn to what is evil so that I take part in wicked deeds along with those who are evildoers; do not let me eat their delicacies.”
Proverbs 25:28 – “Like a city whose walls are broken through is a person who lacks self-control.”
Ecclesiastes 5:18 – “This is what I have observed to be good: that it is appropriate for a person to eat, to drink and to find satisfaction in their toilsome labor under the sun during the few days of life God has given them—for this is their lot.”
Proverbs 12:11 – “Those who work their land will have abundant food, but those who chase fantasies have no sense.”
Proverbs 21:20 – “The wise store up choice food and olive oil, but fools gulp theirs down.”
Proverbs 27:7 – “One who is full loathes honey from the comb, but to the hungry even what is bitter tastes sweet.”
Ecclesiastes 10:16-17 – “Woe to the land whose king was a servant and whose princes feast in the morning. Blessed is the land whose king is of noble birth and whose princes eat at a proper time—for strength and not for drunkenness.”
Proverbs 23:20 – “Do not join those who drink too much wine or gorge themselves on meat.”
Proverbs 23:21 – “For drunkards and gluttons become poor, and drowsiness clothes them in rags.”
Proverbs 25:16 – “If you find honey, eat just enough—too much of it, and you will vomit.”
Proverbs 23:2 – “Put a knife to your throat if you are given to gluttony.”
Proverbs 23:3 – “Do not crave his delicacies, for that food is deceptive.”

Conclusion

The Bible provides clear warnings against gluttony, teaching that self-control, gratitude, and discipline are crucial virtues. By studying these Bible verses about gluttony, we gain a deeper understanding of why overindulgence is harmful and how we can cultivate a God-honoring lifestyle. Let us strive to practice moderation and use our blessings wisely to glorify God.