What Does the Bible Say About Greed?

1 Timothy 6:10 ESV / 127 helpful votes

For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.

Proverbs 28:25 ESV / 105 helpful votes

A greedy man stirs up strife, but the one who trusts in the Lord will be enriched.

Hebrews 13:5 ESV / 85 helpful votes

Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”

Luke 12:15 ESV / 71 helpful votes

And he said to them, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”

1 Timothy 6:9 ESV / 68 helpful votes

But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction.

1 John 2:16 ESV / 56 helpful votes

For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions—is not from the Father but is from the world.

Matthew 6:24 ESV / 47 helpful votes

“No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.

Proverbs 11:24 ESV / 33 helpful votes

One gives freely, yet grows all the richer; another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want.

James 4:3 ESV / 31 helpful votes

You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.

Proverbs 15:27 ESV / 22 helpful votes

Whoever is greedy for unjust gain troubles his own household, but he who hates bribes will live.

Matthew 13:44 ESV / 21 helpful votes

“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.

John 12:6 ESV / 20 helpful votes

He said this, not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief, and having charge of the moneybag he used to help himself to what was put into it.

Jeremiah 6:13 ESV / 20 helpful votes

“For from the least to the greatest of them, everyone is greedy for unjust gain; and from prophet to priest, everyone deals falsely.

Psalm 10:3 ESV / 19 helpful votes

For the wicked boasts of the desires of his soul, and the one greedy for gain curses and renounces the Lord.

2 Peter 2:14 ESV / 18 helpful votes

They have eyes full of adultery, insatiable for sin. They entice unsteady souls. They have hearts trained in greed. Accursed children!

Matthew 6:33 ESV / 18 helpful votes

But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

Proverbs 20:21 ESV / 18 helpful votes

An inheritance gained hastily in the beginning will not be blessed in the end.

Matthew 19:21 ESV / 14 helpful votes

Jesus said to him, “If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.”

Proverbs 1:12-13 ESV / 14 helpful votes

Like Sheol let us swallow them alive, and whole, like those who go down to the pit; we shall find all precious goods, we shall fill our houses with plunder;

Colossians 3:5 ESV / 13 helpful votes

Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.

Ephesians 5:3-5 ESV / 13 helpful votes

But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving. For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.

Mark 7:20-23 ESV / 12 helpful votes

And he said, “What comes out of a person is what defiles him. For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person.”

Proverbs 11:6 ESV / 12 helpful votes

The righteousness of the upright delivers them, but the treacherous are taken captive by their lust.

Proverbs 1:1-33 ESV / 12 helpful votes

The proverbs of Solomon, son of David, king of Israel: To know wisdom and instruction, to understand words of insight, to receive instruction in wise dealing, in righteousness, justice, and equity; to give prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the youth— Let the wise hear and increase in learning, and the one who understands obtain guidance, ...

Ephesians 5:5 ESV / 11 helpful votes

For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.

Malachi 3:10 ESV / 10 helpful votes

Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need.

1 Corinthians 3:11 ESV / 7 helpful votes

For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

Galatians 5:19-21 ESV / 6 helpful votes

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.

1 Thessalonians 2:5 ESV / 5 helpful votes

For we never came with words of flattery, as you know, nor with a pretext for greed—God is witness.

Exodus 20:11-18 ESV / 2 helpful votes

For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy. “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you. “You shall not murder. “You shall not commit adultery. “You shall not steal. ...

Bible Verses about Greed