Greed is one of the most spiritually destructive sins addressed in the Bible. Unlike mere ambition or the desire to work hard, greed is an unrighteous craving for more - more money, more possessions, more control - at the expense of faith, contentment, and others' well-being. It is repeatedly condemned in Scripture as idolatry, a root of many evils, and a spiritual condition that leads the heart away from God.

As someone who has studied and taught biblical principles for years, I’ve seen firsthand how greed often hides under the surface, disguised as success, security, or even blessing.  But God's Word pulls back the veil. Greed is not just an internal attitude; it’s a sin that corrupts, deceives, and destroys, both personally and communally.

In this article, you’ll find everything you need to know about greed from a biblical and theological perspective. 

What Is Greed According to the Bible?

In Scripture, greed is portrayed as a sinful and excessive desire, not just for money, but for possessions, power, or status, that disregards God’s will and the needs of others. The Greek word often translated as “greed” in the New Testament is pleonexia (πλεονεξία), which means “a desire to have more than one’s due”. This desire becomes sinful when it consumes the heart, governs decisions, and replaces trust in God.

“Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.” - Luke 12:15 (NIV)

This warning by Jesus highlights two key truths:

1. Greed comes in many forms (“all kinds of greed”) not just riches, but the relentless pursuit of more.
2. Life’s value is not found in possessions, but in a right relationship with God.

Greed Definitions

The Bible does not give a single formal definition of greed, but it offers multiple descriptions, terms, and characterizations that together form a full biblical understanding of what greed is.

• Greed is an Excessive Desire for More (Pleonexia): In the New Testament, the Greek word most often translated as "greed" is πλεονεξία (pleonexia), which literally means "a desire to have more", especially more than is right or due. It is often translated as covetousness or avarice.
• Greed is Idolatry: The Bible equates greed with idolatry, because it places trust and desire on material wealth rather than on God.
• Greed is a Root of All Kinds of Evil: The Bible describes greed as a root sin—one that gives birth to many other sinful behaviors such as lying, exploitation, theft, and even apostasy.
•  Greed is Coveting What Belongs to Others: The Tenth Commandment defines a form of greed as coveting—the inward desire to possess what God has given to someone else.
• Greed is a Betrayal of Justice and Compassion: In prophetic literature, greed is often linked with oppression of the poor, dishonest gain, and economic injustice.
• Greed is a Sign of Spiritual Blindness and Hardness: Greed is associated in Scripture with spiritual blindness and a heart that has turned away from God's truth.

Greed as One of the Seven Deadly Sins

Greed, also known as avarice, is historically recognized as one of the seven deadly sins, a traditional list in Christian moral theology that identifies root vices which lead to further sinful behavior. While this sin list itself is not found in a single passage of the Bible, it is derived from consistent biblical teachings and the witness of Church tradition, especially within early Catholic and monastic writings.

The seven deadly sins - pride, greed, lust, envy, gluttony, wrath, and sloth - are not “deadly” because they are the worst sins in a legal sense, but because they corrupt the soul at its foundation and give rise to many other sins. Greed, in particular, is dangerous because it disguises itself as ambition or security, while secretly cultivating idolatry, injustice, and discontentment.

While the Bible does not explicitly list "seven deadly sins," the condemnation of greed is both clear and frequent throughout Scripture:

“Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry.” - Colossians 3:5 (NIV)

“For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a person is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.” - Ephesians 5:5 (NIV)

Here, greed is not merely seen as inappropriate, it is aligned with idolatry and placed in direct opposition to salvation. A heart consumed by greed has turned from worshiping God to worshiping possessions.

Biblical Warnings Against Greed

Scripture contains numerous warnings about the dangers of greed, associating it with judgment, spiritual death, and moral blindness.

Old Testament

• Exodus 20:17 – The Tenth Commandment forbids coveting anything that belongs to one’s neighbor.
• Proverbs 15:27 – “The greedy bring ruin to their households, but the one who hates bribes will live.”
• Ecclesiastes 5:10 – “Whoever loves money never has enough...”

New Testament

• 1 Timothy 6:9–10 – “Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap... For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil.”
• Ephesians 5:5 – Greedy people are equated with idolaters and warned that they will not inherit the kingdom of Christ.
• Hebrews 13:5 – “Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have…”

7 Bible Stories and Parables About Greed

Greed is a sin that Scripture exposes not only through direct teaching, but through real-life examples and parables. These stories demonstrate how greed leads to spiritual blindness, judgment, and loss, and how God values contentment, trust, and generosity instead.

1. The Parable of the Rich Fool (Luke 12:13–21)

Summary: Jesus tells the story of a wealthy man who had such an abundant harvest that he decided to tear down his barns and build bigger ones to store all his grain. He congratulated himself and planned to “eat, drink, and be merry,” but God called him a fool and demanded his life that very night.

“But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’ This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God.” - Luke 12:20–21 (NIV)

Lesson: Greed focuses on earthly security and ignores eternity. A heart set on wealth is unprepared for the judgment of God.

2. Judas Iscariot Betrays Jesus for Money (Matthew 26:14–16)

Summary: Judas, one of Jesus' twelve disciples, agrees to betray Him for thirty pieces of silver. Though he had walked with Christ and witnessed His miracles, his greed opened the door to Satan’s influence (Luke 22:3).

“What are you willing to give me if I deliver him over to you?” So they counted out for him thirty pieces of silver.” - Matthew 26:15 (NIV)

Lesson: Greed can lead to betrayal, even of the highest good. Love of money can overpower love for God if left unchecked.

3. Achan’s Sin and Its Consequences (Joshua 7)

Summary: After the fall of Jericho, God commanded that all plunder be devoted to Him. But Achan secretly kept some for himself. His greed brought Israel's military defeat and eventually led to his public judgment and death.

“When I saw in the plunder a beautiful robe... silver... and a bar of gold, I coveted them and took them.” - Joshua 7:21 (NIV)

Lesson: Greed brings hidden guilt that affects not only the individual, but the entire community. God takes seriously what is stolen out of covetousness.

4. Gehazi’s Greed for Wealth (2 Kings 5:20–27)

Summary: Gehazi, the servant of the prophet Elisha, pursued Naaman the Syrian after Elisha had refused to accept gifts for healing him of leprosy. Gehazi lied to Naaman to obtain silver and clothing. As a result, Elisha pronounced Naaman’s leprosy upon Gehazi and his descendants.

“Naaman’s leprosy will cling to you and to your descendants forever.” - 2 Kings 5:27 (NIV)

Lesson: Greed corrupts even those in positions of spiritual service. It can lead to deceit, divine judgment, and lasting consequences.

5. The Rich Man and Lazarus (Luke 16:19–31)

Summary: Jesus tells of a rich man who lived in luxury while a poor man, Lazarus, suffered at his gate. After death, Lazarus is comforted in heaven, while the rich man is tormented in Hades. The rich man had shown no compassion or generosity in life.

“But Abraham replied, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things...’” - Luke 16:25 (NIV)

Lesson: Greed deadens the heart to others’ suffering. Wealth without righteousness offers no security in the life to come.

6. Ananias and Sapphira Lie About Their Giving (Acts 5:1–11)

Summary: Ananias and Sapphira sold a piece of property but secretly kept back part of the proceeds while claiming to have given the full amount to the church. Their deceit, fueled by greed and desire for recognition, led to their sudden deaths as judgment from God.

“Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit...?” - Acts 5:3–5 (NIV)

Lesson: Greed and hypocrisy grieve the Holy Spirit. God desires sincerity, not the appearance of generosity.

7. Balaam’s Greedy Heart (2 Peter 2:15; Numbers 22–24)

Summary: Though Balaam was a prophet, he was willing to curse Israel for money offered by King Balak. Though God restrained him, his willingness to profit from disobedience marked him as corrupt.

“They have left the straight way and wandered off to follow the way of Balaam son of Bezer, who loved the wages of wickedness.” - 2 Peter 2:15 (NIV)

Lesson: Greed can distort spiritual discernment and make one susceptible to compromise and false teaching.

Go Deeper: Explore Greed, Contentment, and God's Word with Bible Chat

If reading this article has made you want to explore what the Bible says more deeply—not just about greed, but about contentment, stewardship, generosity, and the condition of your heart—Bible Chat is here to help.

Bible Chat app is a free, interactive tool that allows you to ask biblical questions and receive trustworthy, Scripture-based responses instantly. With Bible Chat, you can:

• Ask questions like “What does the Bible say about money and wealth?”
• Look up verses on contentment, giving, or storing treasures in heaven
• Get Bible-based guidance to grow in spiritual disciplines like generosity
• Reflect on your own life in light of God's Word

It’s easy to use, biblically accurate, and grounded in sound theology.

➡️ Download now the Bible Chat app and take the next step toward living a life free from greed and full of God's truth.

Final Thoughts

If you recognize the presence of greed in your life, you are not without hope. The same Lord who warned against greed also invites you into a life of joy, simplicity, and trust in Him. Repentance, contentment, and generosity are the biblical answers to greed.

Let us not live like the rich fool who stored up treasure for himself but was not rich toward God. Let us walk in humility, steward our resources wisely, and fix our hope on the eternal riches of Christ.

References:

The Holy Bible, New International Version. Zondervan, 2011.