22 Bible Verses about Covetousness

Owe nothing to any one except brotherly love; for he who loves his fellow men has satisfied the Law. The commandments, 'Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not covet,' and whatever other commandment there is, are all summed up in the words--'Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thou dost thyself.'

Do not let your conduct be ruled by the love of money. Be content with what you have, for God himself has said-- 'I will never forsake you, nor will I ever abandon you.'

As for unchastity and every kind of impurity, or greed, do not let them even be mentioned among you, as befits Christ's People,

After this, Judas Iscariot, one of the Twelve, went to the Chief Priests, to betray Jesus to them. They were glad to hear what he said, and promised to pay him. So he looked for a way to betray Jesus opportunely.

Now Satan took possession of Judas, who was known as Iscariot, and who belonged to the Twelve; And he went and discussed with the Chief Priests and Officers in charge at the Temple the best way of betraying Jesus to them. They were glad of this, and agreed to pay him. read more.
So Judas assented, and looked for an opportunity to betray Jesus to them, in the absence of a crowd.

And said "What are you willing to give me, if I betray Jesus to you?" The Priests 'weighed him out thirty pieces of silver' as payment. So from that time Judas looked for an opportunity to betray Jesus.

He said this, not because he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief, and, being in charge of the purse, used to take what was put in it.

Jesus went into the Temple Courts, and drove out all those who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money-changers, and the seats of the pigeon-dealers, And said to them: "Scripture says??My House shall be called a house of prayer'; but you are making it 'a den of robbers.'"

Jesus went into the Temple Courts and began to drive out those who were selling, Saying as he did so: "Scripture says--'My House shall be a House of Prayer'; but you have made it 'a den of robbers.'"

In the Temple Courts he found people who were selling bullocks, sheep, and pigeons, and the money-changers at their counters. So he made a whip of cords, and drove them all out of the Temple Courts, and the sheep and bullocks as well; he scattered the money of the money-changers, and overturned their tables, And said to the pigeon-dealers: "Take these things away. Do not turn my Father's House into a market-house."

For of this you may be sure--that no one who is unchaste or impure or greedy of gain (for to be greedy of gain is idolatry) has any place awaiting him in the kingdom of the Christ and God. Do not let any one deceive you with specious arguments. Those are the sins that bring down the Wrath of God upon the disobedient.

Therefore destroy all that is earthly in you--immorality, uncleanness, passions, evil desires, and that greed which is idolatry. These are the things on account of which the Wrath of God comes,

Or a thief, or covetous, or a drunkard, or abusive, or grasping, will have any share in God's Kingdom.

For of this you may be sure--that no one who is unchaste or impure or greedy of gain (for to be greedy of gain is idolatry) has any place awaiting him in the kingdom of the Christ and God.

Seek this Love earnestly, and strive for spiritual gifts, above all for the gift of preaching.

Together you are the Body of Christ, and individually its parts. In the Church God has appointed, first, Apostles, secondly Preachers, thirdly Teachers; then he has given supernatural powers, then power to cure diseases, aptness for helping others, capacity to govern, varieties of the gift of 'tongues.' Can every one be an Apostle? can every one be a Preacher? can every one be a Teacher? can every one have supernatural powers? read more.
Can every one have power to cure diseases? can every one speak in 'tongues'? can every one interpret them? Strive for the greater gifts. Yet I can still show you a way beyond all comparison the best.

All this was said within hearing of the Pharisees, who were lovers of money, and they began to sneer at Jesus. "You," said Jesus, "are the men who justify themselves before the world, but God can read your hearts; and what is highly esteemed among men may be an abomination in the sight of God.

Therefore destroy all that is earthly in you--immorality, uncleanness, passions, evil desires, and that greed which is idolatry.

For of this you may be sure--that no one who is unchaste or impure or greedy of gain (for to be greedy of gain is idolatry) has any place awaiting him in the kingdom of the Christ and God.

Therefore destroy all that is earthly in you--immorality, uncleanness, passions, evil desires, and that greed which is idolatry.

For of this you may be sure--that no one who is unchaste or impure or greedy of gain (for to be greedy of gain is idolatry) has any place awaiting him in the kingdom of the Christ and God.

"Teacher," a man in the crowd said to Jesus, "tell my brother to share the property with me." But Jesus said to him: "Man, who made me a judge or an arbiter between you?" And then he added: "Take care to keep yourselves free from every form of covetousness; for even in the height of his prosperity a man's true Life does not depend on what he has." read more.
Then Jesus told them this parable-- "There was once a rich man whose land was very fertile; And he began to ask himself 'What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops? This is what I will do,' he said; 'I will pull down my barns and build larger ones, and store all my grain and my goods in them; And I will say to myself, Now you have plenty of good things put by for many years; take your ease, eat, drink, and enjoy yourself.' But God said to the man 'Fool! This very night your life is being demanded; and as for all you have prepared--who will have it?' So it is with those who lay by wealth for themselves and are not rich to the glory of God."

For of this you may be sure--that no one who is unchaste or impure or greedy of gain (for to be greedy of gain is idolatry) has any place awaiting him in the kingdom of the Christ and God.

Men will be selfish, mercenary, boastful, haughty, and blasphemous; disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, impure,

But there were false prophets also in the nation, just as there will be false teachers among you, men who will secretly introduce ruinous divisions, disowning even the Lord who bought them, and bringing speedy Ruin upon themselves. There will be many, too, who will follow their licentious courses, and cause the Way of the Truth to be maligned. In their covetousness they will try to make you a source of profit by their fabrications; but for a long time past their Sentence has not been standing idle, nor their Ruin slumbering.

Do not let your conduct be ruled by the love of money. Be content with what you have, for God himself has said-- 'I will never forsake you, nor will I ever abandon you.'

As for unchastity and every kind of impurity, or greed, do not let them even be mentioned among you, as befits Christ's People,

They have eyes only for adulteresses, eyes never tired of sin; they entice weak souls; their minds are trained to covet; they live under a curse.

Leaving the straight road, they have gone astray and followed in the steps of Balaam, the son of Beor, who set his heart on the reward for wrong-doing,

Alas for them! They walk in the steps of Cain; led astray by Balaam's love of gain, they plunge into sin, and meet their ruin through rebellion like that of Korah.

I have never coveted any one's gold or silver or clothing.

Leaving the straight road, they have gone astray and followed in the steps of Balaam, the son of Beor, who set his heart on the reward for wrong-doing,

But, as things are, I say that you are not to associate with any one who, although a Brother in name, is immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or abusive, or a drunkard, or grasping-no, not even to sit at table with such people.

It was then that one of the Twelve, named Judas Iscariot, made his way to the Chief Priests, And said "What are you willing to give me, if I betray Jesus to you?" The Priests 'weighed him out thirty pieces of silver' as payment.

Love of money is a source of all kinds of evil; and in their eagerness to be rich some have wandered away from the Faith, and have been pierced to the heart by many a regret.

Love of money is a source of all kinds of evil; and in their eagerness to be rich some have wandered away from the Faith, and have been pierced to the heart by many a regret.

Therefore destroy all that is earthly in you--immorality, uncleanness, passions, evil desires, and that greed which is idolatry.

Love of money is a source of all kinds of evil; and in their eagerness to be rich some have wandered away from the Faith, and have been pierced to the heart by many a regret.

not addicted to drink or brawling, but of a forbearing and peaceable disposition, and not a lover of money;

Those who want to be rich fall into the snares of temptation, and become the prey of many foolish and harmful ambitions, which plunge people into Destruction and Ruin.

"Teacher," a man in the crowd said to Jesus, "tell my brother to share the property with me." But Jesus said to him: "Man, who made me a judge or an arbiter between you?" And then he added: "Take care to keep yourselves free from every form of covetousness; for even in the height of his prosperity a man's true Life does not depend on what he has."

Greed, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, haughtiness, folly; All these wicked things come from within, and do defile a man."

A silversmith named Demetrius, who made silver models of the shrine of Artemis, and so gave a great deal of work to the artisans,

So that not only is this business of ours likely to fall into discredit, but there is the further danger that the Temple of the great Goddess Artemis will be thought nothing of, and that she herself will be deprived of her splendor--though all Roman Asia and the whole world worship her."

And a man came up to Jesus, and said: "Teacher, what good thing must I do to obtain Immortal life?" "Why ask me about goodness?" answered Jesus. "There is but One who is good. If you want to enter the Life, keep the commandments." "What commandments?" asked the man. "These," answered Jesus:-- "'Thou shalt not kill. Thou shalt not commit adultery. Thou shalt not steal. Thou shalt not say what is false about others. read more.
Honor thy father and thy mother.' And 'Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thou dost thyself." "I have observed all these," said the young man. "What is still wanting in me?" "If you wish to be perfect," answered Jesus, "go and sell your property, and give to the poor, and you shall have wealth in Heaven; then come and follow me." On hearing these words, the young man went away distressed, for he had great possessions.

And then he added: "Take care to keep yourselves free from every form of covetousness; for even in the height of his prosperity a man's true Life does not depend on what he has." Then Jesus told them this parable-- "There was once a rich man whose land was very fertile; And he began to ask himself 'What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops? read more.
This is what I will do,' he said; 'I will pull down my barns and build larger ones, and store all my grain and my goods in them; And I will say to myself, Now you have plenty of good things put by for many years; take your ease, eat, drink, and enjoy yourself.' But God said to the man 'Fool! This very night your life is being demanded; and as for all you have prepared--who will have it?' So it is with those who lay by wealth for themselves and are not rich to the glory of God."

They reveled in every form of wickedness, evil, greed, vice. Their lives were full of envy, murder, quarreling, treachery, malice.

All this was said within hearing of the Pharisees, who were lovers of money, and they began to sneer at Jesus.

When Simon saw that it was through the placing of the Apostles' hands on them that the Spirit was given, he brought them a sum of money and said: "Give me also this power of yours, so that, if I place my hands upon any one, he may receive the Holy Spirit." "A curse upon you and upon your money," Peter exclaimed, "for thinking that God's free gift can be bought with gold! read more.
You have no share or part in our Message, for your 'heart is not right with God.' Therefore repent of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord, that, if possible, you may be forgiven for such a thought; For I see that you have fallen into the 'bitterness of envy' and the 'fetters of sin.'"

He was hoping, too, for a bribe from Paul, and so he used to send for him frequently and talk with him.

And then he added: "Take care to keep yourselves free from every form of covetousness; for even in the height of his prosperity a man's true Life does not depend on what he has."

Jesus said to his disciples: "There was a rich man who had a steward; and this steward was maliciously accused to him of wasting his estate. So the master called him and said 'What is this that I hear about you? Give in your accounts, for you cannot act as steward any longer.' 'What am I to do,' the steward asked himself, 'now that my master is taking the steward's place away from me? I have not strength to dig, and I am ashamed to beg. read more.
I know what I will do, so that, as soon as I am turned out of my stewardship, people may welcome me into their homes.' One by one he called up his master's debtors. 'How much do you owe my master?' he asked of the first. 'Four hundred and forty gallons of oil,' answered the man. 'Here is your agreement,' he said; 'sit down at once and make it two hundred and twenty.' And you, the steward said to the next, 'how much do you owe?' 'Seventy quarters of wheat,' he replied. 'Here is your agreement,' the steward said; 'make it fifty-six.' His master complimented this dishonest steward on the shrewdness of his action. And indeed men of the world are shrewder in dealing with their fellow-men than those who have the Light.

When her masters saw that there was no hope of further profit from her, they seized Paul and Silas, dragged them into the public square to the authorities,

for Demas, in his love for the world, has deserted me. He has gone to Thessalonica, Crescens to Galatia, and Titus to Dalmatia.

He was hoping, too, for a bribe from Paul, and so he used to send for him frequently and talk with him.

All this was said within hearing of the Pharisees, who were lovers of money, and they began to sneer at Jesus.

"In truth I tell you," answered Jesus, "it is not on account of the signs which you saw that you are looking for me, but because you had the bread to eat and were satisfied.

Therefore destroy all that is earthly in you--immorality, uncleanness, passions, evil desires, and that greed which is idolatry.

For of this you may be sure--that no one who is unchaste or impure or greedy of gain (for to be greedy of gain is idolatry) has any place awaiting him in the kingdom of the Christ and God.

Those who want to be rich fall into the snares of temptation, and become the prey of many foolish and harmful ambitions, which plunge people into Destruction and Ruin. Love of money is a source of all kinds of evil; and in their eagerness to be rich some have wandered away from the Faith, and have been pierced to the heart by many a regret.