22 Bible Verses about Covetousness

Owe no one any thing, but to love one another; for he that loveth others hath fulfilled the law: for this command, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet, and every other social precept, is summed up in this, namely, "Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself."

Let your conversation be free from covetousness, and be contented with what ye have: for He hath said, I will not leave thee; I will never, never forsake thee.

But fornication, and all uncleanness, or inordinate desire, let it not be even named among you; for so it becometh saints:

And Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve, went to the chief priests, in order to betray Him unto them. And they were glad, when they heard it, and engaged to give him money. And he sought to betray Him at a proper season.

Then entred Satan into Judas who was surnamed Iscariot, one of the twelve. And he went and conferred with the chief priests and the captains, how he might betray Him unto them. And they were glad and agreed to give him money: read more.
and he accepted the terms, and sought an opportunity to betray Him unto them in the absence of the multitude.

to the chief priests, and said, What will ye give me, and I will deliver Him to you? and they promised him thirty pieces of silver: and from that time he sought opportunity to betray Him.

He said this, not that he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief, and having the common purse he carried what was put into it.

And Jesus went into the temple of God, and drove out all that were selling and buying in the court of the temple, and threw down the tables of the money-changers, and the seats of them that sold doves: and said to them, It is written, "My house shall be called the house of prayer," but ye have made it a den of thieves.

And He went into the temple, and cast out those that were buying and selling in it, saying unto them, It is written, "my house is the house of prayer: but ye have made it a den of thieves."

and sheep, and doves, and the money changers sitting: and having made a whip of small cords He drove them all, out of the temple; with the sheep and the oxen: and He poured out the changers money, and threw down the tables. And said to them that sold doves, Take away these things from hence, and make not my Father's house an house of traffick.

For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, (who is an idolater,) hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no one deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.

Mortify therefore your members that are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, disorderly passion, evil concupiscence, and insatiable desire, which is indeed idolatry: for which things the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience.

nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor rapacious persons, shall inherit the kingdom of God.

For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, (who is an idolater,) hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.

Labour after charity, and be desirous of spiritual gifts: but especially that ye may prophesy.

Now ye are the body of Christ, and his members each of you in particular. And God hath placed you accordingly in the church, first apostles, secondly prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miraculous powers, then gifts of healing, helps, governments, and various kinds of tongues. Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? read more.
have all miraculous powers? have all the gifts of healing? do all speak many languages? do all interpret? but ye are all zealous for the best gifts. Though I will shew you a way yet more excellent.

And the pharisees also, who were covetous, heard all these things; and derided Him. And He said unto them, Ye justify yourselves before men, but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.

Mortify therefore your members that are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, disorderly passion, evil concupiscence, and insatiable desire, which is indeed idolatry:

For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, (who is an idolater,) hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.

Mortify therefore your members that are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, disorderly passion, evil concupiscence, and insatiable desire, which is indeed idolatry:

For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, (who is an idolater,) hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.

And one among the multitude said to Him, Master, speak to my brother to divide the inheritance with me: but He said unto him, Man, who set me over you as a judge or divider? And He said unto them, See to it that ye beware of covetousness; for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of his possessions. read more.
And He spake a parable to them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: and he reasoned within himself, saying, What shall I do? for I have not room to lay up my corn. And he said, This I will do: I will pull down my barns, and build larger ones; and there I will bestow all my products and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast plenty of goods laid up for many years, take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night shall thy soul be required of thee; then whose shall those things be which thou hast provided? So is he that heapeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich towards God.

For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, (who is an idolater,) hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.

for men will be selfish, covetous, arrogant, proud, blasphemers, undutiful to parents, ungrateful, unholy,

But there were indeed false prophets among the people of old, as there will be also among you false teachers, who will privately introduce pernicious heresies, denying even the Lord that bought them, and bringing upon themselves swift destruction, And many will follow their pernicious tenets, on whose account the way of truth will be reproached: and by artful speeches they will make sale of you for gain. Whose judgement is long since hastening, and their destruction doth not slumber.

Let your conversation be free from covetousness, and be contented with what ye have: for He hath said, I will not leave thee; I will never, never forsake thee.

But fornication, and all uncleanness, or inordinate desire, let it not be even named among you; for so it becometh saints:

having eyes full of adultery, and which cannot be restrained from sin: ensnaring unstable souls, and having a heart practised in rapine; cursed people:

who have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, having followed the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of iniquity;

Wo unto them; for they have gone in the way of Cain, and been carried away by Balaam's error, the love of lucre, and perished as in the contradiction of Korah.

I have coveted no one's silver, or gold, or apparel:

who have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, having followed the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of iniquity;

But now I have written to you, not to associate with him, if any one, that is called a brother, be a whoremonger, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or rapacious; with such a one no not to eat.

About this time went one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, to the chief priests, and said, What will ye give me, and I will deliver Him to you? and they promised him thirty pieces of silver:

For the love of money is the root of all evils, which some coveting after have been led astray from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

For the love of money is the root of all evils, which some coveting after have been led astray from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

Mortify therefore your members that are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, disorderly passion, evil concupiscence, and insatiable desire, which is indeed idolatry:

For the love of money is the root of all evils, which some coveting after have been led astray from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

hospitable, able to teach, not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of sordid gain, moderate, not quarrelsome,

But they, that will be rich, fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which plunge men into ruin and perdition.

And one among the multitude said to Him, Master, speak to my brother to divide the inheritance with me: but He said unto him, Man, who set me over you as a judge or divider? And He said unto them, See to it that ye beware of covetousness; for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of his possessions.

adulteries, fornications, murthers, thefts, avarice, malice, deceit, lasciviousness, envy, slander, pride, folly; all these evils come from within and defile the man.

For one Demetrius, a silver-smith, who made silver models of Diana's temple, brought no small gain to the artificers: whom he got together,

So that we are not only in danger of this, that the business we follow will come to nothing; but also that the temple of the great goddess Diana will be despised; and her magnificence destroyed, whom all Asia and the whole world worshippeth.

And behold, there came one to Him, and said, Good master, what good shall I do, that I may have eternal life? And He said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou desirest to enter into life, keep the commandments. He saith unto Him, Which? And Jesus answered, Thou shalt do no murther, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Honour thy father and mother; read more.
and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thy self. The young man saith unto Him, All these have I kept from my youth: wherein am I yet deficient? Jesus replied, If thou wouldst be perfect, go, sell thy estate, and give it to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven; and come and follow me. But when the young man heard that, he went away sorrowful; for he had large possessions.

And He said unto them, See to it that ye beware of covetousness; for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of his possessions. And He spake a parable to them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: and he reasoned within himself, saying, What shall I do? for I have not room to lay up my corn. read more.
And he said, This I will do: I will pull down my barns, and build larger ones; and there I will bestow all my products and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast plenty of goods laid up for many years, take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night shall thy soul be required of thee; then whose shall those things be which thou hast provided? So is he that heapeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich towards God.

being filled with all injustice, lewdness, wickedness, covetousness, malignity; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, and every evil habit; whisperers,

And the pharisees also, who were covetous, heard all these things; and derided Him.

And when Simon saw that the holy Spirit was given by the imposition of the hands of the apostles, he offered them money, saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the holy Spirit. But Peter said unto him, Let thy money perish with thee, since thou thoughtest to purchase the gift of God with money. read more.
Thou hast no part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God. Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray to God, if so be the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee: for I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness and bond of iniquity.

And hoping also that money would be given him by Paul, that he might discharge him; he sent for him the more frequently, and conversed with him.

And He said unto them, See to it that ye beware of covetousness; for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of his possessions.

And He said also to his disciples, There was a certain rich man, who had a steward; and he was accused to him of wasting his goods. And he called him, and said unto him, What is this I hear of thee? give up the accounts of thy stewardship, for thou canst be no longer steward. And the steward said in himself, What shall I do? now my master takes away the stewardship from me; I am not able to work, and I am ashamed to beg. read more.
I know what I will do, that when I am turned out of my place, they may receive me into their houses. So he called his master's debtors to him, and said to the first, How much owest thou to my master? and he said, an hundred baths of oil. And he said to him, Take thy bill, and sit down and write but fifty. Then he said to another, And how much owest thou? and he said, an hundred measures of wheat: and he said to him, Take thy bill, and write fourscore. And his master commended the dishonest steward as having acted prudently: for the men of this world are as to their affairs wiser than the children of light.

And he came out that instant. And when her masters saw, that the hope of their gain was gone, they seized on Paul and Silas, and dragged them into the court to the magistrates.

through love of this world, and is gone to Thessalonica; as is Crescens to Galatia, and Titus to Dalmatia: Luke only is with me.

And hoping also that money would be given him by Paul, that he might discharge him; he sent for him the more frequently, and conversed with him.

And the pharisees also, who were covetous, heard all these things; and derided Him.

Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled.

Mortify therefore your members that are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, disorderly passion, evil concupiscence, and insatiable desire, which is indeed idolatry:

For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, (who is an idolater,) hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.

But they, that will be rich, fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which plunge men into ruin and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evils, which some coveting after have been led astray from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.