41 Bible Verses about Selfishness

Most Relevant Verses

Philippians 2:3-4

Let nothing be done through strife or vain glory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.

Proverbs 18:1

A man, having separated himself, seeks his own desire, and rages against all sound wisdom.

2 Timothy 3:1-2

This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,

Judges 17:6

In those days there was no king in Israel, but every man did that which was right in his own eyes.

Judges 21:25

In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes.

Mark 12:7

But those tenants said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and the inheritance shall be ours.

Luke 12:13-21

And one of the crowd said unto him, Teacher, speak to my brother, that he divide the inheritance with me. And he said unto him, Man, who made me a judge or a divider over you? And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consists not in the abundance of the things which he possesses.read more.
And he spoke a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room to store my crops? And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I store all my crops and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease, eat, drink, and be merry. But God said unto him, You fool, this night your soul shall be required of you: then whose shall those things be, which you have prepared? So is he that lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.

Jeremiah 45:5

And seek you great things for yourself? seek them not: for, behold, I will bring disaster upon all flesh, says the LORD: but your life will I give unto you for a prize in all places where you go.

Galatians 5:19-20

Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, impurity, licentiousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, strife, jealousy, wrath, selfishness, divisions, heresies,

James 3:14-16

But if you have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, boast not, and lie not against the truth. This wisdom descends not from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.

Daniel 4:30

The king spoke, and said, Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honor of my majesty?

Genesis 13:10-11

And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered every where, before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, even as the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt, as you came unto Zoar. Then Lot chose all the plain of Jordan; and Lot journeyed east: and they separated themselves the one from the other.

Ezekiel 28:2-5

Son of man, say unto the prince of Tyre, Thus says the Lord GOD; Because your heart is lifted up, and you have said, I am a God, I sit in the seat of God, in the midst of the seas; yet you are a man, and not God, though you set your heart as the heart of God: Behold, you are wiser than Daniel; there is no secret that they can hide from you: With your wisdom and with your understanding you have gotten yourself riches, and have gotten gold and silver into your treasuries:read more.
By your great wisdom and by your trade have you increased your riches, and your heart is lifted up because of your riches:

Ezekiel 34:8

As I live, says the Lord GOD, surely because my flock became a prey, and my flock became food to every beast of the field, because there was no shepherd, neither did my shepherds search for my flock, but the shepherds fed themselves, and fed not my flock;

Mark 10:35

And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, come unto him, saying, Teacher, we would that you should do for us whatsoever we shall desire.

Job 14:22

But his flesh upon him shall have pain, and his soul within him shall mourn.

1 Kings 19:10

And he said, I have been very jealous for the LORD God of hosts: for the children of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and slain your prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.

Psalm 119:36

Incline my heart unto your testimonies, and not to covetousness.

Romans 15:3

For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached you fell on me.

Philippians 2:4-8

Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not a thing to be grasped to be equal with God:read more.
But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

Romans 13:8-10

Owe no man anything, but to love one another: for he that loves another has fulfilled the law. For this, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not kill, You shall not steal, You shall not bear false witness, You shall not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is summed up in this saying, namely, You shall love your neighbor as yourself. Love works no ill to his neighbor: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.

From Thematic Bible


Inconsistency » General marks of » Selfishness

James 2:15-16

If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be warmed and filled; yet you give them not those things which are needful to the body; what does it profit?

Religion » Inconsistency in religious life general marks of » Selfishness

James 2:15-16

If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be warmed and filled; yet you give them not those things which are needful to the body; what does it profit?

Selfishness » Different forms of » Total disregard of the rights of others

Ezekiel 34:18

Seems it a small thing unto you to have eaten up the good pasture, but must you tread down with your feet the rest of your pastures? and to have drunk of the deep waters, but must you foul the rest with your feet?

Hosea 10:1

Israel is an empty vine, he brings forth fruit unto himself: according to the multitude of his fruit he has increased the altars; according to the goodness of his land they have made goodly images.

Habakkuk 2:6

Shall not all these take up a parable against him, and a taunting proverb against him, and say, Woe to him that increases that which is not his! how long? and to him that loads himself with many pledges!

Zechariah 7:6

And when you did eat, and when you did drink, did not you eat for yourselves, and drink for yourselves?

Selfishness » Examples of » Cain's cold-blooded words concerning abel

Exodus 2:17

And the shepherds came and drove them away: but Moses stood up and helped them, and watered their flock.

Numbers 20:21

Thus Edom refused to give Israel passage through his border: therefore Israel turned away from him.

Judges 8:6

And the princes of Succoth said, Are the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna now in your hand, that we should give bread unto your army?

Selfishness » Examples of » The priest and levite carelessly pass by the wounded man

Luke 10:31-32

And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side.

Selfishness » Different forms of » Heartless indifference toward sinners

Matthew 27:3-4

Then Judas, who had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? see you to that.

Selfishness » Ministers should be devoid of

1 Corinthians 10:33

Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.

1 Corinthians 9:19-23

For though I am free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more. And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law; To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law of Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law. read more.
To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. And this I do for the gospel's sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you.

Selfishness » The example of Christ condemns

Romans 15:3

For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached you fell on me.

Selfishness » Contrary to the law of God

Selfishness » Examples of » Haman's selfish conceit

Matthew 23:4

For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers.

Isaiah 56:11

Yea, they are greedy dogs who can never have enough, and they are shepherds that cannot understand: they all look to their own way, everyone for his gain, from his own quarter.

Esther 6:6

So Haman came in. And the king said unto him, What shall be done unto the man whom the king delights to honor? Now Haman thought in his heart, To whom would the king delight to do honor more than to myself?

Selfishness » Exhibited in » Seeking our own

1 Corinthians 10:33

Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.

Selfishness » Inconsistent with communion of saints

Romans 12:4-5

For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.

1 Corinthians 12:12-27

For as the body is one, and has many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. For by one Spirit were we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. For the body is not one member, but many. read more.
If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where would be the smelling? But now has God set the members every one of them in the body, as it has pleased him. And if they were all one member, where would be the body? But now are they many members, yet but one body. And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of you: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you. Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary: And those members of the body, which we think to be less honorable, upon these we bestow more abundant honor; and our less respectable parts have greater respect. For our more respectable parts have no need: but God has arranged the body together, having given more abundant honor to that part which lacked: That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another. And whether one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honored, all the members rejoice with it. Now you are the body of Christ, and members in particular.

Selfishness » Especially forbidden to saints

Selfishness » All men addicted to

Selfishness » Different forms of » Hoarding foodstuff

Proverbs 11:26

He that withholds grain, the people shall curse him: but blessing shall be upon the head of him that sells it.

Selfishness » Exemplified » Nabal

1 Samuel 25:3

Now the name of the man was Nabal; and the name of his wife Abigail: and she was a woman of good understanding, and of a beautiful countenance: but the man was surly and evil in his doings; and he was of the house of Caleb.

1 Samuel 25:11

Shall I then take my bread, and my water, and my meat that I have killed for my shearers, and give it unto men, whom I know not from where they be?

Selfishness » The love of Christ should constrain us to avoid

2 Corinthians 5:14-15

For the love of Christ constrains us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: And that he died for all, that they who live should no longer live unto themselves, but unto him who died for them, and rose again.

Selfishness » Exhibited in » Living to ourselves

Selfishness » Inconsistent with » Christian love

1 Corinthians 13:5

Does not behave itself rudely, seeks not her own, is not easily provoked, keeps no record of evil;

Selfishness » Characteristic of the last days

2 Timothy 3:1-2

This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,

Selfishness » Examples of » Nabal refuses food to david

1 Samuel 25:11

Shall I then take my bread, and my water, and my meat that I have killed for my shearers, and give it unto men, whom I know not from where they be?

Selfishness » Different forms of » Neglect of the needy and suffering

Matthew 25:43

I was a stranger, and you took me not in: naked, and you clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and you visited me not.

Selfishness » Exhibited in » Being lovers of ourselves

Selfishness » Exhibited in » Seeking undue precedence

Matthew 20:21

And he said unto her, What will you? She said unto him, Grant that these my two sons may sit, the one on your right hand, and the other on the left, in your kingdom.

Selfishness » Exemplified » Jews

Zechariah 7:6

And when you did eat, and when you did drink, did not you eat for yourselves, and drink for yourselves?

Selfishness » Exhibited in » Serving God for reward

Malachi 1:10

Who is there even among you that would shut the doors for nothing? neither do you kindle fire on my altar for nothing. I have no pleasure in you, says the LORD of hosts, neither will I accept an offering at your hand.

Selfishness » Exhibited in » Seeking after gain

Isaiah 56:11

Yea, they are greedy dogs who can never have enough, and they are shepherds that cannot understand: they all look to their own way, everyone for his gain, from his own quarter.

Selfishness » God hates

Malachi 1:10

Who is there even among you that would shut the doors for nothing? neither do you kindle fire on my altar for nothing. I have no pleasure in you, says the LORD of hosts, neither will I accept an offering at your hand.

Selfishness » Exhibited in » Neglect of the poor

Selfishness » Exhibited in » Pleasing ourselves

Selfishness » Exemplified » Cain

Selfishness » Different forms of » Greed for real estate

Selfishness » Exhibited in » Performing duty for reward

Selfishness » Exemplified » James and john

Mark 10:37

They said unto him, Grant unto us that we may sit, one on your right hand, and the other on your left hand, in your glory.

Selfishness » Exemplified » Haman

Esther 6:6

So Haman came in. And the king said unto him, What shall be done unto the man whom the king delights to honor? Now Haman thought in his heart, To whom would the king delight to do honor more than to myself?

Selfishness » Examples of » James and john seek the best places

Mark 10:37

They said unto him, Grant unto us that we may sit, one on your right hand, and the other on your left hand, in your glory.

Selfishness » Saints falsely accused of

Job 1:9-11

Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, Does Job fear God for nothing? Have not you made a hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he has on every side? you have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions are increased in the land. But put forth your hand now, and touch all that he has, and he will curse you to your face.

Never miss a post

Theasaurus: Selfishness