A Brief Examination of "Gluttony"

"Do not mix with winebibbers, [Or] with gluttonous eaters of meat; For the drunkard and the glutton will come to poverty…" (Prov. 23:20, 21).

“Why Do You Never Preach on Gluttony?"

Steven J. Wallace

After touching on the sin of social drinking, I was asked why preachers frequently preach against drinking but never address the sin of gluttony? Have you heard any sermons on gluttony? Is this a sin that we are guilty of sweeping under the rug? A friend and fellow gospel preacher correctly addressed this false comparison, saying, "One must eat food in order to stay alive! In contrast, you don't have to smoke to breathe, nor do you need alcohol to remain hydrated!" Let's consider the subject of gluttony under the Bible spotlight.

Misapplying Gluttony

That gluttony is a sin for which people can be guilty should be clear from our passage in Proverbs. But equally clear, gluttony can be falsely leveled against someone who is innocent of it. Jesus was charged as being a glutton and winebibber (Lk. 7:31-34). This likely stemmed from the Lord's refusal to fast like the others (Lk. 5:33)? Others may judge "guilty" those who attend a feast. Some even jokingly say they hope the preacher doesn't preach on gluttony because they ate a little too much! Jesus had no problem with a feast where red meat was served. Not only of a calf but a fatted calf was to be slaughtered with the prodigal's return (Lk. 15:23, 24). Jesus also attended a "great feast" that Levi prepared (Lk. 5:29). This led to the criticism above. To correctly apply the term, it must first be correctly defined.

Defining Gluttony

Catholics include gluttony on their list of "seven deadly sins." We don't find that list in God's word. When we find seven things that are an abomination to the Lord, gluttony, as it is applied by many today is missing (Prov. 6:16-19). What is it gluttony?

The first time gluttony is found is in Deuteronomy 21:20, where an incorrigible son is brought before the elders of the city, "…This son of ours is stubborn and rebellious; he will not obey our voice; he is a glutton and a drunkard." The language expressed in this passage is understood as being periphrastic where continuous action occurs. It is like this man is driving on a roundabout of rebellion and never exits off. This son is continuously disobedient. He is then defined as being a glutton and drunkard.

What should arrest our attention is that gluttony is not introduced by a one-time act of eating a little too much but rather is characteristic of a rebellious manner of life. The word translated as gluttony in the Old Testament has been defined by Hebrew scholars as squandering.

"The word is used twice intransitively, meaning 'worthless, insignificant." …It is used with a transitive meaning four times, to mean 'make light of' something, so that the object comes to be squandered. These times are thought to refer to a gluttonous person (Deut 21:20; Prov 23:20-21; 28:7). Only in the second passage is food mentioned. It is possible that the reference is not to the amount of food eaten (i.e. gluttony) but to the manner of banqueting (KJV 'riotous eaters of flesh'). The general condemnation of gluttony as a sin rests largely upon the interpretation of this word in these few places." ¹

We can further see the Hebrew word zālal defined as:

2151b zālal – properly, be light, make light of – like being wasteful or showing unnecessary extravagance; morally vile; vileness.

This root suggests squandering and acting indiscriminately – hence to despise something by devaluating it.²

The gluttonous man of scripture continuously lives a life where he devalues what should be considered precious. His belly is his god. He lives like the prodigal, one given to loose moral standards. In Titus 1:12 Paul referenced a saying against the Cretans as being "lazy gluttons" or idle bellies. They had a tendency to shun work while maintaining an attitude of entitlement. This hardly fits the superficial definitions of gluttony that are ascribed by many.

Are we guilty of gluttony? Yes, if we are carnally minded, idle, and driven with loose morals. Yes, if we are wasteful with what should be considered precious. Yes, if we live in sloth and squander the blessings we have been given. Let us not take for granted what is precious (our daily food, our spiritual food, each other, our appointed assemblies, brotherly love, etc.). Nor let us ungratefully feed off of what others have done. Rather let us choose to contribute our part whether in the home, church, or society.

Do we shun preaching against gluttony? No! Every time we address obedience, sober-mindedness, self-control, holiness, thankfulness, and having an attitude to work out our own salvation with fear and trembling, we are speaking against the bible glutton.

Can the gluttonous be converted? Yes! They did in Crete and some became elders in the church (Titus 1:13). The transformative power of the gospel is for all who will heed and obey (Titus 3:3ff).

¹Harris, R. Laird, et al. "554a." Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament, Moody Press, Chicago, Il, 1980, p. 244.