What does the Bible say about the throat?


Gluttony is the sin of excessive indulgence and excessive greed for food. In the Bible, gluttony is closely linked to the sins of drunkenness, idolatry, generosity, rebellion, disobedience, laziness and waste (Deuteronomy 21:20). The Bible condemns gluttony as a sin and places it exactly in the field of "lust of the flesh" (1 John 2: 15–17).

Key Bible verse
“Don't you know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, that is in you, that you received from God? You are not yours; you were purchased at a price. So honor God with your bodies. " (1 Corinthians 6: 19–20, NIV)

Biblical definition of gluttony
A biblical definition of gluttony is the usual yielding to a greedy appetite by indulging in eating and drinking. The throat includes an excessive desire for the pleasure that food and drink give a person.

God has given us food, drink, and other pleasant things to enjoy (Genesis 1:29; Ecclesiastes 9: 7; 1 Timothy 4: 4-5), but the Bible requires moderation in everything. Spontaneous indulgence in any area will lead to a deep involvement in sin because it represents a refusal of divine self-control and disobedience to the will of God.

Proverbs 25:28 says: "A person without self-control is like a city with demolished walls" (NLT). This step implies that a person who does not hold back their passions and desires ends up with no defense when temptations come. Having lost self-control, he is in danger of being dragged into further sins and destruction.

Gluttony in the Bible is a form of idolatry. When the desire for food and drink becomes too important for us, it is a sign that he has become an idol in our life. Any form of idolatry is a serious offense to God:

You can be sure that no immoral, impure or greedy person will inherit the Kingdom of Christ and God. Because a greedy person is an idolater, he loves the things of this world. (Ephesians 5: 5, NLT).
According to Roman Catholic theology, gluttony is one of the seven deadly sins, which means a sin that leads to damnation. But this belief is based on the tradition of the Church that dates back to the Middle Ages and is not supported by Scripture.

However, the Bible speaks of many destructive consequences of the throat (Proverbs 23: 20-21; 28: 7). Perhaps the most damaging aspect of excessive indulgence in food is the way it harms our health. The Bible calls us to take care of our bodies and honor God with them (1 Corinthians 6: 19–20).

Critics of Jesus - the spiritually blind and hypocritical Pharisees - falsely accused him of gluttony because he associated himself with sinners:

“The Son of Man came to eat and drink, and they said, 'Look at him! A glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners! 'However, wisdom is justified by his actions "(Matthew 11:19, ESV).
Jesus lived like the normal person in his day. He ate and drank normally and was not an ascetic like John the Baptist. For this reason, he was accused of overeating and drinking. But anyone who honestly observed the Lord's behavior would see his righteousness.

The Bible is extremely positive about food. In the Old Testament, several feasts are instituted by God. The Lord compares the conclusion of the story to a big feast: the Lamb's wedding dinner. Food isn't the problem when it comes to goodies. Rather, when we allow the craving for food to become our master, then we have become slaves to sin:

Don't let sin control the way you live; do not give in to sinful desires. Don't let any part of your body become an instrument of evil to serve sin. Instead, give yourself completely to God, since you were dead, but now you have a new life. So use your whole body as an instrument to do what is right for the glory of God. Sin is no longer your master, because you no longer live under the requirements of the law. Instead, live under the freedom of God's grace. (Romans 6: 12–14, NLT)
The Bible teaches that believers must have only one teacher, the Lord Jesus Christ, and worship him alone. A wise Christian will carefully examine his heart and behavior to determine if he has an unhealthy desire for food.

At the same time, a believer should not judge others about their attitude towards food (Romans 14). A person's weight or physical appearance may have nothing to do with sin of gluttony. Not all fat people are gluttons and not all gluttons are fat. Our responsibility as believers is to carefully examine our lives and do our best to honor and serve God faithfully with our bodies.

Bible verses on Gluttony
Deuteronomy 21:20 (NIV) They will say
to the elderly: “This son of ours is stubborn and rebellious. He won't obey us. He is a glutton and a drunkard.

Job 15:27 (NLT)
“These evil people are heavy and prosperous; their hips swell with fat. "

Proverbs 23: 20–21 (ESV)
Do not be among the drunkards or the greedy meat eaters, because the drunkard and the glutton will arrive in poverty and sleep will dress them in rags.

Proverbs 25:16 (NLT)
Do you like honey? Don't eat too much, or it will make you sick!

Proverbs 28: 7 (NIV)
A demanding son obeys instructions, but a wolverine companion dishonors his father.

Proverbs 23: 1–2 (NIV)
When you sit down to have dinner with a sovereign, take note of what is in front of you and put a knife in your throat if you are given the throat.

Ecclesiastes 6: 7 (ESV)
All man's fatigue is for his mouth, but his appetite is not satisfied.

Ezekiel 16:49 (NIV)
“Now this was the sin of your sister Sodom: she and her daughters were arrogant, supercharged and indifferent; they did not help the poor and needy. "

Zechariah 7: 4–6 (NLT)
The Lord of the armies of heaven sent me this message in response: "Tell all your people and your priests, 'During these seventy years of exile, when you fasted and wept in summer and early autumn, it was really for me that you were fasting? And even now in your sacred feasts, don't you eat and drink just to please yourself? ' "

Mark 7: 21-23 (CSB)
Because from within, outside people's hearts, evil thoughts, sexual immorality, thefts, murders, adulterers, greed, evil deeds, deception, self-indulgence, envy, slander, pride and folly arise. All these evil things come from within and contaminate a person. "

Romans 13:14 (NIV)
Rather, dress with the Lord Jesus Christ and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh.

Philippians 3: 18–19 (NLT)
Because I have already told you often, and I still say it with tears in my eyes, that there are many whose conduct shows that they are truly enemies of the cross of Christ. They are headed for destruction. Their god is their appetite, they boast of shameful things and think only of this life here on earth.

Galatians 5: 19–21 (NIV)
The acts of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, attacks of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies and the like. I warn you, as I have done before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.

Titus 1: 12–13 (NIV)
One of the prophets of Crete said it: "The Cretans are always liars, wicked brutes, lazy gluttons". This saying is true. So blame them abruptly, so that they are healthy in faith.

James 5: 5 (NIV)
You lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You got fat on the day of the slaughter.