I have heard many people refer to ‘glutton�?as meaning one who over eats and becomes overweight. They say the Word of God teaches this is sin. I have heard this all my life, but have never believed it. Since I am in a dispute with someone now over this very matter, I decided it is time to find out for sure what the Word really teaches on this matter.

It is just as I thought, the word ‘glutton�?in the Word is referring to a vile, loose morally worthless person.

I suspected this when I ran the references on the word and found that each time it is used, it is connected with the word ‘drunkard�?

Before I go into this, let me tell you that the word, overweight is not in the Word of God. Some are saying it is as much sin as anything else to be overweight. I tell you if this were true, the Word of God would say so. It is not up to man to decide what is sin and what is not. If God did not say it is sin, it is not sin.

Even under the strict Moses law, overweight is not mentioned. Overeating is not in the Word either.

Glutton is used two times in the O.T.

Deut.21:18-21 ~~18. If a man have a stubborn and rebellious son, which will not obey the voice of his father, or the voice of his mother, and that, when they have chastened him, will not hearken unto them:

19. Then shall his father and his mother lay hold on him, and bring him out unto the elders of his city, and unto the gate of his place;

20. And they shall say unto the elders of his city, This our son is stubborn and rebellious, he will not obey our voice; he is a glutton, and a drunkard.

21. And all the men of his city shall stone him with stones, that he die: so shalt thou put evil away from among you; and all Israel shall hear, and fear.

Now read this context -- you will find that the word glutton here is referring to the conduct of this person -- not how he eats. Eating has not been mentioned. It does not mean that.

Run the reference in Strong’s Hebrew - it is #2151--Text: a primitive root [compare 2107]; to shake (as in the wind), i.e. to quake; figuratively, to be loose morally, worthless or prodigal: -blow down, glutton, riotous (eater), vile.

Text: a primitive root [compare 2151]; probably to shake out, i.e. (by implication) to scatter profusely; figuratively, to treat lightly: -lavish, despise.

Now these two meanings show that ‘glutton�?is referring to a loose, immoral way of life; not how one eats.

The other O.T. Scripture using this word is Provervs 23:21-- 21. For the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty: and drowsiness shall clothe a man with rags.

See, here that ‘glutton�?is linked with being a drunkard, not with eating or weight.

The first time ‘gluttonous�?is used in the N.T. is Matt. 11: 18 & 19--8. For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, He hath a devil.

19. The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold a man gluttonous, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners. But wisdom is justified of her children.

Now it is clear here, that this is NOT referring to John or Jesus being overweight; but as to their mode of life.

The other place is Luke 7:34, it is the same words as in Matt. 11.

Now what did Jesus say about eating and if it can DEFILE a person?

Matt. 7: ~~ 7. Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying,

8. This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.

9. But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.

10. And he called the multitude, and said unto them, Hear, and understand:

11. Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man.

12. Then came his disciples, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the Pharisees were offended, after they heard this saying?

13. But he answered and said, Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up.

14. Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.

15. Then answered Peter and said unto him, Declare unto us this parable.

16. And Jesus said, Are ye also yet without understanding?

17. Do not ye yet understand, that whatsoever entereth in at the mouth goeth into the belly, and is cast out into the draught?

18. But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man.

19. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:

20. These are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man.

Now Jesus said here that nothing which enters into the MOUTH of a person can defile that person. In other words, nothing he eats is sin to him.

Read verse 16-- He asked them are you also without understanding - meaning if they thought what a person eats defiles them, then they are without understanding.

He said that which comes OUT of the mouth, not what goes into the mouth, is what defiles a person.

So, now let’s see who has understanding, and who is without understanding.

All these people proclaiming that overeating is a sin, let them bring forth one Scripture which says this. If you cannot, then admit that you are teaching the doctrines and commandments of MEN, NOT GOD.

I knew in my heart all my life this was not true. I have heard it all my life, but never believed it. I decided it is time to study this and prove what is true and what is false.

I have proven that gluttonous has nothing to do with how one eats. Let those who say it does, prove by the Word of God what they are saying.