What Colossians 3:5 really means: Put Sin to Death

Putting to Death the Old Way of Living

This verse comes right after Paul reminds the Colossian believers that they have been raised with Christ, so their focus should be on heaven, not earthly things.

The Colossians were facing false teachings that mixed strict rules about the body with mystical spiritual ideas, making some think they needed special knowledge or harsh discipline to be truly spiritual. But Paul says the real problem isn’t external rituals - it’s the sinful nature still at work inside, like sexual immorality, greed, and evil desires. That’s why he tells them to 'put to death' these earthly behaviors, because indulging them pulls us away from the new life Christ gives.

Putting off these sins means rejecting idolatry because covetousness is idolatry and lets something other than God rule our hearts.

Greed Is a Form of Idolatry

The phrase 'covetousness, which is idolatry' in Colossians 3:5 makes a bold spiritual claim that goes beyond mere behavior.

Covetousness, from the Greek word *pleonexia*, means a greedy desire to have more - whether that’s money, possessions, or status - and it never feels satisfied. Paul calls this idolatry because instead of trusting God to provide, we start worshiping what we want, letting it control our thoughts and choices.

Covetousness is idolatry because it gives the things we want more power over our hearts than God.

This is the same warning he gives in Ephesians 5:5, where he says, 'For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.' Greed is a heart problem that replaces God with something else, not merely a bad habit. When we treat any desire as more important than God, we’re setting up a false god in our lives, which is exactly what idolatry means.

Living a Life That Reflects Your True Home

Since you’ve been raised with Christ, your heart and actions should point to heaven, not cling to earthly cravings.

Back then, this was radical - people thought holiness came from rules or secret knowledge, but Paul says it starts with letting go of greed and selfishness because they steal God’s place in your heart.

Because Jesus gave you new life, you can turn from these things by fixing your eyes on Him, as explained in Colossians 3:1‑4.

Putting Sin to Death by the Spirit's Power

The call to 'put to death' sinful desires is a summons to rely on God’s Spirit, as Paul writes in Romans 8:13: 'For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.'

This means daily choices - how we handle anger, what we allow our eyes to dwell on, how we respond when overlooked - are moments where we can choose to listen to the Spirit instead of giving in. It’s not about perfection, but direction: a life increasingly shaped by God’s presence rather than personal cravings.

We don’t fight sin in our own strength, but by the Spirit who gives life.

In a church community, this creates space for honesty and grace, where people aren’t pretending but helping each other walk in freedom, because we all depend on the same Spirit to grow.

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