Religion

Religion that God accepts is shown in caring for the needy, keeping oneself unspotted from the world, and obeying from the heart, while outward ritual without these is rejected. This page lists verses on pure religion, offerings without obedience, worship with the lips only, outward show, a form of godliness, and worship in spirit and truth.

Pure and undefiled religion

• James 1:26-27
  ²⁶If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion is vain.If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not bridle his tongue, he deceives his heart and his religion is worthless. ²⁷Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.Pure and undefiled religion before our God and Father is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.
  Show context · Read James 1 →
• Micah 6:8
  He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?He has shown you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you but to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?
  Show context · Read Micah 6 →
• Deuteronomy 10:12-13
  ¹²And now, Israel, what doth the Lord thy God require of thee, but to fear the Lord thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul,And now, O Israel, what does the LORD your God ask of you but to fear the LORD your God by walking in all His ways, to love Him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, ¹³To keep the commandments of the Lord, and his statutes, which I command thee this day for thy good?and to keep the commandments and statutes of the LORD that I am giving you this day for your own good?
  Show context · Read Deuteronomy 10 →
• Hosea 6:6
  For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.
  Show context · Read Hosea 6 →

Offerings without obedience

• 1 Samuel 15:22
  And Samuel said, Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.But Samuel declared: “Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obedience to His voice? Behold, obedience is better than sacrifice, and attentiveness is better than the fat of rams.
  Show context · Read 1 Samuel 15 →
• Isaiah 1:11-17
  ¹¹To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices unto me? saith the Lord: I am full of the burnt offerings of rams, and the fat of fed beasts; and I delight not in the blood of bullocks, or of lambs, or of he goats.“What good to Me is your multitude of sacrifices?” says the LORD. “I am full from the burnt offerings of rams and the fat of well-fed cattle; I take no delight in the blood of bulls and lambs and goats. ¹²When ye come to appear before me, who hath required this at your hand, to tread my courts?When you come to appear before Me, who has required this of you— this trampling of My courts? ¹³Bring no more vain oblations; incense is an abomination unto me; the new moons and sabbaths, the calling of assemblies, I cannot away with; it is iniquity, even the solemn meeting.Bring your worthless offerings no more; your incense is detestable to Me— your New Moons, Sabbaths, and convocations. I cannot endure iniquity in a solemn assembly. ¹⁴Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hateth: they are a trouble unto me; I am weary to bear them.I hate your New Moons and your appointed feasts. They have become a burden to Me; I am weary of bearing them. ¹⁵And when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you: yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear: your hands are full of blood.When you spread out your hands in prayer, I will hide My eyes from you; even though you multiply your prayers, I will not listen. Your hands are covered with blood. ¹⁶Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil;Wash and cleanse yourselves. Remove your evil deeds from My sight. Stop doing evil! ¹⁷Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow.Learn to do right; seek justice and correct the oppressor. Defend the fatherless and plead the case of the widow.”
  Show context · Read Isaiah 1 →
• Amos 5:21-24
  ²¹I hate, I despise your feast days, and I will not smell in your solemn assemblies.“I hate, I despise your feasts! I cannot stand the stench of your solemn assemblies. ²²Though ye offer me burnt offerings and your meat offerings, I will not accept them: neither will I regard the peace offerings of your fat beasts.Even though you offer Me burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them; for your peace offerings of fattened cattle I will have no regard. ²³Take thou away from me the noise of thy songs; for I will not hear the melody of thy viols.Take away from Me the noise of your songs! I will not listen to the music of your harps. ²⁴But let judgment run down as waters, and righteousness as a mighty stream.But let justice roll on like a river, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.
  Show context · Read Amos 5 →
• Psalm 51:16-17
  ¹⁶For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering.For You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; You take no pleasure in burnt offerings. ¹⁷The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not despise.
  Show context · Read Psalm 51 →
• Isaiah 58:5-7
  ⁵Is it such a fast that I have chosen? a day for a man to afflict his soul? is it to bow down his head as a bulrush, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? wilt thou call this a fast, and an acceptable day to the Lord?Is this the fast I have chosen: a day for a man to deny himself, to bow his head like a reed, and to spread out sackcloth and ashes? Will you call this a fast and a day acceptable to the LORD? ⁶Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke?Isn’t this the fast that I have chosen: to break the chains of wickedness, to untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and tear off every yoke? ⁷Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh?Isn’t it to share your bread with the hungry, to bring the poor and homeless into your home, to clothe the naked when you see him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?
  Show context · Read Isaiah 58 →

Honoring God with the lips only

• Isaiah 29:13
  Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men:Therefore the Lord said: “These people draw near to Me with their mouths and honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me. Their worship of Me is but rules taught by men.
  Show context · Read Isaiah 29 →
• Matthew 15:7-9
  ⁷Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying,You hypocrites! Isaiah prophesied correctly about you: ⁸This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.‘These people honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me. ⁹But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.They worship Me in vain; they teach as doctrine the precepts of men.’”
  Show context · Read Matthew 15 →
• Ezekiel 33:31
  And they come unto thee as the people cometh, and they sit before thee as my people, and they hear thy words, but they will not do them: for with their mouth they shew much love, but their heart goeth after their covetousness.So My people come to you as usual, sit before you, and hear your words; but they do not put them into practice. Although they express love with their mouths, their hearts pursue dishonest gain.
  Show context · Read Ezekiel 33 →
• Titus 1:16
  They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.They profess to know God, but by their actions they deny Him. They are detestable, disobedient, and unfit for any good deed.
  Show context · Read Titus 1 →

Done to be seen by others

• Matthew 6:1-2
  ¹Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven.“Be careful not to perform your righteous acts before men to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. ²Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.So when you give to the needy, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men. Truly I tell you, they already have their full reward.
  Show context · Read Matthew 6 →
• Matthew 6:5
  And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. Truly I tell you, they already have their full reward.
  Show context · Read Matthew 6 →
• Matthew 6:16
  Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.When you fast, do not be somber like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they already have their full reward.
  Show context · Read Matthew 6 →
• Matthew 23:5
  But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments,All their deeds are done for men to see. They broaden their phylacteries and lengthen their tassels.
  Show context · Read Matthew 23 →
• Luke 18:10-14
  ¹⁰Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.“Two men went up to the temple to pray. One was a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. ¹¹The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like the other men—swindlers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. ¹²I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.I fast twice a week and pay tithes of all that I acquire.’ ¹³And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.But the tax collector stood at a distance, unwilling even to lift up his eyes to heaven. Instead, he beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner!’ ¹⁴I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.I tell you, this man, rather than the Pharisee, went home justified. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”
  Show context · Read Luke 18 →

A form of godliness

• 2 Timothy 3:5
  Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.having a form of godliness but denying its power. Turn away from such as these!
  Show context · Read 2 Timothy 3 →
• Romans 2:28-29
  ²⁸For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh:A man is not a Jew because he is one outwardly, nor is circumcision only outward and physical. ²⁹But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.No, a man is a Jew because he is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. Such a man’s praise does not come from men, but from God.
  Show context · Read Romans 2 →
• Colossians 2:20-23
  ²⁰Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances,If you have died with Christ to the spiritual forces of the world, why, as though you still belonged to the world, do you submit to its regulations: ²¹(Touch not; taste not; handle not;“Do not handle, do not taste, do not touch!”? ²²Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men?These will all perish with use, because they are based on human commands and teachings. ²³Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh.Such restrictions indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-prescribed worship, their false humility, and their harsh treatment of the body; but they are of no value against the indulgence of the flesh.
  Show context · Read Colossians 2 →
• Revelation 3:1
  And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead.“To the angel of the church in Sardis write: These are the words of the One who holds the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars. I know your deeds; you have a reputation for being alive, yet you are dead.
  Show context · Read Revelation 3 →

Worship in spirit and truth

• John 4:23-24
  ²³But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.But a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth, for the Father is seeking such as these to worship Him. ²⁴God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.God is Spirit, and His worshipers must worship Him in spirit and in truth.”
  Show context · Read John 4 →
• Romans 12:1
  I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.Therefore I urge you, brothers, on account of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.
  Show context · Read Romans 12 →
• Philippians 3:3
  For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.For it is we who are the circumcision, we who worship by the Spirit of God, who glory in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh—
  Show context · Read Philippians 3 →
• Hebrews 13:15-16
  ¹⁵By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise, the fruit of lips that confess His name. ¹⁶But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.And do not neglect to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.
  Show context · Read Hebrews 13 →

See also

• Hypocrisy
• Worship
• Obedience
• Widows and orphans
• Sincerity
• Self-righteousness

Notes

1. Verses are quoted in the translation chosen in the Translation menu at the top of the page. See Translations for sources and copyright notices.
2. Each reference links to the full chapter so the verse can be read in context.