8 Bible Verses about Formality

And as they departed, Jesus took occasion to say to the people concerning John, What went ye out into the desert to see? a reed shaken by the wind? But what went ye out to see? a man clad in fine attire? they that wear rich clothes are in the palaces of kings. But what did ye indeed go out to see? a prophet? Yes, verily, and one superior to a prophet.

Then came to Jesus the scribes and pharisees from Jerusalem saying, Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat.

Wo unto you scribes and pharisees, hypocrites, who tithe even your mint, and anise, and cummin, but neglect the weightier matters of the law, judgement, mercy, and fidelity: these ye ought undoubtedly to practise, and not to omit the others.

But now that ye know God, or rather are known by God, how is it that ye turn again to the poor weak elements, to which ye desire again to be in bondage as before? Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years: so that I am afraid for you, least I have indeed bestowed upon you labour in vain.

If therefore ye be dead with Christ from the elements of the world; why, as if living in the world, are ye subject to ceremonial ordinances,

But this know, that in the last days there will be difficult times; for men will be selfish, covetous, arrogant, proud, blasphemers, undutiful to parents, ungrateful, unholy, without natural affection, perfidious, false accusers, intemperate, savage, enemies to the good, traitors,read more.
headstrong, conceited, lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God, having a form of godliness, but strangers to the power of it: from such turn away.

Behold thou art called a Jew, and restest on the law, and boastest in God, and knowest his will, and approvest things that are excellent, being instructed out of the law, and art persuaded that thou art a guide of the blind,read more.
a light to them that are in the darkness, an instructor of the simple, a teacher of babes, having the form of the knowledge and of the truth which is in the law. Thou then, who teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? Thou, that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal? Thou, that sayest a man should not commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery? Thou, that abhorrest idols, dost thou commit sacrilege? Thou, that boastest in the law, dost thou by transgression of the law dishonour God? for through you the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles, as it is written. For circumcision indeed is profitable, if thou keep the law: but if thou be a transgressor of the law, thy circumcision is become uncircumcision. Therefore if the uncircumcised keep the righteous precepts of the law, shall not his uncircumcision be accounted to him for circumcision? and shall not the uncircumcision that is by nature, if it fulfil the law, judge thee, who by the letter and circumcision art a transgressor of the law? for he is not a Jew, who is only so in appearance; nor is that circumcision, which is only in appearance, in the flesh; but he is a Jew who is one inwardly, and circumcision is that of the heart in the spirit, not in the letter: whose praise is not from men, but from God.

Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other thinks he hath whereof to trust in the flesh, I more: having been circumcised on the eighth day, of the race of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of Hebrews, with respect to the law a pharisee, as to zeal persecuting the church, as to the righteousness of the law blameless: but those things,read more.
which were once gain to me, I counted loss for Christ.