This I say then and testify in the Lord, that you no longer walk as the other gentiles walk, in the vanity of their minds, with their understandings darkened, alienated from the life of God on account of the ignorance which is in them, on account of the hardness of their hearts, who being without feeling have given themselves up to lewdness, to commit every impurity with greediness.

Matthew 6:31-32

Be not anxious, therefore, saying, What shall we eat? or what shall we drink? or with what shall we be clothed? For after all these things the gentiles seek; and your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.

Ephesians 2:12

1 Corinthians 10:20

But what the gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons, and not to God; and I do not wish you to be partakers with demons. Verse Concepts

Jeremiah 10:2-3

Matthew 6:7-8

And when you pray use not vain repetitions, as the gentiles do; for they think they shall be heard for their much speaking. Be not, therefore, like them; for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

Acts 14:16

who in past generations permitted all nations to walk in their own ways; Verse Concepts

Acts 17:16-17

And while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was moved within him as he saw the city wholly devoted to idolatry. Then he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and those that were pious, and in the market every day with those he met.

Acts 17:22-27

And Paul standing in the midst of the Areopagus said, Men of Athens, I perceive that in all things you are extremely devoted to the worship of demons. For as I passed through, and observed your objects of worship, I found also an altar on which was inscribed, TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. What therefore you worship as unknown, this I declare to you. The God who made the world and all things in it, this [God] being Lord of heaven and earth dwells not in temples made with hands, read more.
neither is he served by the hands of men as needing any thing, since he gives to all life, and breath, and all things; and he made of one blood every nation of men to live on all the face of the earth, determining their appointed times and the bounds of their habitation, that they should seek God, if perhaps they might feel after and find him, and indeed he is not far from every one of us.

Show 7 more verses

Romans 1:18-32

FOR the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all impiety and wickedness of men who hold the truth in wickedness, because what can be known of God is manifest among them; for God has manifested [himself] to them. For his invisible [attributes] are clearly seen from the creation of the world, being perceived by the things which are made, even his eternal power and deity, so that they have no defense, read more.
because having known God they glorified him not as God neither were thankful, but became vain in their reasonings and their ignorant mind was darkened. Saying that they were wise they became foolish, and changed the glory of the imperishable God into the likeness of the image of perishable man, and of birds, and quadrupeds, and reptiles. Wherefore God also gave them up with the desires of their hearts to impurity, to disgrace their bodies among themselves, who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creation more than the Creator, who is blessed forever, amen. Therefore God gave them up to infamous affections; for their females changed a natural enjoyment for that which is against nature, and in like manner also the males, leaving the natural enjoyment of the female, became the subjects of inordinate desires for each other, males with males committing indecency, and receiving in return the recompense of their error which was fit. And as they did not choose to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them up to a reprobate mind, to do things which are not proper, being filled with all wickedness, malice, covetousness, vice, full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil dispositions, whisperers, evil speakers, haters of God, injurious, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, unintelligent, covenant-breakers, without natural affection, unmerciful, who knowing the ordinance of God, that those who do such things deserve death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in those who do them.

Romans 2:1-15

Wherefore you are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are that judge, for in that in which you judge another you condemn yourself; for you who judge do the same things. But we know that the judgment of God is according to truth against those who do such things. But do you think this, O man, who judge those doing such things and do the same, that you shall escape the judgment of God? read more.
or do you despise the riches of his goodness and forbearance and long suffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to a change of mind? But according to your hardness and unchanged heart you treasure up wrath for yourself in the day of wrath and of a revelation of the righteous judgment of God, who will render to each according to his works; to those who by patience in good works seek for glory and honor and immortality, eternal life; but to those who are contentions and disobey the truth, and obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath. Affliction and distress [shall be] on every soul of man that does evil, both the Jew first and the Greek; and glory and honor and peace to every one that does good, both the Jew first and the Greek. For there is no respect of persons with God. For as many as have sinned without the law shall perish without the law, and as many as have sinned with the law shall be judged by the law,??13 for not the hearers of the law are righteous with God, but the doers of the law shall be justified; for when the nations which have not the law perform by nature [the commandments] of the law, these who have not the law are a law to themselves, and they show the work of the law written in their minds, their consciences testifying with them, and their judgments mutually acusing or defending one another;??16 in the day when God shall judge the secret [doings] of men according to my gospel through Jesus Christ.

1 Corinthians 12:2

You know that when you were gentiles, you followed dumb idols as you were led. Verse Concepts

Galatians 2:15

For we Jews by race and not sinners of the gentiles, Verse Concepts

Ephesians 5:12

For the things which are done by them in secret it is base even to mention; Verse Concepts

1 Thessalonians 4:4

that each one should know how to have his wife in purity and honor, Verse Concepts

1 Peter 4:3-4

For the time past is sufficient for us to have performed the will of the gentiles, walking in lewdness, inordinate desires, drunkenness, revellings, drinkings and unlawful idolatries, in which they think it strange that you run not with them to the same excessive intemperance, blaspheming,

Heathen » General references to

Ezra 6:21

Verse Concepts

2 Kings 16:3

Verse Concepts

Matthew 6:7

And when you pray use not vain repetitions, as the gentiles do; for they think they shall be heard for their much speaking. Verse Concepts

Psalm 9:15

Verse Concepts

Psalm 2:1

Verse Concepts

Ezekiel 39:21

Verse Concepts

Psalm 126:2

Verse Concepts

2 Kings 17:8

Verse Concepts

Psalm 135:15

Verse Concepts

the Heathen » Cautions against imitating

Matthew 6:7

And when you pray use not vain repetitions, as the gentiles do; for they think they shall be heard for their much speaking. Verse Concepts

Jeremiah 10:2

Verse Concepts

Motive » Right, required

Matthew 6:1-18

But take heed not to perform your righteousness before men, to be seen by them; otherwise indeed, you have no reward from your Father in heaven. When, therefore, you give in charity, sound not a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do, in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be glorified by men. I tell you truly, they have their reward. But when you give in charity let not your left hand know what your right hand does, read more.
that your charity may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret shall reward you. And when you pray, be not like the hypocrites; for they love to pray standing in the synagogues, and at the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. I tell you truly, they have their reward. But when you pray enter into your private room, and having shut your door pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret shall reward you. And when you pray use not vain repetitions, as the gentiles do; for they think they shall be heard for their much speaking. Be not, therefore, like them; for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. Pray, therefore, thus; Our Father in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come; thy will be done, as in heaven, so on earth; give us to-day our essential bread, and forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors; and bring us not into trial, but deliver us from evil. For if you forgive men their offenses, your heavenly Father will forgive you; but if you forgive not men, neither will your Father forgive your offenses. And when you fast, be not like the hypocrites, of a sad countenance; for they disfigure their faces that they may appear to men to fast. I tell you truly, they have their reward. But when you fast, anoint your head, and wash your face, that you may not appear to men to fast, but to your Father in secret; and your Father who sees in secret shall reward you.

Pharisees » Hypocrisy of, reproved » By jesus

Luke 12:1

AT that time, the multitude being assembled by ten thousands, so that they trod one on another, he said to his disciples, Beware, first, of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy; Verse Concepts

Matthew 6:16-18

And when you fast, be not like the hypocrites, of a sad countenance; for they disfigure their faces that they may appear to men to fast. I tell you truly, they have their reward. But when you fast, anoint your head, and wash your face, that you may not appear to men to fast, but to your Father in secret; and your Father who sees in secret shall reward you.

Matthew 21:33-46

Hear another parable: There was a man, a householder, who planted a vineyard, and made a hedge around it, and dug a wine vat in it, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went abroad. And when the time of the fruits approached he sent his servants to the husbandmen to receive his fruits. And the husbandmen took his servants, and beat one, and killed another, and stoned another. read more.
Again he sent other servants more than the first; and they treated them in the same manner. And afterwards he sent them his son, saying, They will reverence my son. But when the husbandmen saw the son, they said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him and take his inheritance. And they took him, and cast him out of the vineyard, and killed him. When, therefore, the lord of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those husbandmen? They said to him, He will inflict on those men a miserable death, and let out his vineyard to other husbandmen, who will render him the fruits in their seasons. Jesus said to them, Have you never read in the Scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same has become the head of a corner? this is from the Lord, and is wonderful in our eyes? I tell you, therefore, that the kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation yielding its fruits. (Added verse not retained in Sawyer) And the chief priests and Pharisees hearing his parables, knew that he spoke of them; and they sought to take him, but feared the people, because they regarded him as a prophet.

Matthew 6:2-8

When, therefore, you give in charity, sound not a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do, in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be glorified by men. I tell you truly, they have their reward. But when you give in charity let not your left hand know what your right hand does, that your charity may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret shall reward you. read more.
And when you pray, be not like the hypocrites; for they love to pray standing in the synagogues, and at the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. I tell you truly, they have their reward. But when you pray enter into your private room, and having shut your door pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret shall reward you. And when you pray use not vain repetitions, as the gentiles do; for they think they shall be heard for their much speaking. Be not, therefore, like them; for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

Matthew 15:1-9

THEN came the scribes and Pharisees from Jerusalem, saying, Why do your disciples transgress the tradition of the elders, for they wash not their hands when they eat bread? And he answered and said to them, Why do you transgress the command of God by your tradition? read more.
For God said, Honor your father and mother; and he that reviles father or mother, let him surely die. But you say, Whoever says to his father or mother what you might be profited with by me is a gift, then he shall not honor his father or his mother; and you have made the law of God of no effect by your tradition. Hypocrites, well did Isaiah prophecy of you, saying; This people honors me with the lips, but their heart is far from me. But in vain do they worship me, teaching teachings and commandments of men.

Matthew 16:1-12

AND the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to Jesus to try him desired him to show them a sign from heaven. But he answered and said to them, When it is evening you say, It will be fair weather for the sky is red; and in the morning, It will rain to-day for the sky is red and lowering. You know how to distinguish the face of the sky, but you cannot distinguish the signs of the times. read more.
An evil and adulterous generation seeks a sign; and no sign shall be given it except the sign of Jonah. And he left them and departed. And when his disciples came to the other side they forgot to take bread. And Jesus said to them, Observe and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees. But they reasoned within themselves, saying, It is because we have not taken bread. But Jesus knowing it, said, Why do you reason within yourselves, men of little faith, because you have not taken bread? Do you not yet understand nor remember the five loaves of the five thousand, and how many travelling-baskets you took up? nor the seven loaves of the four thousand, and how many store-baskets you took up? Why do you not understand that I spoke to you not of bread, to beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees? Then they understood that he did not tell them to beware of the leaven of bread, but of the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.

Matthew 23:2-33

saying, The scribes and Pharisees sit in Moses' seat. All things therefore which they tell you, do and keep. But do not their works. For they say and do not, but bind heavy burdens and put them on the shoulders of men, but will not move them with their finger. read more.
And they do all their works to be seen by men. For they make broad their prayer fillets, and enlarge the fringes, and love the first tables at feasts, and the first seats in the synagogues, and salutations in the markets, and to be called by men, Rabbi. But do not you be called Rabbi; For one is your teacher, and you are all brothers. And call no man your father on the earth, for one is your heavenly Father. Neither be called leaders, for one is your leader, the Christ. But the greatest of you shall be your servant, and whoever exalts himself shall be humbled, and he that humbles himself shall be exalted. But woe to you scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut up the kingdom of heaven before men; for you enter not into it, neither do you suffer those entering to go in. (Added verse not retained in Sawyer) Woe to you scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you compass the sea and the dry land to make one proselyte; and when he is gained you make him twice as much a child of hell as yourselves. Woe to you blind guides, who say, Whoever swears by the temple, it is nothing; but whoever swears by the gold of the temple, he is bound. Fools and blind! for which is greater, the gold, or the temple which sanctifies the gold? If a man swears by the altar, it is nothing; but if be swears by the gift which is on it, he is bound. Fools and blind! For which is greater, the gift, or the altar which sanctifies the gift? He then that swears by the altar, swears by it, and by all things on it; and he that swears by the temple, swears by it, and by him that inhabits it; and he that swears by heaven, swears by the throne of God, and by him that sits on it. Woe to you scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint, and anise, and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law, justice, mercy, and faith. These you ought to do, and not neglect the others. Blind guides! who strain out a gnat and swallow down a camel. Woe to you scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you cleanse the outside of the cup and platter, but within they are full of plunder and excess. Blind Pharisee! cleanse first that which is in the cup and platter, that its outside may be clean also. Woe to you scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which appear fair without, but within are full of the bones of the dead and of all impurity. So also you on the outside appear just to men, but within you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness. Woe to you scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you build the tombs of the prophets, and adorn the tombs of the righteous, and say, If we had been in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets. So that you testify to yourselves that you are children of those who killed the prophets; and you have filled up the measure of your fathers. Serpents, offspring of vipers! How can you escape the judgment of hell?

Luke 11:14-54

AND he cast out a demon, and it was dumb. And when the demon had gone out, the dumb spoke; and the multitudes wondered. But some of them said, He casts out demons by Beelzebul, the ruler of demons; and others, trying him, asked of him a sign from heaven. read more.
But he, knowing their thoughts, said to them, Every kingdom divided against itself is desolated, and house falls upon house. And if Satan is divided against himself, how shall his kingdom stand? because you say that I cast out demons by Beelzebul. But if I by Beelzebul cast out demons, by whom do your sons cast them out? they, therefore, shall be your judges. But if by a finger of God I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. When a strong man armed keeps his court, his goods are in peace; but when a stronger man than he comes upon him, and overcomes him, he takes away all his arms in which he trusted, and distributes his spoils. He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathers not with me scatters. When an impure spirit has gone out of a man, it passes through places destitute of water, seeking a rest; and not finding one, says, I will return to my house from which I came out. And coming, it finds it swept and adorned. Then it goes and takes seven other spirits more evil than itself; and they come and dwell there; and the last condition of that man is worse than the first. And when he was saying these things, a certain woman from the multitude lifted up her voice, and said to him, Blessed is the mother that bore you, and the breasts which you nursed! And he said, Yes indeed, blessed are those that hear the word of God and keep it. And multitudes being assembled, he said, This generation is an evil generation. It seeks for a sign, and no sign shall be given it but the sign of Jonah. For as Jonah was a sign to the Ninevites, so also shall the Son of man be to this generation. The queen of the south shall rise in the judgment with the men of this generation and condemn them; for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and behold, a greater than Solomon is here. The men of Nineveh shall arise in the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for they changed their minds at the preaching of Jonah, and behold, a greater than Jonah is here. No one lights a candle and puts it in a secret place, or under a modius [1.916 gallon measure], but on a candlestick, that all who go in may see the light. The light of the body is the eye; when, therefore, your eye is sound, your whole body is light; but when your eye is evil, your whole body is dark. See, therefore, that the light which is in you be not darkness. If, therefore, your whole body is light, not having any part dark, the whole will be light, as when a candle lights you clearly. And when he was speaking, a certain Pharisee asked him to breakfast with him; and he went in and immediately sat down. And the Pharisee seeing him, wondered that he was not first baptized before breakfast. And the Lord said to him, Now you Pharisees cleanse the outside of the cup and plate, but your inside is full of plunder and wickedness. Senseless men! did not he that made the outside make also the inside? But give the things within in charity, and behold, all things are pure to you. But woe to you, Pharisees! for you tithe mint, and rue, and every kind of plant, and omit justice and the love of God. These things you ought to do, and not to omit those. Woe to you, Pharisees! for you love the first seat in the synagogues, and salutations in the markets. Woe to you! for you are like concealed tombs; and men walk over them and know it not. And one of the lawyers answered and said to him, Teacher, in saying these things you reproach us also. And he said, Woe to you, lawyers! for you load men with burdens difficult to be borne, and you yourselves will not touch the burdens with one of your fingers. Woe to you! for you build the tombs of the prophets, and your fathers killed them; therefore you are witnesses, and approve the deed of your fathers; for they killed them, and you build. Therefore also the wisdom of God said, I will send them prophets and apostles, and some of them they shall kill and persecute, that the blood of all the prophets which has been poured out since the foundation of the world may be required of this generation, from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zachariah, who perished between the altar and the house. Yes, I tell you, it shall be required of this generation. Woe to you, lawyers! for you have taken away the key of knowledge; you do not enter in yourselves, and you forbid those entering. And when he had gone out thence the scribes and Pharisees were extremely angry, and questioned him on many subjects, watching him, to catch something from his mouth.

Luke 15:1-9

AND all the publicans and sinners came near him to hear him. And both the Pharisees and scribes complained, saying, This man receives sinners and eats with them. And he spoke to them this parable; saying, read more.
What man of you having a hundred sheep, and losing one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the lost sheep till he finds it. And finding it, he puts it on his shoulders rejoicing; and coming to the house, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying, Congratulate me; for I have found my sheep that was lost. So, I tell you, there shall be joy in heaven over one sinner that changes his mind, more than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need a change of mind. Or what woman having ten drachmas [140 cents], if she loses one drachma [14 cents], does not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek carefully till she finds it? And when she finds it, she calls her female friends and neighbors together, saying, Congratulate me, for I have found the drachma which I lost.

Prayer » Brevity in prayer examples of brief prayers » Brevity encouraged

Matthew 6:7

And when you pray use not vain repetitions, as the gentiles do; for they think they shall be heard for their much speaking. Verse Concepts

Matthew 23:14

(Added verse not retained in Sawyer) Verse Concepts

Ecclesiastes 5:2

Verse Concepts

Prayer » Profuse, to be avoided

Matthew 6:7

And when you pray use not vain repetitions, as the gentiles do; for they think they shall be heard for their much speaking. Verse Concepts

Ecclesiastes 5:2

Verse Concepts

Prayer » God the father knowing what you need before you ask

Matthew 6:5-8

And when you pray, be not like the hypocrites; for they love to pray standing in the synagogues, and at the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. I tell you truly, they have their reward. But when you pray enter into your private room, and having shut your door pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret shall reward you. And when you pray use not vain repetitions, as the gentiles do; for they think they shall be heard for their much speaking. read more.
Be not, therefore, like them; for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.