7 Bible Verses about Formality

And they departing, Jesus began to speak to the multitudes concerning John, What went you out in the wilderness to see? a reed shaken by the wind? But what went you out to see? a man clothed in soft raiment? Behold those wearing soft raiment are in the houses of the kings. But what went you out to see? a prophet? Yea, I say unto you, and more than a prophet:

Then the scribes and Pharisees, who are from Jerusalem, come to Jesus, saying, Wherefore do thy disciples transgress the traditions of the elders? for they do not wash their hands when they eat bread.

Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because you tithe mint and anise and cummin, and pass by the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: it behooves to do these and not to neglect those.

If along with Christ you are dead from the elements of the world, why are you dogmatized as living in the world,

But know this, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men will be lovers of themselves, moneylovers, arrogant, proud, blasphemous, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, without natural affections, covenant breakers, devilish, intemperate, furious, opposed to good,read more.
traitors, headstrong, puffed up, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God; having a form of godliness, but denying the power of the same: and from these turn away.

But if you are denominated a Jew, and rest in the law, and boast in God, and know his will, and approve the things which are excellent, being taught by the law; and persuade yourself that you are a guide of the blind, a light of those who are in darkness, an instructor of the ignorant,read more.
a teacher of the juveniles, having a form of knowledge and truth in the law; therefore do not you who teach another teach yourself? do you, who preach not to steal, steal? do you, who say not to commit adultery, commit adultery? do you, who abominate idolatry, rob temples? do you, who boast in the law, through the transgression of the law dishonor God? For the name of God is blasphemed by you among the Gentiles, as has been written. For circumcision indeed profits, if you do the law: but if you be a transgressor of the law, your circumcision has become uncircumcision. Then if uncircumcision may keep the righteousness of the law, will not his uncircumcision be counted for circumcision? and that which is uncircumcision by nature, perfecting the law, will judge you, who through the letter and circumcision are a transgressor of the law. For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly; neither is circumcision that which is outwardly 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 of men, but of God.

even though also having confidence in the flesh. If any other one seems to have confidence in the flesh, I the more: in circumcision the eighth day, of the race of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee; in reference to zeal, persecuting the church, according to righteousness which was in the law being blameless.read more.
Those things which were gained to me, these I counted loss for the sake of Christ.