8 Bible Verses about Formality

Jesus said to the multitudes concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? But what went ye out to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? Behold they that wear soft clothing, are in king's houses. But what went ye out to see? A prophet? Yea, I say to you, and more than a prophet.

Then came to Jesus scribes and Pharisees who were of Jerusalem, saying, Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders?

Wo to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites; for ye pay tithe of mint, and anise, and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to have neglected the others.

But now having known God, or rather being known of God, how turn ye back to the weak and beggarly elements, to which ye desire to be in bondage again? Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years. I am afraid for you, lest I have laboured upon you in vain. Brethren, I beseech you, be ye as I am; for I also am as ye were: ye have not injured me at all.

Therefore if ye are dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as living in the world, receive ye ordinances,

But know this, that in the last days grievous times will come. For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, arrogant, proud, evil-speakers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, Without natural affection, covenant-breakers, slanderers, intemperate, fierce, despisers of good men,read more.
Traitors, rash, puffed up, lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness but denying the power of it.

Behold, thou art called a Jew, and restest in the law, and gloriest in God, And knowest his will, and discernest the things that differ, being instructed out of the law: And art confident, that thyself art a guide of the blind, a light of them that are in darkness, An instructer of the ignorant,read more.
a teacher of babes, having the form of knowledge and truth in the law. Thou therefore that teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? Thou that proclaimest, a man should not steal, dost thou steal? Thou that sayst, a man should not commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery? Thou that abhorrest idols, dost thou commit sacrilege? Thou that gloriest in the law, dost thou by transgressing the law dishonour God? For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you, as it is written. Circumcision indeed profiteth, if thou keepest the law; but if thou art a transgressor of the law, thy circumcision is become uncircumcision. Therefore if the uncircumcision keep the righteousness of the law, shall not his uncircumcision be counted for circumcision? Yea, the uncircumcision that is by nature, fulfilling the law, shall judge thee, who by the letter and circumcision transgressest the law. For he is not a Jew, who is one in outward shew, neither is that circumcision which is apparent 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 have confidence: if any man think that he may have confidence in the flesh, I more: Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews, touching the law, a Pharisee; Touching zeal, persecuting the church, touching the righteousness, which is by the law, blameless.read more.
But whatsoever things were gain to me, those I have accounted loss for Christ.