8 Bible Verses about Formality

And, as these were going, Jesus began to say to the multitudes concerning John, "What went ye out into the wilderness to behold? a reed shaken by the wind? But what went ye out to see? a man in soft raiment; Behold, those wearing soft raiment are in kings' houses. But why did ye go out? to see a prophet? Yea, I say to you, and much more than a prophet.

Then there come to Jesus, from Jerusalem, Pharisees and scribes, saying, "Why do Thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they do not wash their hands, when they eat bread!"

"Woe to you scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin; and have omitted the weightier things of the law??he judgment, and the mercy, and the faith; but these it was proper to have done, and those not to have omitted.

but, after having known God, or rather having been known by God, how are ye turning back again to the weak and beggarly elements, to which ye desire to be in bondage again? Ye are scrupulously observing days, and months, and seasons, and years! I am afraid of you, lest by any means I have toiled for you in vain.

If ye died with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as if living in the world, do ye subject yourselves to decrees,

But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come; for men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, without natural affection, implacable, slanderers, intemperate, fierce, no lovers of good,read more.
traitors, reckless, puffed up, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God; holding a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from these also turn away.

But, if you are called a Jew, and are resting upon the law, and are boasting in God, and understand His will, and approve the things that are excellent, being instructed out of the law, and have become confident that you are a guide of the blind, a light to those in darkness,read more.
an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, having in the law the form of knowledge and of the truth; you, therefore, who teach another, do you not teach yourself? You who preach that men should not steal, do you steal? You who say that one should not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? You who boast in law, do you dishonor God through your transgression of the law? For the name of God is blasphemed among the gentiles, because of you, as it has been written. For circumcision, indeed, profits, if you do the law; but, if you are transgressors of the law, your circumcision has become uncircumcision. If, therefore, the uncircumcision keep the ordinances of the law, shall not his uncircumcision he reckoned for circumcision? And shall not the uncircumcision that is by nature, if it fulfills the law, judge you, with the letter and circumcision, to be a transgressor of the law? For he is not a Jew, who is one outwardly; nor is that circumcision, which is outward in flesh; but he is a Jew, who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in spirit, not in letter, whose praise is not of men, but of God.

though I might have confidence even in flesh; if any other man supposes that he has occasion for confidence in flesh, I more: circumcised the eighth day, of the race of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; as to zeal, persecuting the assembly: as to the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.read more.
But what things were gain to me, these I accounted loss for Christ.