50 Bible Verses about Legalism

But Israel, which followed the law of righteousness, could not attain unto the law of righteousness. And wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith: but as it were, by the works of the law. For they have stumbled at the stumbling stone.

because that by the deeds of the law, shall no flesh be justified in the sight of God. For by the law cometh the knowledge of sin.

For as many as are under the deeds of the law, are under malediction. For it is written, "Cursed is every man that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to fulfil them." That no man is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident. For the just shall live by faith.

know that a man is not justified by the deeds of the law: but by the faith of Jesus Christ - and therefore we have believed on Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ and not by the deeds of the law: because that no flesh shall be justified by the deeds of the law.

Woe be unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven before men: ye yourselves go not in, neither suffer ye them that come to enter in.

because that by the deeds of the law, shall no flesh be justified in the sight of God. For by the law cometh the knowledge of sin. Now, verily, is the righteousness that cometh of God declared without the fulfilling of the law: having witness yet of the law, and of the prophets. The righteousness, no doubt, which is good before God cometh by the faith of Jesus Christ: unto all, and upon all them that believe.read more.
There is no difference: For all have sinned, and lack the praise that is of valour before God: but are justified freely by his grace, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus

Yea I think all things but loss for that excellent knowledge's sake of Christ Jesus my Lord. For whom I have counted all thing loss, and do judge them but dung, that I might win Christ, and might be found in him, not having mine own righteousness which is of the law: But that which springeth of the faith which is in Christ. I mean, the righteousness which cometh of God through faith

though I have whereof I might rejoice in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, much more I: circumcised the eighth day, of the kindred of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew born of the Hebrews; as concerning the law, a Pharisee, and as concerning ferventness I persecuted the congregation, and as touching the righteousness which is in the law, I was unrebukable.

and prevailed in the Jews' law, above many of my companions, which were of mine own nation, and was a much more fervent maintainer of the traditions of the elders.

Woe be to you scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, for ye which tithe mint, anise, and cumin, and leave the weightier matters of the law undone: judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to have left the other undone.

For I have pleasure in loving-kindness, and not in offering: Yea in the knowledge of God, more than in burnt sacrifice.

Hath the LORD a pleasure in many thousand rams, or innumerable streams of oil? Or shall I give my firstborn for mine offenses, and the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?" I will show thee, O man, what is good, and what the LORD requireth of thee: Namely, to do right, to have pleasure in loving-kindness, to be lowly, and to walk with thy God.

Woe be unto you, scribes and Pharisees, for ye devour widows' houses: and that, under a colour of praying long prayers, wherefore ye shall receive greater damnation.

And by chance, there came a certain priest that same way, and when he saw him, he passed by. And likewise a Levite, when he was come nigh to the place, went and looked on him, and passed by.

But the common people which know not the law are accursed."

The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, 'God, I thank thee that I am not as other men are; extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or as this publican. I fast twice in the week. I give tithe of all that I possess.'

Take heed to your alms, that ye give it not in the sight of men, to the intent that ye would be seen of them: or else ye get no reward of your father which is in heaven. Whensoever therefore thou givest thine alms, thou shalt not make a trumpet to be blown before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues, and in the streets, for to be praised of men. Verily I say unto you, they have their reward.

All their works they do, for to be seen of men. They set abroad their phylacteries, and make large borders on their garments, and love to sit uppermost at feasts, and to have the chief seats in the synagogues, and greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, 'Rabbi.'

and he said unto them, "Ye are they, which justify yourselves before men: but God knoweth your hearts. For that which is highly esteemed among men is abominable in the sight of God.

For they are ignorant of the righteousness which is allowed before God, and go about to establish their own righteousness: and therefore, are not obedient unto the righteousness which is of value before God.

Therefore thus sayeth the LORD, "Forsomuch as this people, when they be in trouble, do honor me with their mouth, and with their lips, whereas their heart nevertheless is far from me; and the fear which they owe unto me, that turn they to men's laws and doctrines;

He answered and said unto them, "Well prophesied hath Isaiah of you hypocrites as it is written, 'This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.'

In vain they worship me, teaching doctrines which are nothing but the commandments of men, for ye lay the commandment of God apart, and ye observe the traditions of men as the washing of cruses and of cups, and many other such like things ye do."

Woe be to you scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, for ye are like unto painted tombs which appear beautiful outwards: but are within full of dead men's bones and of all filthiness. So are ye, for outward ye appear righteous unto men, when within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.

And wherefore hast thou now not obeyed the voice of the LORD: But didst turn to the prey and hast wrought wickedness in the sight of the LORD?" And Saul said unto Samuel, "I have obeyed the voice of the LORD, and went the way which the LORD sent me; and have brought Agag the king of the Amalekites, and have utterly destroyed the Amalekites. And the people took of the spoil, sheep, oxen, and the chiefest of the things which should have been destroyed, to offer unto the LORD thy God in Gilgal."read more.
Then said Samuel, "Hath the LORD as great pleasure in burnt sacrifices and offerings, as he hath that thou shouldest obey his voice? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to give heed is better than the fat of rams.

He answered, and said unto them, "Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God, through your traditions? For God commanded, saying, 'Honour thy father and mother,' and, 'He that curseth father or mother, shall suffer death.' But ye say, 'Every man shall say to his father or mother: That which thou desirest of me to help thee with, is given God.'read more.
And so shall he not honour his father or his mother. And thus have ye made, that the commandment of God is without effect, through your traditions. Hypocrites; well prophesied of you Isaiah, saying, 'This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouths, and honoureth me with their lips, howbeit their hearts are far from me: But in vain they worship me, teaching doctrines which are nothing but men's precepts.'"

And he said unto them, "Well, ye cast aside the commandment of God, to maintain your own traditions. For Moses said, 'Honour thy father and thy mother,' and, 'Whosoever curseth father or mother, let him die for it.' But ye say, 'A man shall say to his father or mother, Corban; which is, that thou desirest of me, to help thee with, is given to God.'read more.
And so ye suffer him no more to do ought for his father or his mother, making the word of God of none effect through your own traditions which ye have ordained. And many such things ye do."

Woe be to you scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, for ye which make clean the outer side of the cup, and of the platter: but within they are full of bribery and excess. Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first, that the inside of the cup and the platter, that the outside of them may also be clean.

Did not Moses give you a law? And yet none of you keepeth the law? Why go ye about to kill me?"

Then said some of the Pharisees, "This man is not of God, because he keepeth not the Sabbath day." Others said, "How can a man that is a sinner do such miracles?" And there was strife among them.

Then Jesus said unto them, "Take heed, and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, and of the Sadducees."

And he charged them, saying, "Take heed, and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, and of the leaven of Herod."

Then understood they, how that he bade not them beware of the leaven of bread: but of the doctrine of the Pharisees, and of the Sadducees.

Ye observe the days, and months, and times, and years. I am in fear of you, lest I have bestowed on you labour in vain.

Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing at all. I testify again to every man which is circumcised that he is bound to keep the whole law. Ye are gone quite from Christ as many as are justified by the law, and are fallen from grace.

Now therefore, why tempt ye God, that ye would put a yoke on the disciples necks which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?

If thou, LORD wilt be extreme to mark what is done amiss, O LORD who may abide it?

Whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet fail in one point, he is guilty in all.

But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, as they do."

"Think not that I am come to destroy the law or the Prophets: No, I am not come to destroy them but to fulfill them.

But Christ hath delivered us from the curse of the law, and was made accursed for us - for it is written, "Cursed is everyone that hangeth on tree" -

Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law: have ye not heard of the law? For it is written that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a free woman. Yea, and he which was of the bondwoman, was born after the flesh: but he which was of the freewoman, was born by promise.read more.
Which things betoken mystery. For these women are two testaments, the one from the mount Sinai, which gendreth unto bondage, which is Hagar. - For mount Sinai is called Hagar in Arabia, and bordereth upon the city which is now Jerusalem - and is in bondage with her children. But Jerusalem, which is above, is free: which is the mother of us all. For it is written, "Rejoice thou barren, that bearest no children: break forth and cry, thou that travailest not. For the desolate hath many more children, than she which hath a husband." Brethren, we are, after the manner of Isaac, children of promise: But as then he that was born carnally, persecuted him that was born spiritually; Even so is it now. Nevertheless, what saith the scripture? "Put away the bondwoman and her son. For the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the free woman." So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman: but of the freewoman.

For by grace are ye made safe through faith, and that, not of yourselves: For it is the gift of God, and cometh not of works, lest any man should boast himself.

And the Pharisees said unto him, "Behold, why do they on the Sabbath day that which is not lawful?"

And certain of the Pharisees said unto them, "Why do ye that which is not lawful to be done on the Sabbath days?"

And the ruler of the synagogue answered with indignation, because that Jesus had healed on the Sabbath day, and said unto the people, "There are six days in the week, in which men ought to work, in them come and be healed, and not on the Sabbath day."

which hath made us able to minister the new testament, not of the letter, but of the spirit. For the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.

For I know, and am full certified in the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing common of itself: but unto him that judgeth it to be common, to him it is common.

And he said, "I am verily a man which am a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia: nevertheless yet brought up in this city, at the feet of Gamaliel, and informed diligently in the law of the fathers, and was fervent minded to Godward, as ye all are this same day,

Then answered one of the lawyers, and said unto him, "Master, thus saying, thou puttest us to rebuke also."