21 Bible Verses about Nominal Religion

Thou plantest them, they take root, they grow, and bring forth fruit. They boast much of thee, yet doest thou not punish them.

Venomous lips and a wicked heart are like a potsherd covered with silver dross.

For me they seek day by day; and will know my ways, as a people that doth righteousness, and hath not forsaken the equity of their God.

These come unto thee, after the manner of a great people: yea, my people sit down before thee, and hear thy words, but they do not thereafter: for in their mouths they show themselves, as though they were fervent, but their heart goeth after their own covetous lucre. And as a ballad that hath a sweet tune, and is pleasant to sing, so shalt thou be unto them: thy words shall they hear, but they will not do thereafter.

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.

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.'"

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,

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;

They confess that they know God: but with the deeds they deny him and are abominable, and disobedient, and unto all good works discommendable.

"Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns? Or figs of thistles? Even so, every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.read more.
A good tree cannot bring forth bad fruit: nor yet a bad tree can bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit shall be hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. "Not all they that say unto me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter in to the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth my father's will which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not in thy name prophesied? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name have done many miracles?' And then will I knowledge unto them, that I never knew them: 'Depart from me, ye workers of iniquity.'

As I besought thee to abide still in Ephesus when I departed into Macedonia; even so, do: that thou command some that they teach no other wise, neither give heed to fables and genealogies, which are endless, and breed doubts, more than Godly edifying which is by faith: For the end of the commandment is love that cometh of a pure heart and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned:read more.
from the which things, some have erred, and have turned unto vain jangling, because they would be doctors of the scripture, and yet understand not what they speak, neither whereof they affirm.

He that saith, "I know him," and yet keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the verity is not in him.

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.

Why offer ye so many sacrifices unto me, sayeth the LORD? I am full of the burnt offerings of weathers, and with the fatness of fed beasts. I have no pleasure in the blood of bullocks, lambs, and goats. When ye appear before me, who requireth this of you to tread within my porches? Offer me no more oblations, for it is but lost labour. I abhor your incense. I may not away with your new moons, your Sabbaths and solemn days. Your fastings are also in vain.read more.
I hate your new holidays and fastings, even from my very heart. I cannot away with such vanity and holding in of the people. They lay upon me as a burden, and I am weary of bearing them! When ye hold out your hands, I will turn my eyes from you. And though ye make many prayers, yet will I hear nothing at all; for your hands are full of blood.

"'I hate and abhor your holidays, and whereas ye cense me when ye come together I will not accept it. And though ye offer me burnt offerings and meat offerings, yet have I no pleasure therein. As for your fat thank offerings, I will not look upon them. Away with that noise of thy songs, I will not hear thy plays of music:read more.
but see that equity flow as the water, and righteousness as a mighty stream.

Go and learn, what that meaneth: 'I have pleasure in mercy, and not in offering.' For I am not come to call the righteous, but the sinners to repentance."

Wherefore if ye had wist, what this saying meaneth, 'I require mercy and not sacrifice,' ye would never have condemned innocents.

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

The LORD abhorreth the sacrifice of the ungodly; but the prayer of the righteous is acceptable to him.

For whoso slayeth an ox for me, doth me so great dishonour, as he that killeth a man. He that killeth a sheep for me, choketh a dog. He that bringeth me meat offerings, offereth swine's blood. Who so maketh me a memorial of incense, praiseth the thing that is unright. Yet take they such ways in hand, and their soul delighteth in these abominations. Therefore will I also have pleasure in laughing them to scorn, and the thing that they fear, will I bring upon them. For when I called, no man gave answer; when I spake, they would not hear: But did wickedness before mine eyes, and chose the things that displease me.

This understand, that in the last days shall come perilous times: For the men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, cursed speakers, disobedient to father and mother, unthankful, unholy, unkind, trucebreakers, stubborn, false accusers, rioters, fierce, despisers of them which are good,read more.
traitors, heady, high minded, greedy upon voluptuousness more than the lovers of God, having a similitude of godly living, but have denied the power thereof. Such abhor.