34 Bible Verses about Religion

then Peter thus began, now I plainly perceive that God is no respecter of persons: but in every nation, he that feareth him, and acts justly, is acceptable to him.

pure and unadulterated religion, in the eye of God our father, consists in taking care of orphans and widows in their distress: and in keeping clear of the vices of the age.

but you, my brethren, improve yourselves in your most holy faith, present your addresses by the holy spirit, and thereby cultivate the divine favour, in the expectation of eternal life by the mercy of Jesus Christ our Lord.

Do you on your part employ all your care in adding to your faith, fortitude: to fortitude, knowledge: to knowledge, temperance: to temperance, patience: to patience, piety: to piety, fraternal affection: and to fraternal affection, universal benevolence. read more.
for if you are possess'd of these virtues and improve therein, they will prevent the knowledge you have of our Lord Jesus Christ from being useless to others, and unprofitable to yourselves. but he that is destitute of them is blind or short-sighted, having forgot he was purified from his past sins.

which is the most important commandment of the law? Jesus said to him, "thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind." this is the first and most important precept, read more.
and the second has an affinity with it, "thou shalt love thy neighbour as thy self." these two precepts comprehend the substance of all the law and the prophets.

only in matters relating to meats and drinks, and divers baptisms, meer external rites which were to subsist only till the time of reformation.

circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, in comparison of obeying the divine commands.

they make a profession of knowing God; but in fact they deny him, being execrably incredulous, and utter strangers to all virtue.

Not every one that says to me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven: but only they who do the will of my Father who is in heaven.

Why do you call me Lord, Lord, and do not observe what I say?

of which they wear the appearance, but disclaim its influence. have no intercourse with such.

wo unto you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, who pay tithe of mint, anise, and cummin, but neglect those more important matters of the law, justice, mercy, and fidelity: these were the things ye ought to have practis'd, without neglecting however the other matters.

If then you are dead with Christ, in respect of those shadows of the Jewish state; why do ye, as if you were still in that state, submit to those ordinances?

to which Jesus replied, thou hypocrite, who is there among you that scruples to untie his ox or his ass, and lead him from the stall to water on the sabbath-day?

this he said, not out of any concern for the poor; but because being purse-bearer he used to pilfer what was in bank.

for such as these serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own selfishness; and by flourish and flattery, deceive the open-hearted simple.

but Jesus perceiving their malice, said, why, hypocrites, would you insnare me?

Hypocrites, you can judge of the phoenomena of the earth, and of the sky, but why can't you discern the present times?

then he said, I am a Jew, a native of Tarsus in Cilicia, but had my education in this city: at the feet of Gamaliel I was instructed in the law, and in the exact decisions of our fathers, and was as religiously zealous as you are at this time.

so he took him and had him circumcised, out of regard to the Jews of that country, who all knew his father was a Greek.

upon hearing this, they gave glory to God: and thus address'd Paul, you see, brother, how many thousand believing Jews there are, all however zealous for the law.

upon which some of the Pharisees said to them, why do you do what is not allowed to be done on the sabbath-day?

and that I made a greater proficiency in Judaism than many my contemporaries of my own nation, being an extraordinary zealot for the traditions of my forefathers.

that being capable to distinguish what is best, you may remain stedfastly sincere until the day of Christ,

therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with unaffected sincerity and truth.

for this is to me matter of glorying, the testimony of my conscience, that without artifice, and with religious sincerity, not by worldly wisdom, but by God's favourable assistance I have behaved my self towards all men, but more particularly to you.

for we are not like others, who adulterate the word of God; but we preach the pure gospel of Christ, as I receiv'd it from God, and as in the presence of God.

and to love him with all the heart, with all the understanding, with all the soul, with all its faculties, and to love one's neighbour as one's self is more acceptable than all the offerings and sacrifices in the world.

pure and unadulterated religion, in the eye of God our father, consists in taking care of orphans and widows in their distress: and in keeping clear of the vices of the age.

In the mean time thousands of people being gather'd about him, so as to trample upon one another, he first address'd himself thus to his disciples, beware of the corrupt doctrine of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.

they make a profession of knowing God; but in fact they deny him, being execrably incredulous, and utter strangers to all virtue.

broach'd by hypocrititical impostors, whose consciences are cauteriz'd,

just so ye put on an air of probity in the sight of men, but within are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.

or rather that you are favoured by him, how can ye turn again to the weak and beggarly elements of the law, to which you desire again to be in bondage?

nay, when they have been at any publick place, they never eat till they have washed. they observe besides several traditions, such as the washing of cups, pots, brass vessels, and beds.

why therefore do you tempt God to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither we nor our forefathers were able to bear?

Stand fast therefore, and be not hampered again with the yoke of bondage.

If then you are dead with Christ, in respect of those shadows of the Jewish state; why do ye, as if you were still in that state, submit to those ordinances?

nevertheless he sufficiently display'd himself by his beneficence to mankind, in giving us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, replenishing our hearts with food and gladness."

for considering, as I pass'd along, the deitys, which you adore, I met with an altar that had this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. now that GOD whom you worship without knowing him, is the same that I denounce to you. the GOD who made the world and every thing therein, and is the Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples erected by men: he receives no service from their officiousness: he is self-sufficient: it is he that gives to all their life and breath and every thing they have. read more.
he he has deduced all mankind from one parent, to inhabit the surface of the whole earth, having pre-establish'd the appointed periods, and the boundarys of their dominions: by which they might enquire, and by due reflection investigate the supreme being, although he be not far from every one of us: for in him we live, are moved, and do exist: even as some of your own poets have said, WE ARE EVEN HIS OFFSPRING.

but when I saw, they conformed not their conduct to the truth of the gospel, I said to Peter before them all: if you being a Jew, live after the manner of the Gentiles, and not according to that of the Jews, why do you constrain the Gentiles to judaize?

you therefore who instruct others don't you instruct yourself?

why do you observe the mote that is in your brother's eye, and not consider the beam that is in your own eye?

therefore whatever moral precepts they bid you observe, those observe and practise; but don't follow their example: for they preach one thing, and practise another.

he that says, he knows him, and does not keep his commandments, is a lyar, and an enemy to the truth:

from the same mouth shall blessing and cursing proceed? this ought not to be practis'd, my brethren;

'Twas by faith that Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he was declared righteous, God himself having testified that he accepted his offering, and after he died for his faith, he was not silent.

if a widow has children or grand-children, let them above all things instruct their own family to be religious, and let them be grateful to their parents, for this is acceptable to God.

suppose one of your brethren should be destitute of cloths, and of his daily nourishment, and one of you should thus address him; "go and prosper, I wish you a warm fire, and a full meal:" without relieving his wants, would he be the better for your wish?

but the angel said to Zacharias, don't be afraid, Zacharias, for your prayer is heard: and your wife Elizabeth shall bear you a son, whom you shall name John:

Then Zacharias his father, inspired by the holy spirit, vented his divine enthusiasm in these words. "blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, for he hath regarded and wrought a deliverance for his people: he hath rais'd up a powerful saviour for us, in the family of his servant David, read more.
according to the antient promise he made by the mouth of the holy prophets, to deliver us from our enemies, and from the power of all that hate us: to show regard to our forefathers, in performing his holy covenant, the oath which he made to our father Abraham, to grant us this favour, that we should be delivered from the power of our enemies, and serve him with security, in the sincere practice of holiness and justice, all our days. and you, dear babe, you shall be the prophet of the most high: for you shall go before the Lord, in order to prepare his way, by acquainting his people how they may be saved by the remission of their sins, through the tender mercy of our God, by which the rising sun has visited us from on high, to enlighten those, who are in darkness, and in the shadow of death, and to direct our steps into the ways of peace."

wo unto you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, who shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye not only refuse to go in your selves, but hinder those that would.

especially when I reflect upon the sincerity of your faith, and the attachment your grand-mother Lois first show'd, and then your mother Eunice, examples which I am persuaded you will follow.

Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is grievously afflicted with the epilepsy; he often falls into the fire, and frequently into the water.

especially when I reflect upon the sincerity of your faith, and the attachment your grand-mother Lois first show'd, and then your mother Eunice, examples which I am persuaded you will follow.

And when you pray, be not as the hypocrites are: for they chuse to stand praying in publick places, and at the corners of the streets, to be observ'd by men. I assure you, they have their reward.

at the same time of night he washed their stripes, and immediately he was baptized, he, and all that belong'd to him.

now she had a sister, named Mary, who placed herself at the feet of Jesus, to attend to his discourse.

so that having been baptized with her family, she made us this request, if you think me sincere in my profession, pray come and lodge at my house; and she prevail'd upon us.

for he was a good man, and full of the holy spirit and of faith: so that many converts were added to the church.

they make a profession of knowing God; but in fact they deny him, being execrably incredulous, and utter strangers to all virtue.

Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art, that condemnest another, for by condemning them, you condemn yourself; since you that condemn them, do the same things.

There was likewise one Anna a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser; she was of a great age, and had liv'd in a married state but seven years ever since she was a virgin: being then a widow of about fourscore and four years old: she was assiduously in the temple, night and day religiously employ'd in fastings and prayers:

At that time there dwelt at Jerusalem one Simeon, an honest, religious man, one who expected the appearance of the Messiah, and was endued with the spirit of prophecy. to him it was revealed by the holy spirit, that he should not die till he had seen the Messiah of the Lord. by the divine direction he came into the temple, just as the parents of Jesus were bringing in the child to perform what the law required in his behalf. read more.
then he took him up in his arms, and returned thanks to God in these words, "now, Lord, thou wilt grant thy servant a happy death, according to thy promise. for mine eyes have beheld the saviour, whom thou hast provided for all mankind, a light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel." Joseph and the mother of Jesus were surprized to hear such things pronounc'd concerning him. then Simeon gave them his benediction, and said to Mary his mother, "the child you now see, shall occasion many in Israel to fall and rise again; he will be the Object of calumny, which like a dart will pierce even thro' your own soul, that thereby the sincerity of many may be revealed."

there one Ananias a religious observer of the law, who had the good word of all the Jews in that place, came to see me,

so the father knew that it was at the very same hour, at which Jesus said to him, thy son is well. and he himself believed, and all his family.

the first he met was his own brother Simon, to whom he said, "we have found the Messias," that is to say, the Christ.

and was a proselyte, together with all his family: he gave much alms to the people, and was assiduous in his prayers to God.

Why do you call me Lord, Lord, and do not observe what I say?

if to avoid the violation of the Mosaic law, a man be exposed to circumcision on the sabbath-day, are ye angry at me, because I cured a man, whose whole body was indisposed on the sabbath-day?

When he had finished this discourse to the populous audience, he entred into Capernaum, where a certain centurion had a servant whom he greatly valued, lying sick and ready to die. this centurion having heard of Jesus's fame, sent several elders of the Jews to intreat him to come, and recover his servant. read more.
accordingly they came to Jesus and earnestly pressed him, saying, he very well deserves you should do him this favour; for he loves our nation, and hath built us a synagogue at his own charge. then Jesus went with him, and when he was advanced near the house, the centurion sent some of his friends to him, saying, "Lord, don't give yourself the trouble of coming, I don't deserve you should honour my house with your presence. nor did I think myself worthy to attend you: speak but the word, and my servant shall be cured. for though I am subject to authority, I have soldiers under me: I bid one go, and he goes: I bid another come, and he comes: I bid my servant do this, and he does it." when Jesus heard this, he admired the man, and turning about, he said to the people, that followed him, I assure you, I have not met with such an instance of faith even among the Jews themselves. and they that were sent, being return'd to the house, they found the servant, who had been sick, in good health.

saying, go home, and relate, what great things God hath done for you. whereupon he departed, and published through all the city, what a wonderful deliverance Jesus had wrought for him.

Jesus seeing Nathanael coming, said of him, there's a true Israelite, in whom is no guile. how do you know me?

he that sent me, is with me: the father hath not left me alone, for I always do what is agreeable to him.

At that time there dwelt at Jerusalem one Simeon, an honest, religious man, one who expected the appearance of the Messiah, and was endued with the spirit of prophecy.

being then a widow of about fourscore and four years old: she was assiduously in the temple, night and day religiously employ'd in fastings and prayers:

entreated him to force the demon out of her daughter; now the woman was a Greek, a Syrophenician by nation.

no sooner had Elizabeth heard the salutation of Mary, but the babe leap'd within her:

Then Mary said, "my soul doth magnify the Lord,

especially when I reflect upon the sincerity of your faith, and the attachment your grand-mother Lois first show'd, and then your mother Eunice, examples which I am persuaded you will follow.