Formalism, in a religious context, refers to an excessive adherence to prescribed forms or rituals, often at the expense of genuine faith and spiritual vitality. The Bible addresses the issue of formalism in various passages, warning against the dangers of outward religiosity devoid of inner transformation and true devotion to God.

Isaiah 1:11-15 :
In this passage, God expresses His disdain for the empty rituals of the Israelites, who continue to offer sacrifices and observe festivals while neglecting justice and righteousness. The Lord declares, "What is your multitude of sacrifices to Me? says the LORD. I am full of the burnt offerings of rams and the fat of well-fed cattle; I have no delight in the blood of bulls and lambs and goats" (Isaiah 1:11). God emphasizes that He desires sincere worship and obedience rather than mere ritualistic observance.

Amos 5:21-24 :
The prophet Amos conveys God's rejection of Israel's religious ceremonies when they are not accompanied by justice and righteousness. The Lord states, "I hate, I despise your feasts! I cannot stand the stench of your solemn assemblies" (Amos 5:21). Instead, God calls for justice to "roll on like a river, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream" (Amos 5:24), highlighting the importance of ethical living over ritual compliance.

Matthew 15:7-9 :
Jesus criticizes the Pharisees and scribes for their hypocrisy, quoting Isaiah to illustrate their misplaced priorities: "These people honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me. They worship Me in vain; they teach as doctrine the precepts of men" (Matthew 15:8-9). This passage underscores the futility of worship that is not rooted in a sincere heart and true understanding of God's commandments.

Matthew 23:23-28 :
In His rebuke of the Pharisees, Jesus highlights their focus on minor ritual details while neglecting the weightier matters of the law, such as justice, mercy, and faithfulness. He declares, "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You pay tithes of mint, dill, and cumin, but you have disregarded the weightier matters of the law: justice, mercy, and faithfulness" (Matthew 23:23). Jesus calls for a balance between outward observance and inward purity, warning against the dangers of appearing righteous while being spiritually dead inside.

Colossians 2:20-23 :
The Apostle Paul warns the Colossian church against submitting to human regulations and ascetic practices that have the appearance of wisdom but lack true spiritual value. He writes, "Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility, and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence" (Colossians 2:23). Paul emphasizes that true spirituality is found in Christ, not in adherence to human traditions.

James 1:26-27 :
James contrasts worthless religion with pure and faultless religion, stating, "If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not bridle his tongue, he deceives his heart and his religion is worthless. Pure and undefiled religion before our God and Father is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world" (James 1:26-27). This passage highlights the importance of practical love and personal holiness over mere ritualistic practice.

These scriptures collectively emphasize that God desires a relationship with His people that is characterized by genuine faith, love, and obedience, rather than mere external conformity to religious forms.1 Samuel 15:22
And Samuel said, Has the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams.
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Psalm 50:9-15
I will take no bullock out of your house, nor he goats out of your folds.
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Psalm 51:16,17
For you desire not sacrifice; else would I give it: you delight not in burnt offering.
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Psalm 69:30,31
I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify him with thanksgiving.
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Ecclesiastes 5:1
Keep your foot when you go to the house of God, and be more ready to hear, than to give the sacrifice of fools: for they consider not that they do evil.
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Isaiah 1:11-15
To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices to me? said the LORD: I am full of the burnt offerings of rams, and the fat of fed beasts; and I delight not in the blood of bullocks, or of lambs, or of he goats.
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Isaiah 29:13-16
Why the Lord said, For as much as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honor me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men:
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Jeremiah 6:20
To what purpose comes there to me incense from Sheba, and the sweet cane from a far country? your burnt offerings are not acceptable, nor your sacrifices sweet to me.
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Jeremiah 14:12
When they fast, I will not hear their cry; and when they offer burnt offering and an oblation, I will not accept them: but I will consume them by the sword, and by the famine, and by the pestilence.
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Hosea 6:6
For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.
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Amos 5:21-23
I hate, I despise your feast days, and I will not smell in your solemn assemblies.
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Micah 6:6,7
With which shall I come before the LORD, and bow myself before the high God? shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves of a year old?
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Malachi 1:6,8,10,13,14
A son honors his father, and a servant his master: if then I be a father, where is my honor? and if I be a master, where is my fear? said the LORD of hosts to you, O priests, that despise my name. And you say, Wherein have we despised your name?
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Matthew 9:13
But go you and learn what that means, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
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Matthew 12:7
But if you had known what this means, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice, you would not have condemned the guiltless.
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Matthew 15:8,9
This people draws near to me with their mouth, and honors me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.
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Luke 13:24-27
Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say to you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.
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Romans 2:17-29
Behold, you are called a Jew, and rest in the law, and make your boast of God,
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1 Corinthians 7:19
Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the commandments of God.
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Philippians 3:4-7
Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinks that he has whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more:
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2 Timothy 3:1-5
This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
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General Index.
... Advent message, proclamation of, timely, 351-354. general proclamation of, 355-374. ...
formalism of, 378. ... see also Bible; Scriptures. Tyndale, work of, 245-247. ...
/.../white/the great controversy between christ and satan /general index.htm

The Historical Situation
... of prayers, and reading of the scriptures"both law ... In proportion as the rabbinic
formalism held control of the ... the people who owned the general leadership of ...
/.../rhees/the life of jesus of nazareth/i the historical situation.htm

The Conservative Reaction, and the Liberal victory --
... and in keeping with his more general vocation, carried ... as they do also the other
Scriptures, to their ... in the church itself the spirit of formalism and bigotry ...
/.../section 35 the conservative reaction.htm

The Influence of St. Augustin Upon Posterity, and his Relation to ...
... intellectual conflicts he was in general the champion of ... against the dominant
Pelagianism and formalism; none is ... next to the Holy Scriptures, the scholarship ...
/.../augustine/the confessions and letters of st/chapter v the influence of st.htm

Circumstances Related of Origen.
... to preach and expound the Scriptures publicly, although ... and gradually degenerated
into pure formalism, until it ... Porphyry and Neo-Platonism in general, see the ...
/.../pamphilius/church history/chapter xix circumstances related of origen.htm

The Doctrinal Position of the Anglican Church and Her Relation to ...
... as based on the episcopate and general councils, was ... of devout men like Wilberforce
against formalism, and did ... have no ground in the Scriptures, be carefully ...
/.../ 77 the doctrinal position.htm

The Society of Friends, or Quakers.
... but by the law of reaction formalism takes revenge ... orthodox Quakers more closely
to the Scriptures, and called ... to than accepted by them, has become general as a ...
/.../creeds of christendom with a history and critical notes/ 107 the society of.htm

Luther's Separation from Rome.
... was taking the place of the dead formalism in which ... elector saw that there was a
general breaking down ... labor in explaining the Holy Scriptures, and engraving ...
/.../7 luthers separation from rome.htm

Luther's Separation from Rome
... was taking the place of the dead formalism in which ... elector saw that there was a
general breaking down ... labor in explaining the Holy Scriptures, and engraving ...
/.../white/the great controversy/chapter 7 luthers separation from.htm

The Permanent Significance of the Old Testament
... readers to the Old Testament Scriptures for instruction ... the perplexities of life
in general, full of ... grapple with a cold, heartless formalism that threatened ...
/.../chapter vi the permanent significance.htm

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