34 Bible Verses about Religion
Most Relevant Verses
but without faith it is impossible to please; for he that comes to God, must believe that he is and that he is a rewarder of those that seek him.
And Paul standing in the midst of the Areopagus said, Men of Athens, I perceive that in all things you are extremely devoted to the worship of demons. For as I passed through, and observed your objects of worship, I found also an altar on which was inscribed, TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. What therefore you worship as unknown, this I declare to you.
For the Pharisees and all the Jews eat not unless they wash their hands with the fist, holding the tradition of the elders. And from a market, unless they baptize they eat not; and there are many other [customs] which they have received to hold; baptisms, of cups and sextuses [
And every priest stood daily performing service and presenting often the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins;
and she had been a widow eighty-four years, and departed not from the temple, serving God night and day with fastings and prayers.
And looking steadily at him and being afraid, he said, What is wanted, Lord? And he said to him, Your prayers and charities have come up as a memorial before God.
And behold one came and said to him, Teacher, what good [work] shall I do that I may have eternal life? And he said to him, Why do you ask me of the good? one is the good. But if you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments. He said to him, What? And Jesus said, this; You shall not kill; You shall not commit adultery; You shall not steal; You shall not testify falsely;read more.
Honor your father and mother; and you shall love your neighbor as yourself. The young man said to him, All these have I kept; what do I lack yet?
And as he was going on the way, one ran before and kneeled down to him, and asked him, Good teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? And Jesus said to him, Why do you call me good? none is good but one, God. You know the commandments; You shall not commit adultery, You shall not kill, You shall not steal, You shall not testify falsely, You shall not defraud, Honor your father and mother.read more.
And he answered and said to him, Teacher, all these have I kept from my youth.
And a certain ruler asked him, saying, Good teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? And Jesus said to him, Why do you call me good? There is none good but one, God. You know the commandments; You shall not commit adultery, You shall not kill, You shall not steal, You shall not testify falsely, Honor your father and your mother.read more.
And he said, All these have I kept from my youth.
Woe to you scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint, and anise, and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law, justice, mercy, and faith. These you ought to do, and not neglect the others.
But woe to you, Pharisees! for you tithe mint, and rue, and every kind of plant, and omit justice and the love of God. These things you ought to do, and not to omit those.
And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.
THEN they led him from Caiaphas to the Praetorium. And it was morning; and they entered not into the Praetorium, that they might not be defiled, but might eat the passover.
But if any one among you thinks he is religious, and bridles not his tongue, but deceives his mind, that man's religion is vain.
Pure religion and undefiled with the God and Father is this, to visit the orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep one's self unspotted from the world.
Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but keeping God's commandments.
And he said, Are you so entirely without understanding? Do you not understand that whatever goes into the mouth passes into the stomach, and is cast out on the earth? But the things which proceed from the mouth come from the heart, and these defile the man.read more.
For from the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false testimonies, blasphemies: these are the things which defile the man; but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile the man.
And he said to them, Are you also so without understanding? Do you not understand that nothing which enters into a man from without can defile him, because it enters not into his heart, but into the stomach, and goes out to the earth, purifying all aliments? But he said, that which comes out of the man, this defiles him;read more.
for from within, from the hearts of men, proceed evil thoughts, fornications, thefts, murders, adulteries, covetousness, malice, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness. All these evil things proceed from within, and defile the man.
and to love him with all the heart, and all the understanding, and all the strength, and to love one's neighbor as himself, is more than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.
And the Lord said to him, Now you Pharisees cleanse the outside of the cup and plate, but your inside is full of plunder and wickedness. Senseless men! did not he that made the outside make also the inside? But give the things within in charity, and behold, all things are pure to you.
For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God but not according to knowledge; for not knowing God's righteousness, and seeking to set up their righteousness, they have not submitted themselves to God's righteousness. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believes.
For the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit;
But if any widow has children or relatives, let them learn first to support their family and to make returns to their parents, for this is acceptable in the sight of God.
Jesus said to him, If you will be perfect, go and sell your property, and give to the poor, and you shall have a treasure in heaven; and come and follow me.
And Jesus looking at him, loved him, and said to him, One thing you lack; go and sell what you have, and give to the poor, and you shall have a treasure in heaven; and come and take up your cross and follow me.
And Jesus hearing it, said to him, One thing you yet want; sell all that you have, and distribute to the poor, and you shall have a treasure in heaven, and come, follow me.
for we are his creation, created in Christ Jesus for good works, in which God before appointed that we should walk.
What is the profit, my brothers, if a man says he has faith, but has not works? Can faith save him? And if a brother or sister is naked, or destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, Go in peace, be warmed and be filled, but gives them not the necessary supplies for the body, what is the profit?read more.
So also faith, if it has not works, is dead, being alone.
From Thematic Bible
Religion » TRUE
And Peter opening his mouth said, Of a truth I perceive that God is not a respecter of persons, but in every nation he that fears him and does righteousness is acceptable to him.
Pure religion and undefiled with the God and Father is this, to visit the orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep one's self unspotted from the world.
But you, beloved, build yourselves up in your most holy faith, pray with the Holy Spirit. Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life.
and for the same purpose also, giving all diligence add to your faith virtue, and to virtue knowledge, and to knowledge temperance, and to temperance patience, and to patience piety, and to piety brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. read more.
For if these are in you and abound, they will make you not inactive nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ; for a man that is without these is blind, not seeing to a distance, and has forgotten the purification from his former errors.
Teacher, what is the great commandment in the law? And he said to him, You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and all your soul, and all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. read more.
And the second is like it, You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.
Religion » Formalism » The insufficiency of
only in meats and drinks and different baptisms, and external ordinances, imposed till the time of reformation.
Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but keeping God's commandments.
Religion » Characteristics of » False profession
They profess to know God, but by works deny him, being abominable and disobedient, and as to every good work reprobate.
Not every one that says to me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven, but he that does the will of my Father in heaven.
Religion » Formalism » Warnings against
Woe to you scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint, and anise, and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law, justice, mercy, and faith. These you ought to do, and not neglect the others.
If therefore you died with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why do you practice ordinances as living in the world,??21 you shall not touch, you shall not taste, you shall not feel,??22 all which are to perish in the using??ccording to the commandments and instructions of men?
Religion » Hypocrisy, an ever present element in false religion » Examples of
Then the Lord answered him and said, Hypocrites, does not each of you on the sabbath untie his ox or his ass from the manger, and lead him away to drink?
But he said this, not that he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief, and had the treasure-chest, and carried off the things put in it.
for such serve not our anointed Lord, but themselves, And by kind and complimentary words deceive the minds of the simple.
Hypocrites! You know how to distinguish the appearance of the earth and sky, and how do you not distinguish this time?
Religion » Characteristics of » Legalism
And he said, I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city, instructed at the feet of Gamaliel in the accurate interpretation of the law of our fathers, and am a zealous worshipper of God as you all are to-day;
Him Paul wished to have go with him; and he took and circumcised him on account of the Jews who were in those places; for all knew that his father was a Greek.
and having heard, they glorified God, and said to him, You see, brother, how many ten thousands there are of those who have believed, among the Jews, and all are zealots of the law;
and was a proficient in Judaism beyond many of my age among my people, being more exceedingly zealous for the traditions of my fathers.
Religion » Examples of piety » Sincerity a mark of
that you may prove the excellent, that you may be without fault and without offense in the day of Christ,
Let us therefore keep the feast, not with old leaven, nor with a leaven of vice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.
For this is our rejoicing; the testimony of our conscience that in purity and godly sincerity, not with a carnal wisdom, but with a divine grace, we have conducted ourselves in the world, and most abundantly towards you.
For we are not as many, who adulterate the word of God, [for gain]; but as of sincerity, but as of God, we speak before God in Christ.
Religion » True religion » Scriptural definition of
and to love him with all the heart, and all the understanding, and all the strength, and to love one's neighbor as himself, is more than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.
Pure religion and undefiled with the God and Father is this, to visit the orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep one's self unspotted from the world.
Religion » Hypocrisy, an ever present element in false religion » General references to
AT that time, the multitude being assembled by ten thousands, so that they trod one on another, he said to his disciples, Beware, first, of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy;
They profess to know God, but by works deny him, being abominable and disobedient, and as to every good work reprobate.
So also you on the outside appear just to men, but within you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.
Religion » Characteristics of » Ceremonialism
but now knowing God, or rather being known by God, how do you turn again to the weak and imperfect rudiments, which you wish again to serve?
And from a market, unless they baptize they eat not; and there are many other [customs] which they have received to hold; baptisms, of cups and sextuses [
Now, therefore, why do you try God, to put on the necks of the disciples a yoke which neither our fathers nor we could bear?
STAND firm in the liberty with which Christ has made you free, and be not again subject to a yoke of servitude.
If therefore you died with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why do you practice ordinances as living in the world,??21 you shall not touch, you shall not taste, you shall not feel,??22 all which are to perish in the using??ccording to the commandments and instructions of men?
Religion » Natural
although indeed he left not himself without a witness, doing good, giving rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness.
For as I passed through, and observed your objects of worship, I found also an altar on which was inscribed, TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. What therefore you worship as unknown, this I declare to you. The God who made the world and all things in it, this [God] being Lord of heaven and earth dwells not in temples made with hands, neither is he served by the hands of men as needing any thing, since he gives to all life, and breath, and all things; read more.
and he made of one blood every nation of men to live on all the face of the earth, determining their appointed times and the bounds of their habitation, that they should seek God, if perhaps they might feel after and find him, and indeed he is not far from every one of us. For in him we live, and move, and are; as some also of your own poets have said, For we are his offspring.
Religion » Inconsistency in religious life general marks of » Preaching and not practising
But when I saw that they walked not correctly, according to the truth of the gospel, I said to Peter before all, If you being a Jew live after the manner of the gentiles, and not after the manner of the Jews, why do you compel the gentiles to practise Judaism?
you that teach another, do you not teach yourself? You that preach not to steal, do you steal?
Religion » Instances of outstanding religious persons » Abraham
Religion » National » Subverted by jeroboam
Religion » Inconsistency in religious life general marks of » Uncharitableness
And why do you see a speck in your brother's eye, and not consider a beam in your own eye?
All things therefore which they tell you, do and keep. But do not their works. For they say and do not,
Religion » National » Priests supported by the state
Religion » Inconsistency in religious life general marks of » The double tongue
He that says, I have known him, and keeps not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him;
Out of the same mouth proceeds a blessing and a curse. My brothers, these things ought not so to be.
Religion » Instances of outstanding religious persons » jacob
Religion » Instances of outstanding religious persons » hezekiah
Religion » Instances of outstanding religious persons » moses
Religion » Instances of outstanding religious persons » Jehoshaphat
Religion » Instances of outstanding religious persons » Abel
By faith Abel offered to God a greater sacrifice than Cain, through which he was declared to be righteous, God testifying to his gifts, and through the same, having died, he speaks still.
Religion » Examples of piety » hezekiah
Religion » Parental prayers » David, for solomon
Religion » National » Supported by taxes
Religion » Examples of piety » Jabez
Religion » Instances of outstanding religious persons » Solomon
Religion » Parental prayers » David, for the life of his child
Religion » Home religion general references to » Home, the best place to show piety
But if any widow has children or relatives, let them learn first to support their family and to make returns to their parents, for this is acceptable in the sight of God.
Religion » Inconsistency in religious life general marks of » Selfishness
And if a brother or sister is naked, or destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, Go in peace, be warmed and be filled, but gives them not the necessary supplies for the body, what is the profit?
Religion » Instances of outstanding religious persons » Zacharias
And the angel said to him, Fear not, Zachariah, for your prayer is heard, and your wife Elizabeth shall bear you a son; and you shall call his name John.
And Zachariah his father was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying, Blessed is the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has visited and redeemed his people, and raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of David his servant; read more.
as he said by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old; A salvation from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us, to perform his mercy with our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant, the oath which he swore to Abraham our father, to grant us without fear, being delivered from the hand of our enemies, to serve him in holiness and righteousness before him all our days. And you, little child, shall be called a prophet of the Most High; for you shall go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways, to give a knowledge of salvation to his people, with a forgiveness of sins, on account of the compassionate mercies of our God, by which a morning from on high has visited us, to illuminate those sitting in darkness and the shade of death, to direct our feet in the way of peace.
Religion » Instances of outstanding religious persons » Noah
Religion » Sanctimony, distinguishing marks of » Assumed innocence
Religion » Sanctimony, distinguishing marks of » Hypocrisy
Religion » Examples of piety » Timothy
having a remembrance of the unfeigned faith in you, which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois, and your mother Eunice, and I am persuaded that [it dwells] also in you.
Religion » Parental prayers » The father, for the demoniac
Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is a lunatic, and suffers greatly. For he often falls into the fire, and often into the water.
Religion » Parental prayers » Abraham, for ishmael
Religion » Devout mothers » Hannah
Religion » Devout mothers » Eunice
having a remembrance of the unfeigned faith in you, which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois, and your mother Eunice, and I am persuaded that [it dwells] also in you.
Religion » Instances of outstanding religious persons » Jehu
Religion » Home religion general references to » Joshua establishes religion in his home
Religion » Examples of piety » Enoch
Religion » Devout mothers » Sarah
Religion » National » Established by jeroboam
Religion » Examples of piety » Noah
Religion » Sanctimony, distinguishing marks of » An outward show of righteousness
Religion » Sanctimony, distinguishing marks of » Pharisaic separation
Religion » Sanctimony, distinguishing marks of » Religious display
And when you pray, be not like the hypocrites; for they love to pray standing in the synagogues, and at the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. I tell you truly, they have their reward.
Religion » Examples of piety » Daniel
Religion » FALSE
Religion » Home religion general references to » The philippian jailer and his family are baptized
And taking them that hour of the night, he washed them from their stripes, and was baptized, he and all his, immediately,
Religion » Home religion general references to » Mary sits at jesus' feet in her home
And she had a sister called Mary, and she sat at the feet of the Lord and heard his word.
Religion » Home religion general references to » Lydia and her household converted
And when she was baptized, and her house, she requested saying, If you have judged me faithful to the Lord, come into my house and stay; and she constrained us.
Religion » True religion » Examples of piety » Barnabas
for he was a good man and full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great multitude were added to the Lord.
Religion » Inconsistency in religious life general marks of » False profession
They profess to know God, but by works deny him, being abominable and disobedient, and as to every good work reprobate.
Religion » Inconsistency in religious life general marks of » Harsh judgment
Wherefore you are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are that judge, for in that in which you judge another you condemn yourself; for you who judge do the same things.
Religion » Instances of outstanding religious persons » Anna, the prophetess
And there was Anna, a prophetess, a daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher; she was far advanced in years, having lived with a husband seven years from her virginity; and she had been a widow eighty-four years, and departed not from the temple, serving God night and day with fastings and prayers.
Religion » Instances of outstanding religious persons » Josiah
Religion » Instances of outstanding religious persons » Simeon
And behold, there was a man at Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; and this man was just and pious, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him. And he was informed by the Holy Spirit that he should not see death till he had seen the Lord's anointed. And he came by the spirit into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do according to the custom of the law concerning him, read more.
he also took it in his arms, and blessed God, and said, Now, Master, dismiss thy servant according to thy word, in peace; for my eyes have seen thy salvation, which thou hast prepared before all people; a light for enlightening Gentiles, and a glory of thy people Israel. And his father and mother wondered at the words spoken of him. And Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary his mother, Behold, this child is set for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and for a sign spoken against, and a sword shall pierce your own soul also, that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.
Religion » Instances of outstanding religious persons » Jabez
Religion » Instances of outstanding religious persons » Asa
Religion » Examples of piety » Ananias
And a certain Ananias, a man [living] according to the law, approved by all the Jews living [there],
Religion » Home religion general references to » The entire family of the nobleman accept Christ
Then the father knew that it was in that hour in which Jesus said to him, Your son lives; and he believed, and all his house.
Religion » Home religion general references to » Andrew leads his brother to Christ
he first found his brother Simon, and said to him, We have found the Messiah; which is interpreted, Christ [Anointed].
Religion » True religion » Examples of piety » Cornelius
a pious man, and one fearing God with all his house, and bestowing many charities on the people, and praying to God always,
Religion » Inconsistency in religious life general marks of » Religious talk
Religion » Inconsistency in religious life general marks of » Legalism
If a man receives circumcision on the sabbath, that the law of Moses may not be broken, are you angry with me because I made a man entirely sound on the sabbath?
Religion » Instances of outstanding religious persons » The roman centurion
WHEN he had finished all his discourses in the hearing of the people, he entered into Capernaum. And a certain centurion's servant, who was dear to him, was sick, and about to die; and he hearing of Jesus, sent to him the elders of the Jews, asking him to come and cure his servant. read more.
And having come to Jesus they besought him earnestly, saying, He is worthy for whom you should do this; for he loves our nation, and has built us a synagogue. And Jesus went with them. And when he was now not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to him, saying, Lord, trouble not yourself, for I am not fit that you should come under my roof. Wherefore I did not think myself worthy to come to you; but say the word, and my servant shall be cured; for I also am a man placed under authority, having soldiers under me, and I say to one, Go, and he goes, and to another, Come, and he comes; and to my servant, Do this, and he does it. And Jesus hearing these things wondered at him, and turning around said to the multitude following him, I tell you I have not found in Israel so great a faith; and those sent returning to the house found the sick servant well.
Religion » Instances of outstanding religious persons » Daniel
Religion » Home religion general references to » Healing of » Witness for Christ
Return to your house, and declare how great things God has done for you. And he went away proclaiming in all the city what great things Jesus had done for him.
Religion » Examples of piety » Nathanael
Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and said of him, See an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile.
Religion » Examples of piety » Christ
and he having sent me is with me, he has not left me alone, for I always do the things which please him.
Religion » Examples of piety » Simeon
And behold, there was a man at Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; and this man was just and pious, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him.
Religion » Examples of piety » Anna
and she had been a widow eighty-four years, and departed not from the temple, serving God night and day with fastings and prayers.
Religion » Parental prayers » The syrophenician mother
and she was a Greek, a Syrophenician by race; and she asked him to cast the demon out of her daughter.
Religion » Devout mothers » Elizabeth
And when Elizabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit,
Religion » Devout mothers » Mary
And Mary said, My soul magnifies the Lord,
Religion » Instances of outstanding religious persons » Jethro
Religion » Home religion general references to » Job sanctifies his children
Religion » Instances of outstanding religious persons » Eunice and lois
having a remembrance of the unfeigned faith in you, which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois, and your mother Eunice, and I am persuaded that [it dwells] also in you.
Religion » Instances of outstanding religious persons » gideon
Religion » Examples of piety » Job
Religion » Parental prayers » Job, for his children
Religion » Instances of outstanding religious persons » Cornelius, another centurion
Religion » Instances of outstanding religious persons » samuel
Religion » Instances of outstanding religious persons » Joshua
Religion » Instances of outstanding religious persons » The three hebrews (shadrach, meshach, and abed-nego)
Topics on Religion
False Religion
Acts 17:29Being therefore an offspring of God, we ought not to think the Deity to be like gold or silver or stone, a work of art and human device.
False Religion To This Day
Matthew 28:15And they took the silver and did as they were told; and this report is circulated among the Jews to this day.
Nominal Religion
Matthew 23:27-28Woe to you scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which appear fair without, but within are full of the bones of the dead and of all impurity.
True Religion
James 1:27Pure religion and undefiled with the God and Father is this, to visit the orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep one's self unspotted from the world.
Useless Religion
James 1:26But if any one among you thinks he is religious, and bridles not his tongue, but deceives his mind, that man's religion is vain.