WORSHIPPING IN VAIN

While Jesus had compassion for the Samaritan woman and encouraged her to worship “in spirit and truth” (John 4:24), He chastised the “Pharisees and scribes” (Matthew 15:1).

Quoting the Old Testament prophet (Isaiah 29:13), Jesus said: “This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. They worship me in vain, teaching as doctrines human commands” (Matthew 15:8–9).

The Samaritan woman, known to most of us as the “Woman at the Well,” was a despised half-breed, guilty of the vilest sins. On the other hand, the “Pharisees and scribes” were orthodox, esteemed for keeping the law to the letter… every “jot and tittle” (Matthew 5:18). Outwardly they were as pure as the driven snow, but inwardly they were as black as coal. “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which appear beautiful on the outside, but inside are full of the bones of the dead and every kind of impurity” (Matthew 23:27).

I’ll not accuse anyone of being pharisaical, but allow me to encourage some introspection. How’s your heart? Where is your inner-most motivation for worship? Are we guilty of just checking the boxes? Present. Bible in hand. A few dollars in an offering envelope. Standing and singing. Smiling.

How’s your heart? Do we worship “in vain?”

“… think on these things” (Philippians 4:8, KJV).