Meaningless Worship

Romans 2:25-29

In Matthew 21:28-31, Jesus tells the story of a father asking his sons to work in his field. “But what think ye? A certain man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work to day in my vineyard. He answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented, and went. And he came to the second, and said likewise. And he answered and said, I go, sir: and went not. Whether of them twain did the will of his father? They say unto him, The first. Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you.”

The second son promised to work for his father, but never did so. His promise was meaningless. The one who had refused was the one who did the work. The Jews placed great emphasis on circumcision as a sign of a willingness to obey God. When they refused to obey, their circumcision became as meaningless as the second son’s promise. The reward received will be based on what was done, not on what was promised.

“For circumcision verily profiteth, if thou keep the law: but if thou be a breaker of the law, thy circumcision is made uncircumcision. Therefore if the uncircumcision keep the righteousness of the law, shall not his uncircumcision be counted for circumcision? And shall not uncircumcision which is by nature, if it fulfil the law, judge thee, who by the letter and circumcision dost transgress the law?” (Romans 2:25-27)

The first son’s decision to obey was worth far more to his father than the second son’s promise. In fact, his obedience highlights the second son’s lie. In the same way, those who have made no claim of godliness but do what is right highlight the sin of those who claim to be but do wrong. James says that partial obedience is still disobedience.

“For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law. So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty. For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath showed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment.” (James 2:10-13)

Jesus told the Scribes and Pharisee that they were breaking God’s law by following tradition. In doing so their worship was meaningless. They were not really worshipping him at all.

“But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition? For God commanded, saying, Honour thy father and mother: and, He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death. But ye say, Whosoever shall say to his father or his mother, It is a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; And honour not his father or his mother, he shall be free. Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition.

Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying, This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.” (Matthew 15:3-9)

In Matthew 23:4-5 Jesus stressed that their efforts, and even the standards they set, were all to impress people, not to live by. “For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers. But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments.” In Matthew 23:14 he says it was all a pretence. “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation.” They would receive greater punishment for pretending than those didn’t.

God is not impressed with a show. People who do not truly worship God are not in fact Jews, regardless of their following Jewish customs and traditions, or their Jewish descent. The heart attitude or spirit, rather than the actions or birth is the determining factor.

“For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.” (Romans 2:28-29)