Dead religion Luke 11:37 woes of dead religion

YOUR RELIGION IS DEAD IF:
1. Outward appearance is more important than inner purity (37-41) 
God says: These people say, “Stand by yourself, do not come near to me; for I AM HOLIER 
THAN YOU.” These people are a smoke in my nose, a fire that burns all day.” Isaiah 65:5 NKJV
“The Lord does not look on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.” I Samuel 
16:7
2. Ritual acts are more important than a personal relationship with God (42) 
“He has shown you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly 
and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” Micah 6:8
3. Being seen by others is more important than serving God (43-44) 
“Be careful not to do your acts of righteousness before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you 
will have no reward from your Father in heaven. So when you give to the needy, do not announce 
it with trumpets as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men. 
I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full.” Matthew 6:1-2
4. Rigid rules are more important than love that liberates (45-46) 
The Lord says, “These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but 
their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is made up of rules taught by men.” Isaiah 29:13
5. Reliving the past is more important than recognizing God’s present activity 
(47-51) 
“See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends 
on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ. For in Christ all the 
fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and you have been given fullness in Christ.” Colossians 
2:8-10
6. Preserving a religion is more important than experiencing life (51-54) 
THE KEY TO KNOWLEDGE IS: All the Bible is about Jesus 
“And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he (Jesus) explained to them what was said in 
all the Scriptures concerning himself.” Luke 24:27
“You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life. 
These are the Scriptures that testify about me, yet you refuse to come to me to have life.” John 
5:39-40

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