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Bible Basics
For Smart People
Who Do Not Want To Be Dummies
About God and the Bible
(Parts I, II, III)
By J. George Cover
Lesson 18 - What About Worship? (Text Version)
Unacceptable Worship (Cont'd.)
See Malachi 1:2-14. "Who is there even among you that would shut the doors for naught? neither do ye kindle fire on mine altar for naught. I have no pleasure in you, saith the Lord of hosts, neither will I accept an offering at your hand" (verse 10). The charges against them were:
- Offering the blind, lame and sick unto God.
- Profaning God's name, saying, "The table of the Lord is polluted; and the fruit thereof, even his meat is contemptible."
- Saying, "What a weariness is it!"
- Judah hath profaned the holiness of the Lord which he loved, and hath married the daughter of a strange god (idolatry).
- Dealing treacherously with the wife of their youth and "putting away" (Malachi 2:14-15).
- Saying that every one that does evil is good in the sight of the Lord, and he delights in them (2:17).
- Going away from God's ordinances and have not kept them.
- Robbing God of tithes and offerings (3:8-12).
New Testament Worship
During the time of Christ, the Jews gathered on the Sabbath days in the synagogues for the reading of the Scriptures. The temple sacrifices and worship were continued. People continued prayer and other religious observances, including the Feast Days commanded in the Old Testament.
Jesus, however, found fault with the leaders, especially, because they made the commandments of God of none effect by their own traditions and rules which they substituted for them. Much of what they did was to be seen of men and for the praise of men.
During the events surrounding the birth of Christ, real spiritual worship is recorded. See:
- Luke 1:41-55. The prophetic utterances of Elizabeth and Mary.
- Luke 1:64; 67-80. When Zecharias' mouth was opened after the birth and naming of John the Baptist.
- Luke 2:20. The shepherds returning after going to see the baby Jesus.
- Luke 2:25-35. Simeon, upon seeing Jesus when He was 8 days old.
- Luke 2:36-38. Anna, a prophetess, upon seeing Jesus when He was 8 days old.
- Matthew 21:10. The wise men from the East who came to see the baby Jesus.
Worshipping Jesus
See Matthew 8:2; 9:18; 14:33; 15:25; 18:26; 28:9; 28:17; Luke 24:52.
Worship in Heaven
Revelation 5:14; 7:11; 11:16; 19:4.
Spiritual Worship
In John 4 is recorded Jesus' conversation with the woman of Samaria. In the conversation, Jesus told her: "Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father. Ye worship ye know not what; we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews. But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth."
- The worship in the Upper Room at Pentecost was a great example of spiritual worship.
- Acts 2:46-47 tells of the worship of the early church.
- Acts 3:1. Peter and John went up together unto the temple at the hour of prayer.
- Acts 3:8-11 tells how a formerly lame man worshipped God.
- Acts 4:23-33 tells how Peter and John and their company worshipped after being released from prison.
- Acts 8:9-17 tells what happened in Samaria at a real preaching service.
- Acts 10:44-48 gives the account of what happened after the preaching at the Roman centurion's house.
- Acts 19:1-6 tells how some people worshipped at Ephesus.
- In 1 Corinthians 14, Paul gives some instructions about spiritual worship.
- Ephesians 5:18-20.
- 1 Thessalonians 5:16-26
"Please tell me more."
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