“…in vain do they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.”
(Matthew 15:9)
When comparing this verse in Matthew with John 4:24: “God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth,” it is clear there are two modes of worship in God’s eyes – vain, or unacceptable, and true worship. As believers, we do well to understand the difference and then search our heart and life to ensure that we worship God rightly.
As God is the only being worthy of worship, it is His prerogative to prescribe what is acceptable and what is not. So whatever we think may be useful in worship must be examined against what Scripture says. “Whatever thing I command you,” says the Lord, “observe to do it; you shall not add to it, nor diminish from it,” (Deut. 12:32).
One such command concerns the fact that God is a spiritual, invisible, and incomprehensible being that cannot be represented by any material likeness or figure. “To whom will you liken me, or shall I be equal? the Holy One says,” (Isa. 11:25). “We ought not to think that the Godhead is like gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man’s device,” (Acts 17:29).
Let’s observe a bit further what God has to say about vain worship. According to Matthew 15:9, vain worship is worship that is based on man-made doctrine and a wrong view of God. Stated another way, vain worship is man-centered and self-serving. Vain worship would include embracing God as loving, kind and merciful without accepting that He is also just, righteous, holy, wrathful and vengeful. Worship of such a god of our own making – a god that is inconsistent with what Scripture teaches – is nothing more than idol worship.
True worship, in contrast (according to John 4:24) is based in Scripture. It flows from a right understanding of who God is and who we are in light of who He is. True worship honors God’s “worth” and “worthiness.” (Rev. 4:11). It is a reverence for God’s infinite value and beauty… desiring, treasuring, and adoring God above every other living being and inanimate thing.
The 1647 Westminster Confession of Faith rightly says in chapter 21:1,
“The light of nature shows that there is a God, who has lordship and sovereignty over all; is good, and does good to all; and is therefore to be feared, loved, praised, called upon, trusted in, and served with all the heart, and with all the soul, and with all the might. But the acceptable way of worshiping the true God is instituted by Himself, and so limited by His own revealed will, that He may not be worshiped according to the imaginations and devices of men, or the suggestions of Satan, under any visible representation or any other way not prescribed in the Holy Scripture.”
How do we worship God in truth? True worship begins with an authentic relationship with God at the moment one is born again by the Spirit. It continues as we grow in our love and knowledge of Him as revealed in His Word. It then becomes evident in life when it overflows in outward praise to God and service to others.
Scripture further specifies both aspects of true worship in Hebrews 13:15-16: “Through Him, then,” (through Christ) “let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge His name. Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.” Again, in Romans 12:1, Paul states: “I appeal to you, therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable, which is your spiritual service of worship.”
When Jesus said, “This people honors Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me; in vain do they worship Me,” He makes it clear that you can sing and pray and praise. You can do good deeds and attend church. But if you have no real relationship with God and no adoration in your heart for Him, it is all worthless.
Do you worship God in vain… or in truth?
- Lord, I’ve not thought about my manner of worship very much, simply going with the flow of what I’ve always done. I should be thinking more about what honors You, rather than simply what feels good to me. Help me observe a real obedience in worship, that my faith and love to You remain preserved by Your Word. And show me where my outward worship may not be aligned with what You want. Help me to see with clarity what true worship is.
- Lord, my desire is to worship You in the way that You have prescribed in Your Word. Make me aware of any area of my worship of You – whether public or private – where I may be deviating from Your truth and worshiping in vain. You say this very plainly to me in Matthew 28:20, “… observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you.” Help me to hear and obey You in all things.
- What is my duty to You in worship? What is my church’s duty to You in worship? My duty, and my church’s duty, the duty of every saint, is to search the Scriptures to learn what You require of Your children that we might be found doing Your will for Your glory.
- Have I worshiped You in ways that You have not prescribed? If so, I have not worshiped You rightly. Open my eyes that I might see the truth of Your Word and put it into practice in both my private devotions and as I come to public worship, for why should I participate in any worship which You are not satisfied with or that does not bring honor to Your Christ?
Further References for Matthew 15:9
Isa. 29:13; Col. 2:22; Titus 1:14; 1 Tim. 4:1; Prov. 30:5; Matt. 5:19
