The belief that salvation demands or depends upon total obedience to the letter of the law. Examples of legalism include an excessive concern for minute details of the law coupled with a neglect of its funadmental concerns, and a preoccupation with human legal traditions.
Legalism represents a fatal misunderstanding of the purpose of OT law
Romans 9:31–32 See also Romans 3:20; Galatians 3:10–11
but Israel, who pursued a law of righteousness, has not attained it. Why not? Because their pursuit was not by faith, but as if it were by works. They stumbled over the stumbling stone,
Legalism is contrary to the gospel
Galatians 2:16 See also Matthew 23:13, Matthew 23:15; Romans 3:20–24; Philippians 3:8–9
know that a man is not justified by works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have believed in Christ Jesus, that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.
Paul: example of a Jewish legalist
Philippians 3:4–6 See also Galatians 1:14
though I myself could have such confidence. If anyone else thinks he has grounds for confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin; a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; as to zeal, persecuting the church; as to righteousness in the law, faultless.
The ugly effects of legalism
Lack of love
Matthew 23:23 Legalism actually contradicts the spirit of OT law. See also Hosea 6:6; Micah 6:7–8; Matthew 23:14; Luke 10:31–32; John 7:49
Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You pay tithes of mint, dill, and cumin. But you have disregarded the weightier matters of the law: justice, mercy, and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former.
Spiritual pride
Luke 18:11–12 See also Matthew 6:1–2, Matthew 6:5, Matthew 6:16, Matthew 23:5–7; Luke 16:15; Romans 10:3
The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other men — swindlers, evildoers, adulterers — or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and pay tithes of all that I acquire.’
Formalism
Isaiah 29:13 See also Mark 7:6
Therefore the Lord said: “These people draw near to Me with their mouths and honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me. Their worship of Me is but rules taught by men.
Degeneration into man-made rules
Isaiah 29:13 See also Mark 7:7–8
Therefore the Lord said: “These people draw near to Me with their mouths and honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me. Their worship of Me is but rules taught by men.
Hypocrisy
Matthew 23:27–28 See also 1 Samuel 15:19–22; Matthew 15:3–9 parallel Mark 7:9–13; Matthew 23:25–26; John 7:19
Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of dead men’s bones and every kind of impurity. In the same way, on the outside you appear to be righteous, but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.
Spiritual blindness
Because of this, some of the Pharisees said, “This man is not from God, for He does not keep the Sabbath.” But others said, “How can a sinful man perform such signs?” And there was division among them.
Warnings against legalism
Matthew 16:6 parallel Mark 8:15 See also Matthew 16:12; Galatians 4:10–11, Galatians 5:2–4
“Watch out!” Jesus told them. “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”
The burden of legalism
Acts 15:10 See also Psalm 130:3; James 2:10
Now then, why do you test God by placing on the necks of the disciples a yoke that neither we nor our fathers have been able to bear?
The answer to legalism: the grace of Jesus Christ
Acts 15:11 See also Matthew 5:17; Galatians 3:13, Galatians 4:21–31; Ephesians 2:8–9
On the contrary, we believe it is through the grace of the Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are.”
Related themes
Dictionary of Bible Themes © 1999 Martin Manser, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Bible Aquifer. Formatted for this site, with Scripture from the Berean Standard Bible.