Miscellaneous

Bible Quotes About Legalism

11 Scripture verses about legalism from the King James Version, with full verse text for study and meditation.

Scripture warns against the empty righteousness of legalism, where outward observance of the law replaces genuine obedience and heart transformation. Jesus challenges His followers to surpass the superficial righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees by embracing the weightier matters of judgment, mercy, and faith rather than merely tithing minor herbs. True discipleship is marked by doing what Christ commands, not just calling Him Lord, and loving Him is demonstrated through keeping His commandments. The focus is on a sincere relationship with God that produces obedient works, not merely human effort to fulfill religious duties.

Total Verses

Old Testament

New Testament

Top 10 Bible Quotes About Legalism

Matthew 5:20 — “For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.”
Matthew 23:1 — “Then spake Jesus to the multitude, and to his disciples,”
Matthew 23:23 — “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have do...”
Luke 6:46 — “And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?”
John 6:28 — “Then said they unto him, What shall we do , that we might work the works of God?”
John 14:15 — “If ye love me, keep my commandments.”
Romans 3:28 — “Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.”
Galatians 2:16 — “Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the ...”
Galatians 2:21 — “I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.”
Galatians 3:10 — “For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.”

New Testament Quotes About Legalism (11)

“For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.”

Matthew 5:20KJV

“Then spake Jesus to the multitude, and to his disciples,”

Matthew 23:1KJV

“Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone. anise: Gr. dill”

Matthew 23:23KJV

“And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?”

Luke 6:46KJV

“Then said they unto him, What shall we do , that we might work the works of God?”

John 6:28KJV

“If ye love me, keep my commandments.”

John 14:15KJV

“Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.”

Romans 3:28KJV

“Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.”

Galatians 2:16KJV

“I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.”

Galatians 2:21KJV

“For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.”

Galatians 3:10KJV

“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:”

Ephesians 2:8KJV

Frequently Asked Questions About Legalism in the Bible

What does the Bible say about legalism?

The Bible contains 11 verses about legalism, covering this topic from Genesis to Revelation. Scripture provides guidance, instruction, and comfort regarding legalism through both the Old and New Testaments.

How many Bible verses are about legalism?

There are 11 Bible verses about legalism in the King James Version. These verses span multiple books of the Bible and cover various aspects of this topic.

What is the best Bible verse about legalism?

While many verses address legalism, the most well-known passages come from various books of the Bible. The best verse depends on your specific situation and what aspect of legalism you are studying.

Where in the Bible does it talk about legalism?

Legalism is discussed throughout the Bible in both the Old and New Testaments. You can find 11 references to this topic across multiple books including the Psalms, Proverbs, the Gospels, and the Epistles.