Dictionary of Bible Themes  »  7000 God's people  »  7300 Institutions and culture of OT  »  7328 ceremonies

Formal outward practices and rituals symbolising or marking events of importance or spiritual significance. Although they had their place in biblical cultural life, they may become empty and hypocritical, losing their deep spiritual meaning. Ceremonies thus become symbolic of empty legalism which should be rejected.

Ceremonies marking important events

Different stages in life

Genesis 50:7,10-11; Exodus 13:2; Judges 14:10; Jeremiah 34:5; John 2:1-2; John 20:4

Temple worship

Nehemiah 13:9 See also 1 Kings 9:25; 1 Chronicles 16:40; 2 Chronicles 8:13; 2 C 15

Some psalms include excerpts from temple liturgy relating to parts of temple-based worship ceremonies:

Psalm 5:7; Psalm 118:19-20; Psalm 138:2 Acts 3:1

Appointing leaders

Acts 13:2-3 See also Leviticus 8:30; 1 Samuel 16:13; 1 Kings 1:39; Acts 6:5-6; Acts 9:17; 1 Timothy 4:14

Historical events

Ruth 4:7-8 See also Genesis 35:14; Exodus 12:14; Exodus 13:9; Joshua 4:4-9; 1 Samuel 7:12; Luke 22:19 pp 1 Corinthians 11:24-25

Ceremonies as spiritual symbols of God's presence

Matthew 18:20 There is a sense in which any gathering of believers is ceremonially symbolic of God's presence. See also Exodus 30:25-29; Numbers 4:4; Numbers 10:35-36 The ark of the covenant was a symbol of God's presence among his people. It, and its location, the tabernacle and later, the Most Holy Place, were therefore centres of the most elaborate ceremonies; 1 Kings 8:3-6 pp 2 Chronicles 5:4-7; 1 Kings 8:29 pp 2 Chronicles 6:20; 1 Chronicles 6:49; Hebrews 9:1-7

Initiation ceremonies

Circumcision

Leviticus 12:3 See also Genesis 17:10; Joshua 5:2; Luke 2:21-24

Baptism

Matthew 28:19 See also Acts 2:38; Acts 16:33-34; 1 Peter 3:21

Ceremonies relating to ritual cleansing

Exodus 30:18-20 See also Leviticus 14:14-18; Leviticus 16:26; Leviticus 22:6; Numbers 19:7; Hebrews 9:10 Many aspects of ritual activity were added to the biblical ones in Jewish laws and regulations.

Ceremonies relating to atonement

Leviticus 17:11 See also Leviticus 4:20; Leviticus 8:30-35; Leviticus 16:10; Hebrews 5:1

Ceremonies conveying spiritual realities

Passover: a ceremony symbolising salvation history

Luke 22:15-16 See also 2 Kings 23:21-22; Ezra 6:21-22; Matthew 26:17 pp Mark 14:12 pp Luke 22:7-9

Baptism: a ceremony symbolising new birth

John 3:5 See also Acts 10:48; Acts 22:16; Galatians 3:27; Colossians 2:12

Marriage: a ceremony symbolising faithful partnership

Matthew 19:6 pp Mark 10:9; Ephesians 5:25-28; Hebrews 13:4; Revelation 19:7

Ceremonies which lapsed into hypocrisy

Washing ceremonies without accompanying inner cleanliness

Matthew 23:25 See also Matthew 23:27-28; Mark 7:4

Sacrificial ceremonies without inner repentance

Amos 5:21-22 See also 1 Samuel 15:22; Psalm 51:16-17; Isaiah 1:11-17; Hosea 8:11-13; Malachi 1:8

Initiation ceremonies without real commitment

1 Corinthians 7:19 See also Acts 15:1,8-10; Romans 2:28-29; Galatians 5:6

Jesus Christ brings freedom from meaningless ceremonies

Galatians 5:1 See also Galatians 4:8-10; Ephesians 2:14-18; Colossians 2:13-23; Hebrews 7:18-19

See also

5173  outward appearance
5588  traditions
5742  wedding
7404  ordinances
7422  ritual
7957  sacraments
8142  religion
8622  worship
8774  legalism
8784  nominal religion