They Honor Me with Their Lips: What Does It Really Mean?

Understanding the Meaning

The phrase "They honor me with their lips" comes from Isaiah 29:13 and is later repeated by Jesus in Matthew 15:8 when rebuking the religious leaders of His time. The full verse in Isaiah states:

“The Lord says: ‘These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is based on merely human rules they have been taught.’” (Isaiah 29:13, NIV)

This verse reveals a deep problem: people may outwardly express devotion to God while their hearts remain far from Him. Their worship is superficial, based on tradition rather than true faith. This kind of lip service does not please God, because He desires sincerity and obedience, not just religious rituals.

The Danger of Empty Worship

Jesus quoted Isaiah 29:13 when confronting the Pharisees, a group of religious leaders who followed strict traditions but often lacked true devotion. He told them:

“These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain; their teachings are merely human rules.” (Matthew 15:8-9, NIV)

This was a direct challenge to their hypocrisy. The Pharisees were more concerned with appearing holy than actually living in obedience to God. Jesus made it clear that external acts of worship mean nothing if the heart is not devoted to God.

Signs of Empty Worship

Many people today still fall into the same trap. They may say the right things and follow religious customs but lack a true relationship with God. Here are some signs of lip service worship:

1. Saying the right words but not living them

   • Jesus warned in Matthew 7:21,

     “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.”

   • Faith must be lived out, not just spoken.

2. Prioritizing tradition over truth

   • The Pharisees valued their man-made traditions over God’s commands. Jesus told them:

     “You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to human traditions.” (Mark 7:8, NIV)

   • True worship is based on God’s Word, not religious routines.

3. Seeking approval rather than pleasing God

   • Jesus criticized those who performed religious acts for human praise:

     “Everything they do is done for people to see.” (Matthew 23:5, NIV)

   • God looks at the heart, not outward appearances (1 Samuel 16:7).

4. Ignoring true repentance

   • True faith leads to a changed life. In Luke 6:46, Jesus asked,

     “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?”

   • Words without obedience are meaningless.

True Worship Comes from the Heart

Jesus taught that true worship must be from the heart and in truth. He told the Samaritan woman at the well:

“A time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks.” (John 4:23, NIV)

True worship is not just about:

• Rituals – God seeks sincerity, not routine.
• Tradition – Worship should be rooted in God’s Word.
• Appearance – God desires obedience, not just public displays.

Instead, it involves:

• A sincere heart – Loving God genuinely.
• Obedience to His commands – Living out our faith.
• A deep relationship with God – Not just religious habits.

Biblical Examples of Lip Service Worship

1. The Israelites in the Old Testament

Throughout the Old Testament, Israel often honored God with their lips but failed to remain faithful. In Amos 5:21-24, God rejected their religious ceremonies because their hearts were corrupt:

“I hate, I despise your religious festivals; your assemblies are a stench to me... But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream!”

God wanted their hearts, not just empty rituals.

2. Judas Iscariot

Judas called Jesus "Rabbi" and outwardly followed Him, yet betrayed Him for thirty silver coins (Matthew 26:14-16). His actions proved that words alone do not equal devotion.

3. The Pharisee and the Tax Collector

Jesus told a parable about a Pharisee and a tax collector praying in the temple (Luke 18:9-14). The Pharisee proudly listed his religious deeds, but the tax collector humbly asked for mercy.

Jesus said:

“For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” (Luke 18:14, NIV)

The tax collector’s heart was right with God, while the Pharisee’s pride revealed false worship.

How to Avoid Lip Service Worship

1. Examine Your Heart

Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians 13:5:

“Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves.”

Ask yourself: Am I truly seeking God, or just following religious habits?

2. Align Your Actions with Your Words

James 1:22 warns:

“Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.”

Faith should result in obedience and a changed life.

3. Focus on a Personal Relationship with God

True faith is not about rituals but knowing God personally. Jesus said in John 17:3:

“Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.”

A real relationship with God is more valuable than religious traditions.

4. Love Others as Christ Commanded

Jesus said the greatest commandments are:

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind... And love your neighbor as yourself.” (Matthew 22:37-39, NIV)

True worship is seen in how we love God and others.

5. Live with Humility

God values humility over religious pride. Micah 6:8 tells us:

“He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”

Walking humbly with God shows real devotion, not just words.

Final Thoughts

God does not desire empty words—He desires our hearts. True worship is not about outward appearances but about a genuine relationship with Him. Let us strive to honor God not just with our lips, but with our lives.

Key Takeaways

Let us worship God in spirit and in truth and not merely with words.