Language Studies

Greek Thoughts

SEBOMAI* - Part 2 - εχηγεομαι (Strong's #1834)
To worship, to be devout, to show reverence and respect

Please note that all Biblical quotes, in this and all other lessons posted to Greek Thoughts, are from The Literal English Translation of the Bible produced by BTE Ministries - The Bible Translation and Exegesis Institute of America.

This week we continue our study of σὲβομαι (Strong's #4576), which means to worship in the sense of showing reverence, respect, and honor. In Greek literature, this word can be used either to express honor and respect to human dignitaries or as a religious expression toward God.

Our purpose for studying the various words translated "worship" in the Scriptures is to gain a well-rounded understanding of the meanings represented by each word. To that end, our last series focused on προσκυνεςω (Strong's #4352), the primary Greek word used to represent the true worshipers of God as taught by Jesus in John 4:23-24. In contrast, σὲβομαι, the focus of our present study, is used in the New Testament to represent those who have either a religious belief in and reverence for God or those who have a belief in and reverence for pagan gods. Σὲβομαι is also used to represent the Jewish people and their reverence toward God as expressed through the Old Testament rituals and religious traditions.

Last week, in the first part of this study, we looked at four places in the Book of Acts where σὲβομαι is used to represent people with a religious reverence for God, but who had not yet received Jesus as the Messiah and Lord. Through the Scriptures considered this week, Matthew 15:7-9, we will add to our understanding that not all who worship God are saved and that not all "worship" is acceptable to God.

In the fifteenth chapter of Matthew's gospel, he presents an instance when the Jewish religious leaders approach Jesus and ask Him why His disciples are transgressing the tradition of the elders by not ceremonially washing their hands before they eat bread. Jesus responds by asking them why they transgress the commandment of God through their traditions, giving an example in verses 4-6. He then quotes from Isaiah 29:13 (Greek Old Testament), applying it to those same leaders.

Matthew 15:7-9 (Mark 7:6-8)

7)

"Hypocrites! Correctly did Isaiah prophecy concerning you, saying,

8)

"'This people is drawing near to Me with their mouth,^F1 and is honoring Me with their lips;^F2 but their heart is holding far away from Me.

9)

And in vain they are worshiping (σὲβομαι) Me, by teaching as teachings the commandments of men.'"

In the Lord's rebuke of these religious leaders, He reveals the characteristics of a person who is religiously worshiping God, but who is doing so in vain. The first thing is that a person who is worshiping (σὲβομαι) God is attempting to draw near to Him with his mouth, is attempting to honor God with his lips. This is a familiar characteristic of a religious person who desires to honor and reverence God, and a prominent one in the religious world where praying and singing are used to draw near to and honor God. But the most telling factor is in the Lord's next statement: "but their heart is holding far away from Me." In using this quote from Isaiah, Jesus shows that anyone who participates in a religious ceremony without having a heart response to God is worshiping in vain. The Greek word used for "in vain" is μὰτην (Strong's #3155) and means "fruitless" or "purposeless." Jesus is saying that those who participate in religious human expression, even in honor and reverence to God, are doing it for no purpose if they are withholding their heart from Him. Lastly, the Lord uses the final statement in Isaiah's prophecy to reveal that those who are worshiping God in vain do so because they have elevated the teachings of men above the commandments of God.

We have learned that more than one Greek word is translated "worship" in the New Testament, and that these words have different meanings and applications. Σὲβομαι is used exclusively in the New Testament to represent the human religious expressions of people, especially the Jews, who approach God with the intent to honor and reverence Him. However, as honorable as this goal might be, a person who approaches God in this way, without a heart response, worships in vain because God the Father is not seeking human religious expression in honor of Him. He is seeking those who have surrendered to Him and are worshiping Him from the heart (John 4:23-24). This is not to say that a person worshiping (σὲβομαι) God in a religious way cannot be saved. What this text does tell us is that a person who bases his right standing with God on his participation in a religious ceremony or service is making this approach to God in vain, unless he surrenders his heart to God by receiving Jesus Christ.

* SEBOMAI is the English font spelling of the Greek word σὲβομαι.

F1: The instrumental dative τῷ͂στὸματι, "the mouth," is translated μὲ͂τὸ͂στὸμα, "with the mouth."

F2: The instrumental dative τοῖς͂χεὶλεσὶ, "the lips," is translated μὲ͂τὰ͂χεὶλη, "with the lips."

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