Looking at every occurrence of various forms of the word “worship” in Scripture, seven passages in the NT stand out to me as key statements about what worship is. Interestingly, they are from only two books of the NT.
Earthly Worship in the Gospel of Matthew
Matt. 8:2 And, behold, there came a leper and worshipped him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.
Matt. 9:18 While he spake these things unto them, behold, there came a certain ruler, and worshipped him, saying, My daughter is even now dead: but come and lay thy hand upon her, and she shall live.
Matt. 14:33 Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped him, saying, Of a truth thou art the Son of God.
Matt. 15:25 Then came she and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me.
These statements reveal that earthly worship includes praying to God and exclaiming truths to Him about who He is.
Heavenly Worship in Revelation
Rev. 7:11-12 And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God, 12 Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen.
Rev. 11:16-17 And the four and twenty elders, which sat before God on their seats, fell upon their faces, and worshipped God, 17 Saying, We give thee thanks, O Lord God Almighty, which art, and wast, and art to come; because thou hast taken to thee thy great power, and hast reigned.
Rev. 19:4 And the four and twenty elders and the four beasts fell down and worshipped God that sat on the throne, saying, Amen; Alleluia.
These passages are especially important because they reveal to us what the perfect worship in heaven looks like.
Based on these passages, we must understand that worship especially includes giving thanks to God, attributing glory to Him, and saying, “Amen,” and “Amen, Alleluia.”
Exhortation
Let us base our understanding of what biblical worship is from these key passages about earthly worship and heavenly worship. Let us also be diligent to say “Amen” and “Amen, Alleluia” regularly in our worship.
Copyright © 2011-2024 by Rajesh Gandhi. All rights reserved.
