True Religion
- Faith Miller
- May 14
- 5 min read
I often hear this phrase cited as a response to the obligation of obedience as covenanted believers in Messiah: "The only religion God recognizes is caring for orphans and widows." Twisting the Word of God into an "occasion for the flesh" isn't a new strategy; in fact, it's the very first one used by the serpent. Still, I never hear anyone include the end of the sentence. The term in the literal Greek for Unstained is Unspotted.
Where is James pulling this word from? James is utilizing this term in the same way Paul and Peter use it, they are pulling from the condition required of a sacrifice given unto God. Spotless, Unblemished, Perfect. The exact description of our Passover Lamb, Yeshua.
There is a misconception that prior to the Messiah, the Israelites believed that their animal sacrifices atoned for their sins. One need only spend a few moments reading the commentaries or ancient writings of the sages to correct that assumption. Forgiveness and reconciliation were always understood to be a merciful offer of grace to a repentant and contrite heart. Someone truly sorrowed by their transgression and not simply sorrowed by the consequence, offering a spotless sacrifice would be reconciled for their heart posture, not because of the blood of bulls and goats.
The spotless, perfect, and blameless beast was always a placeholder for the true and timeless work done at Golgotha. He who was "Slain before the foundation of the world" was always how atonement was received. Humanity simply needed the object lesson, the witness, to eventually see and, more importantly, understand that which was done for us. The honor of keeping this practice in place, the blessing and curse of rehearsing the work of Messiah day after day, was bestowed upon the nation of Israel. If not for this, our minds and hearts would never have been able to perceive the work for what it was. We needed to be matured into the understanding, first through this people, and then to be taught to those with hearts willing in every other nation.
So when James defines Pure and Undefiled Religion, he is exhorting those who have been reconciled by the spotless lamb to remain unspotted themselves. In the very same way, the faithful remnant always had, by faithfulness to the covenants and commandments, and meek and humble hearts of repentance for any shortcomings. Never were these moments of repentance truly atoned for by the blood of animals, but by the timeless, eternal blood of the Messiah. Never was that offering intended to be given in vain, so that one could then return to the deeds that demanded them.
And what of the Orphan and the Widow? Is God defining True Religion by showing partiality to a specific group of people in need, despite His character and commandments declaring otherwise? To take a cue from Paul, "May it Never Be!"
If a matter is established based upon two or three witnesses, this matter has been established three and four times over. Here is a listing of passages declaring that partiality should not be shown regardless of one's status:
James himself reiterates this standard of God's. So, for us to understand what God the Father defines as Pure and Undefiled, we have to seek Scripture to interpret Scripture.
“If you love Me, keep My commandments. And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever— the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you." John 14:15-18
Yeshua is using the term Orphans to describe one who would be left without His Spirit. Those that He instructed the Eleven to go out and proclaim to, baptize, make disciples of, and teach all of His commandments.
Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had appointed for them. When they saw Him, they worshiped Him, but some doubted. And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen. Matthew 28:16-20
And what of the Widow? This is a theme well understood by Yeshua's followers in His day, one that is consistent throughout all of scripture. Jerusalem, when she is desolate, when her Temple is no longer standing, is the Widow. Consistently, the Holy City is described as either an Adulterous Woman (while being warned) or A Widow (If that warning is not heeded and destruction comes upon her).
How deserted lies the city, once so full of people! How like a widow is she, who once was great among the nations! She who was queen among the provinces has now become a slave. Lamentations 1:1
How prophetic are the words of the writer when paired with the warnings of the prophets, to know that Israel, who was divorced by her husband, not to be reconciled, which would have been forbidden by Torah, was only able to be restored after she literally became a Widow at the death of her Husband? For more on this, see my previous article, The Greatest Love Story Never Preached.
Pure and Undefiled Religion is defined in Scripture as: visiting those descendants from Jerusalem and those who do not have the Spirit of Yeshua the Messiah and stand with them during their time of trouble and tribulation, and to remain spotless and blameless (without sin) as a witness. This is the simplest message of the Gospel, to the Jew first, and then the Gentile.
"For I am jealous over you with a godly jealousy. For I betrothed you to one husband, to present you to Messiah as a pure virgin." 2 Corinthians 11:2
"Messiah did this so that He might present to Himself His glorious community—not having stain or wrinkle or any such thing, but in order that she might be holy and blameless." Ephesians 5:27
Let us rejoice and be glad and give the glory to Him! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and His bride has made herself ready. She was given fine linen to wear, bright and clean! For the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the kedoshim.” Revelation 19:7-8
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