In the context of the Bible, the term "shows" can refer to various forms of display, demonstration, or presentation, often with a focus on outward appearances or public spectacles. The Bible addresses the concept of shows in several ways, emphasizing the importance of sincerity, humility, and the inner condition of the heart over mere external appearances.

Outward Appearances and Hypocrisy

The Bible frequently warns against the dangers of focusing on outward appearances and the potential for hypocrisy. Jesus criticized the Pharisees and religious leaders of His time for their emphasis on external displays of piety while neglecting the more important matters of the heart. In Matthew 23:27-28 , Jesus says, "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of dead men’s bones and every kind of impurity. In the same way, on the outside you appear to be righteous, but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness."

This passage highlights the danger of putting on a show of righteousness without genuine faith and obedience to God. The emphasis is on the need for authenticity and integrity in one's relationship with God, rather than merely performing religious duties for the sake of appearance.

God's Perspective on the Heart

The Bible consistently teaches that God looks beyond outward appearances and judges based on the heart. In 1 Samuel 16:7 , when Samuel is sent to anoint a new king for Israel, the Lord instructs him, "Do not consider his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not see as man does. For man sees the outward appearance, but the LORD sees the heart."

This principle underscores the importance of inner character and the sincerity of one's faith. God values a heart that is devoted to Him over any external show of religiosity or status.

Public Displays of Faith

While the Bible cautions against hypocrisy and empty displays, it also acknowledges the role of public expressions of faith when done with the right motives. Jesus taught about the importance of letting one's light shine before others in Matthew 5:16 : "In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven."

This teaching encourages believers to live out their faith in a way that is visible to others, not for personal glory, but to bring honor to God. The key is the motivation behind the actions—whether they are done for God's glory or for self-promotion.

Cultural and Historical Context

In the cultural and historical context of the Bible, public shows and spectacles were common in various forms, from religious ceremonies to public entertainments. The Roman Empire, in particular, was known for its grand spectacles, such as gladiatorial games and theatrical performances. While the Bible does not explicitly address these forms of entertainment, the principles of discernment, modesty, and the avoidance of idolatry and immorality can be applied to how believers engage with cultural shows and spectacles.

Conclusion

The biblical perspective on shows emphasizes the importance of authenticity, humility, and the condition of the heart over mere outward appearances. Believers are called to live out their faith genuinely, ensuring that their public expressions of faith are rooted in a sincere devotion to God and a desire to glorify Him.3303a. men -- shows affirmation or concession
... 3303, 3303a. men. 3303b . shows affirmation or concession. Transliteration:
men Short Definition: some. Word Origin a synonym of ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3303a.htm - 5k

3303. men -- shows affirmation or concession
... shows affirmation or concession. Part of Speech: Particle, Disjunctive Particle
Transliteration: men Phonetic Spelling: (men) Short Definition: truly, indeed ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3303.htm - 6k

4381. prosopolemptes -- an accepter of a face, ie a respecter of ...
... Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration: prosopolemptes Phonetic Spelling:
(pros-o-pol-ape'-tace) Short Definition: one who shows partiality Definition ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4381.htm - 6k

312. anaggello -- to bring back word, announce
... 312 (from 303 , ", completing a " and, "declare") -- properly, all the way, ie --
declaring a thought (communication) that shows it has cleared (gone through ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/312.htm - 7k

1166. deiknumi -- to show
... Word Origin from a prim. root deik- Definition to show NASB Word Usage bring
(1), show (21), showed (8), shown (2), shows (1). show. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1166.htm - 7k

83. adelotes -- uncertainty
... 83 ("unrecognized"), used only in 1 Tim 6:17. Here it shows riches will be in heaven --
ie lacking any real value at the judgment-bar of God. See 82 (). ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/83.htm - 6k

3888. paramutheomai -- to encourge, comfort
... 3888 (derived from 3844 , "from close-beside" and , " speaking") -- properly, that
shows sympathy (encouragement), cheering someone up by speech with a " touch ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3888.htm - 7k

4122. pleonekteo -- to have more, to overreach
... improper) gain. 4122 ("covet, defraud") shows desire, especially lusting
for what belongs to someone else. See 4124 (). Word Origin ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4122.htm - 7k

2150. eusebeia -- piety
... 2150 (from 2095 "well" and 4576 , "venerate, pay homage") -- properly, someone's
inner response to the things of God which shows itself in godly (). ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2150.htm - 7k

3570. nuni -- now
... 3570 () shows the new lifestyle of the believer from what was before, ie from their
old ways which are out of place in the life of the Spirit-empowered ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3570.htm - 7k

7200. raah -- to see
... as a sees (1), see plainly (1), seeing (5), seemed (1), seen (153), sees (32), select
(1), selected (1), show (24), showed (15), shown (19), shows (1), sleep ...
/hebrew/7200.htm - 7k

157. aheb -- to love
... beloved (1), dearly love (1), friend (5), friends (6), love (88), loved (53), lover
(1), lovers (16), loves (42), loving (2), show your love (1), shows love (1 ...
/hebrew/157.htm - 6k

6286. paar -- to beautify, glorify
... glorify NASB Word Usage adorn (1), beautify (2), become boastful (1), boast (1),
glorified (4), glorify (1), honor (1), show my glory (1), shows forth his ...
/hebrew/6286.htm - 6k

6213a. asah -- do, make
... 1), ready (1), reign* (1), remade* (1), responsible (1), sacrifice (2), set (3),
set* (1), show (16), showed (6), showing (2), shown (9), shows (3), spend (1 ...
/hebrew/6213a.htm - 8k

5375. nasa -- to lift, carry, take
... 1), released* (1), respected* (1), rise (2), rose (5), sets (1), shield-bearer*
(1), shield-carrier* (1), show (5), showed (1), showing (1), shows (1), sing (1 ...
/hebrew/5375.htm - 8k

The Shows, or De Spectaculis
The Shows, or De Spectaculis. <. The Shows, or De Spectaculis Tertullian.
Translated by the Rev. S. Thelwall. Table of Contents. Title Page. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/tertullian/the shows or de spectaculis/

John Shows a Logical Order
... Chapter XII. John shows a logical order. John shows a logical order in developing
the causes of the hostility of the Jewish authorities ...
/.../the new testament commentary vol iii john/john shows a logical order.htm

After this He Shows that the Son
... Book X. Section 4. After this he shows that the Son. Section 4. After this
he shows that the Son, who truly is, and is in the bosom ...
/.../gregory/gregory of nyssa dogmatic treatises etc/section 4 after this he.htm

That Shows are Most Powerful to Corrupt the Minds.
... Addressed to His Brother Pentadius. Chap. LXIII."That Shows are Most Powerful to
Corrupt the Minds. ... For the exhibitions of shows are festivals of Saturnus. ...
/.../lactantius/the divine institutes/chap lxiii that shows are most.htm

The Eleventh Book Shows that the Title of "Good" is Due, not to ...
... Book XI. Section 1. The eleventh book shows that the title of "Good" is
due, not to the. Father alone, as Eunomius, the imitator ...
/.../gregory/gregory of nyssa dogmatic treatises etc/section 1 the eleventh book.htm

Thereafter He Shows that There are not Two Christs or Two Lords
... Book V. Section 5. Thereafter he shows that there are not two Christs or
two Lords. Section 5. Thereafter he shows that there are ...
/.../gregory of nyssa dogmatic treatises etc/section 5 thereafter he shows.htm

He Further Shows the Operations of God to be Expressed by Human ...
... Section 4. He further shows the operations of God to be expressed by human
illustrations; for what hands and feet and the other parts of the body with which ...
/.../gregory/gregory of nyssa dogmatic treatises etc/section 4 he further shows.htm

St. Ambrose Shows by Instances that the Places in which those ...
... Book III. Chapter XVII. St. Ambrose shows by instances that the places
in which those words were spoken help? St. Ambrose shows ...
/.../ambrose/works and letters of st ambrose/chapter xvii st ambrose shows.htm

He Further Shows that the Pretemporal Generation of the Son is not ...
... Book IX. Section 3. He further shows that the pretemporal generation of the Son
is not the subject of influences drawn from ordinary and carnal generation. ...
/.../gregory/gregory of nyssa dogmatic treatises etc/section 3 he further shows.htm

He Then Ingeniously Shows that the Generation of the Son is not ...
... Book IX. Section 2. He then ingeniously shows that the generation of the
Son is not according to the phrase of Eunomius. Section ...
/.../gregory of nyssa dogmatic treatises etc/section 2 he then ingeniously.htm

Shows (42 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Shows (42 Occurrences). Matthew ... soil. It quickly shows
itself above ground, because it has no depth of earth; (WEY). ...
/s/shows.htm - 17k

Evangelist (2 Occurrences)
... idea. The classic introduction to the Gospel (Luke 1:1-4) shows that he
was a man of culture (compare Apollos and Paul). He was ...
/e/evangelist.htm - 23k

Retribution (14 Occurrences)
... that in the higher sphere, God's moral laws cannot be neglected or violated with
impunity, and Scripture fully justifies the expectation and shows that sin ...
/r/retribution.htm - 29k

Prayers (99 Occurrences)
... Even so, Father: for so it seemed good in thy sight." This language shows the essence
of prayer to be not the mere expression of need and request for what is ...
/p/prayers.htm - 51k

Attitudes (1 Occurrence)
... paintings. The famous stela of Hammurabi shows this great king in a standing
position as he receives the famous Code from the sun-god. ...
/a/attitudes.htm - 20k

Laws (184 Occurrences)
... country. Thirdly, the system shows the enormous power that the conception
of family solidarity possessed in the Mosaic age.. And ...
/l/laws.htm - 47k

Architecture
... Fergusson's restoration shows a sloping roof, following the precedent of the
sloping roof of the Tabernacle (Temples of the Jews, 26). ...
/a/architecture.htm - 28k

Agrarian
... country. Thirdly, the system shows the enormous power that the conception
of family solidarity possessed in the Mosaic age.. And ...
/a/agrarian.htm - 17k

Elisha (70 Occurrences)
... The lesson learned at Horeb was not forgotten and its meaning would be profoundly
impressed upon the younger man, whose whole afterlife shows that he had ...
/e/elisha.htm - 61k

Aramaic (12 Occurrences)
... Further, it shows that Aramaic was the ordinary language of Assyrian diplomacy. ... New
Syriac shows a similar facility in regard to Arabic and Persian. ...
/a/aramaic.htm - 31k

Old Testament vs. New Testament - What are the differences? | GotQuestions.org

How does oppressing the poor show contempt for their Maker (Proverbs 14:31)? | GotQuestions.org

What is Westboro Baptist Church? | GotQuestions.org

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus