Leading The Way on Oneplace.com
Oct 15, 2026 · 25 min · 15 segments
Today on Leading The Way, Dr. Youssef reveals the rebellious and legalistic heart of the older brother in the popular story, The Prodigal Son. To support this ministry financially, visit…
Michael YoussefHost
I'm not gonna ask you to raise your hand if you grew up in a legalistic church or in a legalistic home, a legalistic family.
Now, in case some of you have not and don't even know what legalistic or legalism means, be patient, I'll explain it to you, but also be thankful that you don't know what it is.
[laughing] I'm gonna tell you, but from first-hand experience, but be grateful because legalism really messes you up.
[laughing]
You find it in the traditional churches, and you find it in the non-denominational churches.
You find legalism in the Catholic churches, in the Protestant churches, in evangelical churches, fundamental churches, and as I've traveled the world, I found it in every country, all over the world.
By now, some of you who don't know what legalism means or what's about and you got curious, I am glad because I want to tell you what legalism is all about.
Legalism, very put simply, is the elevation of any man-made rules or tradition to almost or at the same level as the Word of God.
Amen.
See, legalism is the keeping of man-made rule or tradition and thinking that this is what God wants.
Legalism is the thinking that keeping of man-made rules or tradition is gonna get you favor with God.
Legalism, in some churches, some of you will know what I'm talking about, [laughs] is almost, and if not quite as important as the Word of God.
See, the problem with legalism is it mislead you into thinking that if you avoid certain things which are not necessary for salvation...
When you avoid certain things that are not necessary for salvation, not sin, not scriptural sin, not biblical sin, I'm talking about things that are not necessary for salvation, that you're a good Christian.
More than ever, we need to help the younger generation to realize that neither legalism nor using of the grace of God as a license to sin is the answer.
Yes.
The answer is to try to comprehend what it cost Jesus to pay the wages of our sin on that cross.
I'm not gonna ask you to raise your hand if you grew up in a legalistic church or in a legalistic home, a legalistic family.
Now, in case some of you have not and don't even know what legalistic or legalism means, be patient, I'll explain it to you, but also be thankful that you don't know what it is.
[laughing] I'm gonna tell you, but from first-hand experience, but be grateful because legalism really messes you up.
[laughing]
You find it in the traditional churches, and you find it in the non-denominational churches.
You find legalism in the Catholic churches, in the Protestant churches, in evangelical churches, fundamental churches, and as I've traveled the world, I found it in every country, all over the world.
By now, some of you who don't know what legalism means or what's about and you got curious, I am glad because I want to tell you what legalism is all about.
Legalism, very put simply, is the elevation of any man-made rules or tradition to almost or at the same level as the Word of God.
Amen.
See, legalism is the keeping of man-made rule or tradition and thinking that this is what God wants.
Legalism is the thinking that keeping of man-made rules or tradition is gonna get you favor with God.
Legalism, in some churches, some of you will know what I'm talking about, [laughs] is almost, and if not quite as important as the Word of God.
See, the problem with legalism is it mislead you into thinking that if you avoid certain things which are not necessary for salvation...
When you avoid certain things that are not necessary for salvation, not sin, not scriptural sin, not biblical sin, I'm talking about things that are not necessary for salvation, that you're a good Christian.
More than ever, we need to help the younger generation to realize that neither legalism nor using of the grace of God as a license to sin is the answer.
Yes.
The answer is to try to comprehend what it cost Jesus to pay the wages of our sin on that cross.
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