Hinduism: The Oldest Religion in the World | Matthew 9:35-38
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Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. 36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. 38 Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”
Matthew 9:35-28
Before we examine Hinduism, we must begin with the heart of Jesus in Matthew 9:35–38. He went through cities and villages, teaching, preaching, and healing—then “when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them” because they were weary and scattered, like sheep without a shepherd. If our study of Hinduism doesn’t lead to compassion, we’ve missed Christ’s heart. The heart of Jesus is moved with compassion over the multitudes enslaved by Hinduism, the oldest religion in the world.
The Reach and History of Hinduism
Hinduism is followed by over 1.2 billion people worldwide and more than 80% of India’s 1.46 billion population. The very word “Hinduism” comes from the Sanskrit Sindhu (Indus), meaning “river” or “ocean.” It was initially a geographical term used by Persian invaders, not a theological one.
Around 1500 BC, Aryan Indo-Europeans invaded India, bringing with them Sanskrit, the sacred language of their religion, and sacred texts known as the Rig Veda—a collection of over 1,000 hymns to various gods. Hinduism began as a polytheistic and ritualistic religion. Initially, each household could perform simple rituals, but over time, the ceremonies became so complex that a priestly caste (Brahmins) arose to oversee them. The Vedas became instruction manuals for these rituals, granting Brahmins enormous religious power.
As Brahmin dominance grew, other faiths—Buddhism and Jainism around 600 BC—emerged as reform movements against this priestly hierarchy. Hinduism, however, absorbed and adapted many of their ideas, evolving into an expansive belief system that shaped every area of Indian life.
Hinduism and the Caste System
Over time, Hinduism created a rigid caste system that birthed the concept of reincarnation. Four major castes developed: Brahmins (priests and scholars), Kshatriyas (warriors and rulers), Vaishyas (merchants and farmers), and Sudras (laborers). Beneath them were the Untouchables, viewed as less than human and assigned degrading tasks. When India became independent in 1947, discrimination against Untouchables was outlawed—but social inequality persists. The caste system is intertwined with the Hindu doctrines of karma (cause and effect) and reincarnation (the soul’s rebirth), binding millions to their social positions with little hope of change.
What Hindus Believe About God and Salvation
At its core, in Hinduism, god is the indefinable, impersonal Brahman—the ultimate, all-encompassing reality. Brahman is not a person but an energy or essence that pervades everything. Hinduism is more philosophy than theology, teaching that the world of matter is illusion (maya), and man’s goal is to realize his unity with Brahman. This salvation (moksha) is sought through various “paths”:
The Way of Works (karma marga): Salvation through ritual duties and religious deeds.
The Way of Knowledge (jnana marga): Salvation through enlightenment and realization that the self is one with Brahman.
The Way of Devotion (bhakti marga): Salvation through loving devotion to a chosen deity.
For Hindus, salvation is based on works. But Scripture says the opposite. Titus 3:5 declares, “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us.” Salvation is a free gift of God through faith in Jesus Christ (Eph. 2:8–9).
Christianity’s Objections to Hinduism
The Nature of God
Hinduism views God as impersonal, but the Bible reveals a personal, triune God—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—who loves, speaks, and saves. “God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth” (John 4:24). Exodus 15:11 exalts Him: “Who is like You, O LORD, glorious in holiness?”The Person of Jesus Christ
In Hinduism, Jesus is not God but just one of the many incarnations or avatars of Vishnu. Yet Jesus declared, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6). He is not one among many—He is the only way to God.The Nature of Man
Hinduism says man is divine in essence—a “god in embryo.” Christianity teaches that man is created in God’s image but fallen and sinful (Rom. 3:23). We are not fragments of divinity; we are sinners in need of redemption.The Doctrine of Sin
Hinduism teaches that sin is an illusion and ignorance. But the Bible says sin is real and deadly: “The wages of sin is death” (Rom. 6:23). David confessed, “Against You, You only, have I sinned” (Ps. 51:4). Sin separates man from God (Isa. 59:2).The Means of Salvation
Hinduism teaches liberation through karma, knowledge, or devotion. Scripture teaches salvation through faith in the finished work of Christ on the cross. “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Cor. 5:21).
The Enslaving Doctrines of Karma and Reincarnation
The teachings of karma and reincarnation enslave Hindus. Reincarnation teaches that the soul is reborn repeatedly until achieving enlightenment. Karma says that every action in one life determines your next. Yet Scripture declares, “It is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment” (Heb. 9:27). The law of sowing and reaping (Gal. 6:7) is not about rebirth—it’s about moral cause and effect within this single life.
The Authority of Scripture
Hinduism is led into errant doctrine by its many sacred writings, which lack the inspiration and authority of the Bible. From the Vedas to the Bhagavad Gita, Hindu texts contain noble ideas but no divine revelation. Only the Bible is “God-breathed” (2 Tim. 3:16), revealing a holy, personal, redeeming God who invites all people to come to Him: “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matt. 11:28).
A Call to Compassion and Mission
The Lord still says, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few” (Matt. 9:37). Nearly a billion people in India remain unreached. Jesus wept for the lost; may His church do the same. We are ambassadors for Christ (2 Cor. 5:20), called to bring the gospel to every nation—including India. Pray for Hindus to encounter the living Christ and be freed from the cycle of illusion and works.
Discussion Questions
What are practical ways we can cultivate a heart of compassion for the lost?
The early believers and the church in India somehow failed to reach the rest of the population with gospel. Do we see this same phenomenon occurring in our country? What are steps we can take to prevent what happened in India from happening in the United States?
Child prostitution and poverty are enormous problems in India and around the world. How can the church in the United States help defend and care for the weakest and most vulnerable of the world’s population?
What is the difference between the Hindu doctrine of karma and the biblical principle of reaping what you sow?
How could you use Hinduism’s belief in karma and reincarnation as a pathway to discussing about judgment and resurrection?
How can we effectively communicate to Hindus the great lengths God went to in order to demonstrate His love for them through Jesus Christ?
