Isaiah 1:11-17

Cross-references For Better Understanding a Related Topics b Additional Materials c

Summary

• God wants justice, not religious pretension.

Details and/or Comments

• A variety of religious activities are mentioned. These were required under the Old Covenant. However, a changed heart and obedience to God's commands were even more important; and without these, religious activities lost their value.

Scripture

Isaiah 1:11-17 – God wants justice, not religious pretension.

Scripture Passage	Comments and Links
Isa 1:11 "What are the multitude of your sacrifices to me?," says Yahweh. "I have had enough of the burnt offerings of rams, and the fat of fed animals. I don't delight in the blood of bulls, or of lambs, or of male goats. Isa 1:12 When you come to appear before me, who has required this at your hand, to trample my courts? Isa 1:13 Bring no more vain offerings. Incense is an abomination to me; new moons, Sabbaths, and convocations: I can't bear with evil assemblies. Isa 1:14 My soul hates your New Moons and your appointed feasts. They are a burden to me. I am weary of bearing them. Isa 1:15 When you spread forth your hands, I will hide my eyes from you. Yes, when you make many prayers, I will not hear. ...	Religious activities were a necessary part of the Old Testament sacrificial system. However, they were intended to reflect the attitudes of the heart, rather than being meaningless hypocritical rituals. When they became this, God hated them! Religious Activities Religious Feasts and Celebrations (Old Covenant) Sacrifices Worship Prayer Even when religious activities are obligatory, certain other obligations are much more important - such as the requirement to obey God, and to love God and neighbor. In this passage, the need for justice is strongly emphasized. (See the next verse.) Values Hierarchy
...Your hands are full of blood. Isa 1:16 Wash yourselves, make yourself clean. Put away the evil of your doings from before my eyes. Cease to do evil. Isa 1:17 Learn to do well. Seek justice. Relieve the oppressed. Judge the fatherless. Plead for the widow."	Their sin? All kinds of evil, injustice, oppression. Repentance Justice Oppression Widows and Orphans

Scripture Passages (Only books that have relevance to this study have active links. The others are in italics.) Genesis  •  Exodus  •  Leviticus  •  Numbers  •  Deuteronomy  •  Joshua  •  Judges  •  Ruth  •  1 Samuel  •  2 Samuel  •  1 Kings  •  2 Kings  •  1 Chronicles  •  2 Chronicles  •  Ezra  •  Nehemiah  •  Esther  •  Job  •  Psalms  •  Proverbs  •  Ecclesiastes  •  Song of Solomon  •  Isaiah  •  Jeremiah  •  Lamentations  •  Ezekiel  •  Daniel  •  Hosea  •  Joel  •  Amos  •  Obadiah  •  Jonah  •  Micah  •  Nahum  •  Habakkuk  •  Zephaniah  •  Haggai  •  Zechariah  •  Malachi Matthew  •  Mark  •  Luke  •  John  •  Acts  •  Romans  •  1 Corinthians  •  2 Corinthians  •  Galatians  •  Ephesians  •  Philippians  •  Colossians  •  1 Thessalonians  •  2 Thessalonians  •  1 Timothy  •  2 Timothy  •  Titus  •  Philemon  •  Hebrews  •  James  •  1 Peter  •  2 Peter  •  1 John  •  2 John  •  3 John  •  Jude  •  Revelation

—— To avoid any copyright issues, all Scripture is either from a public domain translation (such as the World English Bible), my own translation, or a combination of these. ——

The name "Yahweh," when present in an Old Testament passage, represents the Hebrew name for the God of the Bible.

Unless otherwise noted, all notes and comments are © by Dennis Hinks.