What Makes Ineffective
Religion? (Part 1)

Pastor Bill Farrow

Isaiah 1:11-12

11  “To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices to Me?”
Says the LORD.
“I have had enough of burnt offerings of rams
And the fat of fed cattle.
I do not delight in the blood of bulls,
Or of lambs or goats.

12  “When you come to appear before Me,
Who has required this from your hand,
To trample My courts? 

To what purpose - ‘What is it to me; or what profit or pleasure can I have in them?’ God here replies to an objection which might be urged by the Jews to the representation which had been made of their guilt. The objection would be, that they were strict in the duties of their religion, and that they even abounded in offering victims of sacrifice. God replies in this and the following verses, that all this would be of no use, and would meet with no acceptance, unless it were the offering of the proper type. He demanded righteousness, a righteousness that exceed their ability to produce; and without that, all external offerings would be vain. The same sentiment often occurs in the Old Testament.

Hath Jehovah as great delight in burnt-offerings and sacrifices
As in obeying the voice of the Lord?
Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice,
And to hearken than the fat of rams.

1 Sam. 15:22.

To what purpose shall frankincense be brought unto me from Sabah?
Or the rich aromatic reed from a far country?
Your burnt-offerings are not acceptable,
Nor your sacrifices pleasant unto me.

Jer. 6:20.

For I desired mercy and not sacrifice;
And the knowledge of God more than burnt-offerings.

Hosea 6:6.

I hate, I despise your solemn feast days,
And I will not smell in your solemn assemblies;
Though ye offer me your burnt-offerings,
And your meat-offerings
I will not accept them;
Neither will I regard the thank-offerings of your fat beasts.
Take thou away from me the noise of thy songs;
For I will not hear the melody of thy viols.
But let judgment run down as waters,
And righteousness as a mighty stream.

Amos 5:21-24.

Is the multitude - There was no deficiency in the amount of offerings. It was admitted that they complied in this respect with the requirements of the law; and that they offered an abundance of sacrifices, so numerous as to be called a multitude - a vast number. Hypocrites abound in outward religious observances just in proportion to their neglect of the spiritual requirements of God’s word; (compare Matt. 23:23). It is not the offering, or even the act of offering that pleases God, but rather the basis upon which it is offered!

Your sacrifices - from “to slay”; especially to slay for sacrifice. The word used here denotes any sacrifice which was made by blood; but is distinguished from the burnt-offering from the fat, that this was not entirely consumed. It is applied to the sin-offering, trespass-offering, thank-offering. The word also stands opposed to the offerings which were made WITHOUT blood. Any offering that consisted in an animal that was slain came under this general denomination of sacrifice, (Exo. 10:25; Lev. 17:8; Num. 15:5). The implication here is that their MANY sacrifices, offered voluminously and profusely were inadequate and insufficient.

Burnt-offerings - from "to go up, ascend”. It is applied to a sacrifice that was wholly consumed, or made to ascend on an altar. It corresponds to the Greek word meaning “that which is entirely consumed”. Such offerings abounded among the Hebrews. The burnt-offering was wholly consumed on the altar, excepting the skin and the blood. The blood was sprinkled round the altar, and the other parts of the animal which was slain, were laid upon the altar and entirely burned; (see Lev. 1). This was commonly a voluntary offering; and this shows their zeal to comply with the external forms of religion. But in the context, though that zeal was impressive and was great, it was still insufficient to commend them to God, and to secure them from God’s judgment.