Formalism

How Nave’s arranged it

• General scriptures concerning1 Samuel 15:22Psalms 50:9–15Psalms 51:16Psalms 51:17Psalms 69:30Psalms 69:31Ecclesiastes 5:1Isaiah 1:11–15Isaiah 29:13–16Jeremiah 6:20Jeremiah 14:12Hosea 6:6Amos 5:21–23Micah 6:6Micah 6:7Malachi 1:6Malachi 1:8Malachi 1:10Malachi 1:13Malachi 1:14
• See Works

The passages, in Bible order (29)

The same references, sorted Genesis to Revelation. The first 16 are quoted in full; the rest are one click beneath them, book by book.

1. 1 Samuel 15:22

   But Samuel declared: “Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obedience to His voice? Behold, obedience is better than sacrifice, and attentiveness is better than the fat of rams.

   ›Commentary on 1 Samuel 15:222 voices

   “Samuel, that great man, no less clearly reproved Saul, saying, "Is not the word better than a gift?" For hereby one fulfills the law and pleases God, as he says, "The sacrifice of praise shall glorify me." Let one "learn what this means, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice," and I will not condemn the adversaries.

   “And Samuel said,....

   Everything gathered on 1 Samuel 15:22→

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2. Psalms 50:9–15

   I have no need for a bull from your stall or goats from your pens,

   ›Commentary on Psalms 50:9–151 voice

   “The Jews, hearing these things, did not believe, and they doubted they were able to happen. Now the word is proven. They no longer have the place of their sacrifice, since the temple has been destroyed, the altar collapsed and all their administration carried away, …

   Everything gathered on Psalms 50:9–15→

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3. Psalms 51:16

   For You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; You take no pleasure in burnt offerings.

   ›Commentary on Psalms 51:161 voice

   "For if you had desired sacrifice." Here he excuses himself. And first, he shows that sacrifice is not acceptable to God; second, he shows what sacrifice is acceptable to God, at "A sacrifice to God." He says therefore: I promise teaching and praise, for this …

   Everything gathered on Psalms 51:16→

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4. Psalms 51:17

   The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not despise.

   ›Commentary on Psalms 51:172 voices

   “I have not yet alluded to the true and first wisdom, for which our wonderful husbandman and shepherd is conspicuous. The first wisdom is a life worthy of praise, in which a person keeps himself pure for God or is purified for him who is all-pure and all-luminous. God demands of us, as his only sacrifice, purification—that is, a contrite heart, the sacrifice of praise, a new creation in Christ, the new man, and the like, as the Scripture loves to call it.

   “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit,....

   Everything gathered on Psalms 51:17→

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5. Psalms 69:30

   I will praise God’s name in song and exalt Him with thanksgiving.

   ›Commentary on Psalms 69:301 voice

   “Always indeed, dearly beloved, "the earth is full of the Lord's kindness," and the nature of things itself is the teacher to each one of the faithful in the worship of God, while "heaven and earth, the sea and all things that are in them" proclaim the goodness and power of their Creator. The wonderful beauty of the elements that serve him demands a due thanksgiving from the understanding creature.

   Everything gathered on Psalms 69:30→

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6. Psalms 69:31

   And this will please the LORD more than an ox, more than a bull with horns and hooves.

   ›Commentary on Psalms 69:311 voice

   "And he killed for him the fattened calf." About that David sang, "And it shall please God better than a young calf that has horns and hoofs." The calf was slain at this command of the Father, because the Christ, God as the Son of …

   Everything gathered on Psalms 69:31→

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7. Ecclesiastes 5:1

   Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. Draw near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools, who do not know that they do wrong.

   ›Commentary on Ecclesiastes 5:11 voice

   "Be not rash with your mouth, and let not your heart be hasty to utter a word before God; for God is in heaven and you are on earth, so let your words be few. For a dream comes from much concern, and foolish talk from many words." Several men think that this teaches here that we should not promise something too quickly in the presence of God, and without due consideration of our strengths we vow things, which we cannot then fulfil.

   Everything gathered on Ecclesiastes 5:1→

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8. Isaiah 1:11–15

   “What good to Me is your multitude of sacrifices?” says the LORD. “I am full from the burnt offerings of rams and the fat of well-fed cattle; I take no delight in the blood of bulls and lambs and goats.

   ›Commentary on Isaiah 1:11–151 voice

   “By saying that he does not delight in the sacrifices of the people, God is saying this: I abound in my own [sacrifice], I do not seek yours, I do not desire whole burnt offerings of rams and the fat of lambs and the blood of bulls and of goats. And do not come so into my sight.

   Everything gathered on Isaiah 1:11–15→

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9. Isaiah 29:13–16

   Therefore the Lord said: “These people draw near to Me with their mouths and honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me. Their worship of Me is but rules taught by men.

   ›Commentary on Isaiah 29:13–161 voice

   “(Verse 13, 14) And the Lord said: Because this people draw near with their mouth, and with their lips glorify me, but their heart is far from me, and they fear me by the commandment of men, and teach me the precepts and doctrines of men. Therefore, behold, I will add to do wonders and great marvels among this people: for wisdom shall perish from their wise men, and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hidden.

   Everything gathered on Isaiah 29:13–16→

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10. Jeremiah 6:20

    What use to Me is frankincense from Sheba or sweet cane from a distant land? Your burnt offerings are not acceptable; your sacrifices do not please Me.”

    ›Commentary on Jeremiah 6:201 voice

    “Actions not done lawfully and piously are not of advantage, though they may be reputed to be so, but they rather argue hypocrisy in those who venture on them. Therefore, although such persons feign to offer sacrifices, yet they hear from the Father, "Your whole burnt offerings are not acceptable, and your sacrifices do not please me. Although you bring fine flour, it is vanity. Incense also is an abomination to me." … And by Jeremiah, since they were very bold, he threatens, "Gather together your whole burnt offerings with your sacrifices, and eat flesh.

    Everything gathered on Jeremiah 6:20→

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11. Jeremiah 14:12

    Although they may fast, I will not listen to their cry; although they may offer burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them. Instead, I will finish them off by sword and famine and plague.”

    ›Commentary on Jeremiah 14:122 voices

    You see, then, that fasting is certainly not considered by the Lord as a thing that is good in its own nature, because it becomes good and well-pleasing to God not by itself but by other works. Again, from the surrounding circumstances it may be regarded as not merely empty but hateful, as the Lord says: "When they fast, I will not hear their prayers."

    “(Verse 11, 12.) And the Lord said to me: Do not pray for this people for their good. When they fast, I will not listen to their prayers, and if they offer burnt offerings and sacrifices, I will not accept them; for I will consume them by sword, famine, and pestilence. It is foolish to pray for one who has sinned unto death, as John says: There is a sin unto death, I do not say that anyone should pray for him (1 John 5:16). All wrongdoing is sin, but there is sin that is not unto death.

    Everything gathered on Jeremiah 14:12→

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12. Hosea 6:6

    For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.

    ›Commentary on Hosea 6:62 voices

    For the Word of God Himself tells us that He prefers the performance of His commandments to the offering of sacrifice. God proclaims this, Moses declares it to the people, Paul preaches it to the Gentiles. Do that which you understand is most profitable for the time. "I prefer mercy," it is said, "rather than sacrifice." Are they not, then, rather Christians in truth who condemn their own sin, than they who think to defend it? "The just is an accuser of himself in the beginning of his words."

    “For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice,.... That is, the one rather than the other, as the next clause explains it.

    Everything gathered on Hosea 6:6→

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13. Amos 5:21–23

    “I hate, I despise your feasts! I cannot stand the stench of your solemn assemblies.

    ›Commentary on Amos 5:21–231 voice

    “(Verses 21, 22.) I hated and rejected your feasts, and I will not take the smell of your heavens. But if you bring me burnt offerings and your gifts, I will not accept them, and I will not look at the fat of your animals. LXX: I have hated and rejected your feasts, and I will not be pleased with your assemblies.

    Everything gathered on Amos 5:21–23→

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14. Micah 6:6

    With what shall I come before the LORD when I bow before the God on high? Should I come to Him with burnt offerings, with year-old calves?

    ›Commentary on Micah 6:62 voices

    “For what is asked of you, O man? Only that you fear God: seek for him, walk after him, follow in his ways. "With what shall I win over the Lord? Shall I win him over with burnt offerings?" The Lord is not reconciled, nor are sins redeemed, with tens of thousands of young goats or thousands of rams or with the fruits of unholiness, but the grace of the Lord is won with a good life.

    “Wherewith shall I come before the Lord,....

    Everything gathered on Micah 6:6→

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15. Micah 6:7

    Would the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousand rivers of oil? Shall I present my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?

    ›Commentary on Micah 6:72 voices

    “For what is asked of you, O man? Only that you fear God: seek for him, walk after him, follow in his ways. "With what shall I win over the Lord? Shall I win him over with burnt offerings?" The Lord is not reconciled, nor are sins redeemed, with tens of thousands of young goats or thousands of rams or with the fruits of unholiness, but the grace of the Lord is won with a good life.

    “Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams,....

    Everything gathered on Micah 6:7→

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16. Malachi 1:6

    “A son honors his father, and a servant his master. But if I am a father, where is My honor? And if I am a master, where is your fear of Me?” says the LORD of Hosts to you priests who despise My name. “But you ask, ‘How have we despised Your name?’

    ›Commentary on Malachi 1:61 voice

    “Be obedient to your bishop and obey him as your spiritual father. Sons love and slaves fear. "If I am a father," he says, "where is my honor? And if I am a master, where is my fear?" In your case one man combines in himself many titles to your respect. He is at once monk, bishop and uncle. But the bishops also should know themselves to be priests, not lords. Let them render to the clergy the honor that is their due that the clergy may offer to them the respect which belongs to bishops.

    Everything gathered on Malachi 1:6→

    Verse page →Original language →