Isaiah 1:11
"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.
What is your multitude of sacrifices to Me?
This phrase begins with a rhetorical question from God, highlighting the futility of the Israelites' sacrifices. The Hebrew word for "sacrifices" is "זְבָחִים" (zevachim), which refers to offerings made to God, often involving the slaughter of animals. Historically, sacrifices were central to Israelite worship, symbolizing atonement and devotion. However, God questions their value when performed without genuine faith and obedience. This reflects a recurring biblical theme: God desires heartfelt worship over ritualistic practices.

says the LORD
The use of "LORD" in all caps represents the Hebrew name "YHWH" (Yahweh), the covenant name of God. This emphasizes the personal relationship between God and Israel. It is not a distant deity speaking, but their covenant God, who has expectations of sincerity and righteousness from His people. The authority of the message is underscored by the divine speaker, reminding the Israelites of their obligations under the covenant.

I am full of burnt offerings of rams
"Burnt offerings" (Hebrew: "עוֹלוֹת" - olot) were offerings completely consumed by fire, symbolizing total dedication to God. "Rams" were valuable animals, often used in significant sacrifices. The phrase "I am full" suggests that God is weary or satiated with these offerings, indicating that the sheer quantity of sacrifices does not equate to true worship. This critique points to the emptiness of ritual without righteousness.

and the fat of well-fed cattle
The "fat" of animals, considered the best part, was often reserved for God in sacrifices. "Well-fed cattle" implies offerings of high quality, yet God expresses dissatisfaction. This highlights the disconnect between the external quality of offerings and the internal state of the worshippers. The emphasis is on the heart behind the offering, not the offering itself.

I have no delight in the blood of bulls and lambs and goats
"Bulls, lambs, and goats" were common sacrificial animals, each with specific roles in various offerings. The "blood" was a crucial element in atonement rituals, symbolizing life and purification. However, God declares He takes "no delight" in these sacrifices when they are devoid of true repentance and justice. This statement challenges the notion that ritual alone can please God, urging a return to sincere faith and ethical living.

Persons / Places / Events
1. The LORD (Yahweh)
The covenant God of Israel, who is speaking through the prophet Isaiah, expressing His dissatisfaction with the people's empty religious rituals.

2. Isaiah
A major prophet in the Old Testament, called by God to deliver messages of both judgment and hope to the people of Judah and Jerusalem.

3. Judah and Jerusalem
The southern kingdom of Israel and its capital, where the people were engaging in religious practices that had become hollow and disconnected from true worship and obedience.

4. Sacrifices and Offerings
Rituals commanded in the Mosaic Law, intended to express worship, atonement, and dedication to God, but which had become mere formalities for the people.

5. Rams, Cattle, Bulls, Lambs, and Goats
Animals used in the sacrificial system, representing the people's attempts to fulfill religious obligations without genuine repentance or faith.
Teaching Points
True Worship Over Rituals
God desires genuine worship that stems from a heart of obedience and love, rather than mere ritualistic practices. Our religious activities should reflect a sincere relationship with God.

The Heart of Repentance
True repentance involves a change of heart and behavior, not just external compliance. God is looking for a transformation that aligns our lives with His will.

The Danger of Hypocrisy
Engaging in religious rituals without true devotion can lead to hypocrisy. We must examine our motives and ensure our worship is authentic and pleasing to God.

God's Desire for Justice and Mercy
Our faith should manifest in actions that promote justice, mercy, and humility. These are the sacrifices that God truly values.

Reflecting Christ in Our Worship
As Christians, our worship should reflect the character of Christ, who perfectly embodied obedience and love for the Father. Our lives should be a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God.
Bible Study Questions
1. How can we ensure that our worship practices today are genuine and not just empty rituals?

2. In what ways can we demonstrate obedience to God in our daily lives, beyond religious activities?

3. How does the message of Isaiah 1:11 challenge us to examine our motives in worship and service?

4. What are some practical ways we can prioritize justice, mercy, and humility in our communities?

5. How can we reflect the heart of Christ in our worship and interactions with others, according to the teachings of Isaiah and other related scriptures?
Connections to Other Scriptures
1 Samuel 15:22
This verse highlights the principle that obedience to God is more important than sacrifice, echoing the message in Isaiah 1:11.

Micah 6:6-8
These verses emphasize that God desires justice, mercy, and humility over ritualistic offerings, aligning with the critique in Isaiah 1:11.

Psalm 51:16-17
David acknowledges that God does not delight in sacrifices alone but desires a contrite heart, which complements the message in Isaiah 1:11.

Hosea 6:6
God expresses His preference for mercy and knowledge of Him over burnt offerings, reinforcing the theme of genuine devotion over empty rituals.
Useless SacrificeCharles KingsleyIsaiah 1:11
A Last AppealLloyd Robinson.Isaiah 1:2-31
God Finds Vindication in NatureD. Davies.Isaiah 1:2-31
God Man's Truest FriendIsaiah 1:2-31
IngratitudeBishop Reynolds.Isaiah 1:2-31
Isaiah's SermonIsaiah 1:2-31
Israel's ApostasyF. Delitzsch.Isaiah 1:2-31
The Fatherhood of God in Relation to IsraelF. Delitzsch.Isaiah 1:2-31
The Fatherhood of God in the Old TestamentJ. Parker, D. D.Isaiah 1:2-31
The Heinousness of Rebellion Against God's Paternal GovernmentT. W. Coit.Isaiah 1:2-31
The Parental Grief of God, and its Pathetic AppealD. Davies.Isaiah 1:2-31
The Sinful NationSermons by the Monday ClubIsaiah 1:2-31
The Sinful NationHanford A. Edson, D. D.Isaiah 1:2-31
The Sinful NationJ. Sanderson, D. D.Isaiah 1:2-31
The People's Plea ConsideredE. Johnson Isaiah 1:10-17
The Prophetic StrainW. Clarkson Isaiah 1:10-20
Mere Ceremonial an Offense to GodR. Tuck Isaiah 1:11-13
A Red-Handed ReligionistA. Smellie, M. A.Isaiah 1:11-15
Audacious HypocrisyF. Jacox, B. A.Isaiah 1:11-15
Detestable WorshipF. Jacox, B. A.Isaiah 1:11-15
Dissembled PietyIsaiah 1:11-15
Formal ReligionH. O. Mackey.Isaiah 1:11-15
Holiness Becometh Thine HouseSunday School ChronicleIsaiah 1:11-15
Hypocrisy and Partiality in ReligionW. Reading, M. A.Isaiah 1:11-15
InconsistencyH. O. Mackey.Isaiah 1:11-15
InconsistencyF. Jacox, B. A.Isaiah 1:11-15
Moral WhitewashD. Fraser, D. D.Isaiah 1:11-15
Pew HoldingIsaiah 1:11-15
Religious Hypocrisy: Dukes Orleans and BurgundyStudent's FranceIsaiah 1:11-15
ReligiousnessProf. G. A. Smith, D. D.Isaiah 1:11-15
Sin Offensive to GodN. Rogers.Isaiah 1:11-15
Smuggler and Preacher TooChristian CommonwealthIsaiah 1:11-15
People
Ahaz, Amos, Amoz, Hezekiah, Isaiah, Jotham, Uzziah
Places
Gomorrah, Jerusalem, Sodom, Zion
Topics
Abundance, Animals, Beasts, Best, Blood, Bullocks, Bulls, Burned, Burnt, Burnt-offerings, Cattle, Delight, Desired, Fat, Fatlings, Fattened, Fed, Full, Goats, He-goats, Lambs, Male, Multiplied, Multitude, Offerings, Oxen, Pleasure, Purpose, Rams, Sacrifices, Sated, Satiated, Says, Sheep, Weariness
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Isaiah 1:11

     1175   God, will of
     4615   bull
     4651   goat
     5918   pleasure

Isaiah 1:10-17

     5926   rebuke

Isaiah 1:10-18

     8618   prayerfulness

Isaiah 1:11-13

     7316   blood, OT sacrifices
     8460   pleasing God

Isaiah 1:11-15

     6109   alienation
     7322   burnt offering
     8784   nominal religion

Isaiah 1:11-17

     5381   law, letter and spirit
     5943   self-deception
     6027   sin, remedy for
     7328   ceremonies
     7422   ritual
     8315   orthodoxy, in OT
     8628   worship, hindrances

Library
Useless Sacrifice
Preached at Southsea for the Mission of the Good Shepherd. October 1871. Isaiah i. 11-17. "To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices unto me? saith the Lord: . . . When ye come to appear before me, who hath required this at your hand, to tread my courts? Bring no more vain oblations; incense is an abomination to me; the new moons and sabbaths, the calling of assemblies, I cannot away with; it is iniquity, even the solemn meeting. Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul
Charles Kingsley—All Saints' Day and Other Sermons

The Stupidity of Godlessness
The ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his master's crib: but Israel doth not know, My people doth not consider.'--ISAIAH i. 3. This is primarily an indictment against Israel, but it touches us all. 'Doth not know' i.e. has no familiar acquaintance with; 'doth not consider,' i.e. frivolously ignores, never meditates on. I. This is a common attitude of mind towards God. Blank indifference towards Him is far more frequent than conscious hostility. Take a hundred men at random as they hurry through
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

The Great Suit: Jehovah Versus Judah
'The vision of Isaiah the son of Amoz, which he saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem, in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah. I Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth, for the Lord hath spoken: I have nourished and brought up children, and they have rebelled against Me. 3. The ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his master's crib: but Israel doth not know, my people doth not consider. 4. Ah sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a seed of evildoers, children that are
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

What Sin Does to Men
'Ye shall be as an oak whose leaf fadeth, and as a garden that hath no water. 31. And the strong shall be as tow, and His work as a spark; and they shall both burn together, and none shall quench them.'--ISAIAH i. 30-31. The original reference of these words is to the threatened retribution for national idolatry, of which 'oaks' and 'gardens' were both seats. The nation was, as it were, dried up and made inflammable; the idol was as the 'spark' or the occasion for destruction. But a wider application,
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

1St Day of Month. Pardoning Grace.
"He is Faithful that Promised." "Come now, let us reason together, saith the Lord: Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool."--ISAIAH i. 18. Pardoning Grace. My soul! thy God summons thee to His audience chamber! Infinite purity seeks to reason with infinite vileness! Deity stoops to speak to dust! Dread not the meeting. It is the most gracious, as well as wondrous of all conferences. Jehovah himself breaks silence! He
John Ross Macduff—The Faithful Promiser

Worship
ISAIAH i. 12, 13. When ye come to appear before me, who hath required this at your hand, to tread my courts? Bring no more vain oblations; incense is an abomination unto me; the new moons and sabbaths, the calling of assemblies, I cannot away with; it is iniquity, even the solemn meeting. This is a very awful text; one of those which terrify us--or at least ought to terrify us--and set us on asking ourselves seriously and honestly--'What do I believe after all? What manner of man am I after all?
Charles Kingsley—The Good News of God

"But we are all as an Unclean Thing, and all Our Righteousnesses are as Filthy Rags,"
Isaiah lxiv 6, 7.--"But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags," &c. This people's condition agreeth well with ours, though the Lord's dealing be very different. The confessory part of this prayer belongeth to us now; and strange it is, that there is such odds of the Lord's dispensations, when there is no difference in our conditions; always we know not how soon the complaint may be ours also. This prayer was prayed long before the judgment and captivity came
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning

The Time of Doubting and of Spiritual Darkness Constitutes
another season when it is very difficult to keep the heart. When the light and comfort of the divine presence is withdrawn; when the believer, from the prevalence of indwelling sin in one form or other, is ready to renounce his hopes, to infer desperate conclusions with respect to himself, to regard his former comforts as vain delusions, and his professions as hypocrisy; at such a time much diligence is necessary to keep the heart from despondency. The Christian's distress arises from his apprehension
John Flavel—On Keeping the Heart

What are Consequences of Backsliding in Heart.
The text says, that "the backslider in heart shall be filled with his own ways." 1. He shall be filled with his own works. But these are dead works, they are not works of faith and love, which are acceptable to God, but are the filthy rags of his own righteousness. If they are performed as religious services, they are but loathsome hypocrisy, and an abomination to God; there is no heart in them. To such a person God says: "Who hath required this at your hand?" (Isaiah 1:12). "Ye are they which justify
Charles G. Finney—The Backslider in Heart

Works.
The extant works of St. Basil may be conveniently classified as follows: I. Dogmatic. (i) Adversus Eunomium. Pros Eunomion. (ii) De Spiritu Sancto. Peri tou Pneumatos. II. Exegetic. [302] (i) In Hexæmeron. Eis ten Exaemeron. (ii) Homiliæ on Pss. i., vii., xiv., xxviii., xxix., xxxii., xxxiii., xliv., xlv., xlviii., lix., lxi., cxiv. (iii) Commentary on Isaiah i.-xvi. III. Ascetic. (i) Tractatus prævii. (ii.) Prooemium de Judicio Dei and De Fide. (iii) Moralia. Ta
Basil—Basil: Letters and Select Works

"His Chains Fell Off. " Acts xii. 7
IN ANSWER TO PRAYER:--Do you know any one tied and bound? Have you prayed for them without ceasing? Are you conscious of the enemy putting YOUR hands or feet in fetters? Are you unable to reach that purse which was at one time always within your grasp, so that now you do not give to the poor as you once did? Are your feet prevented from going on errands of mercy? Do the manacles keep you at home on Sundays, instead of walking muddy lanes to preach? If so, how do you like it? Do you not think
Thomas Champness—Broken Bread

The Greater Prophets.
1. We have already seen (Chap. 15, Nos. 11 and 12) that from Moses to Samuel the appearances of prophets were infrequent; that with Samuel and the prophetical school established by him there began a new era, in which the prophets were recognized as a distinct order of men in the Theocracy; and that the age of written prophecy did not begin till about the reign of Uzziah, some three centuries after Samuel. The Jewish division of the latter prophets--prophets in the more restricted sense of the
E. P. Barrows—Companion to the Bible

Synagogues in the City; and Schools.
"R. Phinehas, in the name of R. Hoshaia, saith, There were four hundred and sixty synagogues in Jerusalem: every one of which had a house of the book, and a house of doctrine," "A house of the book for the Scripture," that is, where the Scripture might be read: "and a house of doctrine for traditions," that is, the Beth Midrash, where traditions might be taught. These things are recited elsewhere, and there the number ariseth to four hundred and eighty. "R. Phinehas, in the name of R. Hoshaia, saith,
John Lightfoot—From the Talmud and Hebraica

The Massacre
Your hands are full of blood.--Isaiah i. 15. Foiled at every turn, Gaïnas began to feel that his star was no longer in the ascendant; that fortune had abandoned him; that in the game of ambition he had been finally defeated; that Nemesis was but awaiting her opportunity. Tormented more and more by indecision and disappointment, and seeing in their effects the anger of a besetting demon, he gave out that he was ill, and that he should resort to the Chapel of St. John the Baptist at the Hebdomon.
Frederic William Farrar—Gathering Clouds: A Tale of the Days of St. Chrysostom

Fresh Troubles
The whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint. From the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness in it; but wounds, and bruises, and festering sores: they have not been closed, neither bound up, neither mollified with oil.--Isaiah i. 5-6. We have already seen enough to show the intense and all but universal corruption which ruined the true work of the Church in Antioch, and still more in Constantinople. It is distressing to find the same moral apostasy, the same revolting unreality,
Frederic William Farrar—Gathering Clouds: A Tale of the Days of St. Chrysostom

Self-Righteousness Insufficient.
1 "Where are the mourners, [1] (saith the Lord) "That wait and tremble at my word, "That walk in darkness all the day? "Come, make my name your trust and stay. 2 ["No works nor duties of your own "Can for the smallest sin atone; "The robes [2] that nature may provide "Will not your least pollutions hide. 3 "The softest couch that nature knows "Can give the conscience no repose: "Look to my righteousness, and live; "Comfort and peace are mine to give.] 4 "Ye sons of pride that kindle coals "With your
Isaac Watts—Hymns and Spiritual Songs

Confession and Prayer. December 13, 1776

John Newton—Olney Hymns

The Expositor's Bible.
Crown 8vo, cloth, price 7s. 6d. each vol. FIRST SERIES, 1887-8. Colossians. By the Rev. A. MACLAREN, D.D. St. Mark. By the Right Rev. the Bishop of Derry. Genesis. By Prof. MARCUS DODS, D.D. 1 Samuel. By Prof. W. G. BLAIKIE, D.D. 2 Samuel. By the same Author. Hebrews. By Principal T. C. EDWARDS, D.D. SECOND SERIES, 1888-9. Galatians. By Prof. G. G. FINDLAY, B.A., D.D. The Pastoral Epistles. By the Rev. A. PLUMMER, D.D. Isaiah I.-XXXIX. By Prof. G. A. SMITH, D.D. Vol. I. The Book of Revelation.
Thomas Charles Edwards—The Expositor's Bible: The Epistle to the Hebrews

"The Dust of the Actual"
"This may be counted as our richest gain, to have learned afresh one's utter impotency so completely that the past axiom of service, 'I can no more convert a soul than create a star,' comes to be an awful revelation, so that God alone may be exalted in that day." Rev. Walter Searle, Africa. WE have just come back from a Pariah village. Now see it all with me. Such a curious little collection of huts, thrown down anywhere; such half-frightened, half-friendly faces; such a scurrying in of some
Amy Wilson-Carmichael—Things as They Are

If it is Objected, that the Necessity which Urges us to Pray is not Always...
If it is objected, that the necessity which urges us to pray is not always equal, I admit it, and this distinction is profitably taught us by James: " Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms" (James 5:13). Therefore, common sense itself dictates, that as we are too sluggish, we must be stimulated by God to pray earnestly whenever the occasion requires. This David calls a time when God "may be found" (a seasonable time); because, as he declares in several other
John Calvin—Of Prayer--A Perpetual Exercise of Faith

How those are to be Admonished who Abstain not from the Sins which they Bewail, and those Who, Abstaining from Them, Bewail them Not.
(Admonition 31.) Differently to be admonished are those who lament their transgressions, and yet forsake them not, and those who forsake them, and yet lament them not. For those who lament their transgressions and yet forsake them not are to be admonished to learn to consider anxiously that they cleanse themselves in vain by their weeping, if they wickedly defile themselves in their living, seeing that the end for which they wash themselves in tears is that, when clean, they may return to filth.
Leo the Great—Writings of Leo the Great

"And There is None that Calleth Upon Thy Name, that Stirreth up Himself to Take Hold on Thee,"
Isaiah lxiv. 7.--"And there is none that calleth upon thy name, that stirreth up himself to take hold on thee," &c. They go on in the confession of their sins. Many a man hath soon done with that a general notion of sin is the highest advancement in repentance that many attain to. You may see here sin and judgment mixed in thorough other(315) in their complaint. They do not so fix their eyes upon their desolate estate of captivity, as to forget their provocations. Many a man would spend more affection,
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning

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