Isa 1:11-17 | JFB | STEP | 11. God does not here absolutely disparage sacrifice, which is as old and universal as sin ( ; ), and sin is almost as old as the world; but sacrifice, unaccompanied with obedience of heart and life ( ; Psa 50:9-13; 51:16-19; ). Positive precepts are only means; moral obedience is the end. A foreshadowing of the gospel, when the One real sacrifice was to supersede all the shadowy ones, and "bring in everlasting righteousness" ( , ; ; ). full-- to satiety; weary of burnt offerings-- burnt whole, except the blood, which was sprinkled about the altar. fat-- not to be eaten by man, but burnt on the altar ( , , ).

‏ Isaiah 1:11-17

11. God does not here absolutely disparage sacrifice, which is as old and universal as sin (Ge 3:21; 4:4), and sin is almost as old as the world; but sacrifice, unaccompanied with obedience of heart and life (1Sa 15:22; Psa 50:9-13; 51:16-19; Ho 6:6). Positive precepts are only means; moral obedience is the end. A foreshadowing of the gospel, when the One real sacrifice was to supersede all the shadowy ones, and "bring in everlasting righteousness" (Psa 40:6, 7; Da 9:24-27; He 10:1-14).

full--to satiety; weary of

burnt offerings--burnt whole, except the blood, which was sprinkled about the altar.

fat--not to be eaten by man, but burnt on the altar (Le 3:4, 5, 11, 17).

12. appear before me--in the temple where the Shekinah, resting on the ark, was the symbol of God's presence (Ex 23:15; Psa 42:2).

who hath required this--as if you were doing God a service by such hypocritical offerings (Job 35:7). God did require it (Ex 23:17), but not in this spirit (Mi 6:6, 7).

courts--areas, in which the worshippers were. None but priests entered the temple itself.

13. oblations--unbloody; "meat (old English sense, not flesh) offerings," that is, of flour, fruits, oil, &c. (Le 2:1-13). Hebrew, mincha.

incense--put upon the sacrifices, and burnt on the altar of incense. Type of prayer (Psa 141:2; Re 8:3).

new moons--observed as festivals (Nu 10:10; 28:11, 14) with sacrifices and blowing of silver trumpets.

sabbaths--both the seventh day and the beginning and closing days of the great feasts (Le 23:24-39).

away with--bear, Maurer translates, "I cannot bear iniquity and the solemn meeting," that is, the meeting associated with iniquity--literally, the closing days of the feasts; so the great days (Le 23:36; Joh 7:37).

14. appointed--the sabbath, passover, pentecost, day of atonement, and feast of tabernacles [Hengstenberg]; they alone were fixed to certain times of the year.

weary--(Is 43:24).

15. (Psa 66:18; Pr 28:9; La 3:43, 44).

spread ... hands--in prayer (1Ki 8:22). Hebrew, "bloods," for all heinous sins, persecution of God's servants especially (Mt 23:35). It was the vocation of the prophets to dispel the delusion, so contrary to the law itself (De 10:16), that outward ritualism would satisfy God.

16. God saith to the sinner, "Wash you," &c., that he, finding his inability to "make" himself "clean," may cry to God, Wash me, cleanse me (Psa 51:2, 7, 10).

before mine eyes--not mere outward reformation before man's eyes, who cannot, as God, see into the heart (Jr 32:19).

17. seek judgment--justice, as magistrates, instead of seeking bribes (Jr 22:3, 16).

judge--vindicate (Psa 68:5; Jas 1:27).