Jer 2:5, 31, Mal 1:6-7, 2:17, 3:7-8, 13-14, Luk 10:29 | ESV | STEP | Thus says the Lord : What wrong did your fathers find in me that they went far from me, and went after worthlessness , and became worthless ?

31 And you, O generation, behold the word of the Lord.
Have I been a wilderness to Israel,
or a land of thick darkness?
Why then do my people say, ‘We are free,
we will come no more to you’?

Malachi 1:6-7

The Priests’ Polluted Offerings

6 ^d“A son honors his father, and a servant his master. If then I am ^ea father, where is my honor? And if I am ^fa master, where is my fear? says the Lord of hosts to you, O priests, who despise my name. ^gBut you say, ‘How have we despised your name?’ 7 ^hBy offering polluted food upon my altar. ⁱBut you say, ‘How have we polluted you?’ By saying that ^jthe Lord’s table may be despised.

Malachi 2:17

The Messenger of the Lord

17 ^kYou have wearied the Lord with your words. ^lBut you say, “How have we wearied him?” ^mBy saying, “Everyone who does evil is good in the sight of the Lord, and he delights in them.” Or by asking, ⁿ“Where is the God of justice?”

Malachi 3:7-8

7 ^oFrom the days of your fathers you have turned aside from my statutes and have not kept them. ^pReturn to me, and I will return to you, says the Lord of hosts. ^qBut you say, ‘How shall we return?’ 8 Will man rob God? Yet you are robbing me. ^rBut you say, ‘How have we robbed you?’ ^sIn your tithes and contributions.

Malachi 3:13-14

13 ^t“Your words have been hard against me, says the Lord. ^uBut you say, ‘How have we spoken against you?’ 14 You have said, ^v‘It is vain to serve God. ^wWhat is the profit of our keeping his charge or of walking as in mourning before the Lord of hosts?

Luke 10:29

29 But he, ^xdesiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”