Isaiah 1:13

“Bring no more vain oblations, &c.] As all such were, which were offered up without faith in Christ, in hypocrisy, and with dependence on them for pardon and atonement, and particularly when put an end to by the sacrifice of Christ; (see <401509>Matthew 15:9). The Targum renders it, “an oblation of robbery”; (see <236008>Isaiah 60:8) incense is an abomination to me; instead of being of a sweet smell. This was burnt on the altar of incense, and put upon the sacrifices, (<023001>Exodus 30:1,7,8 <030201>Leviticus 2:1) was typical of prayer, (<19E102>Psalm 141:2 <660803> Revelation 8:3) but now under the Gospel dispensation to be disused, and so disagreeable to God, that it is as if an idol was…”

“oblations--unbloody; "meat (old English sense, not flesh) offerings," that is, of flour, fruits, oil, &c. (Lev 2:1-13). Hebrew, mincha. incense--put upon the sacrifices, and burnt on the altar of incense. Type of prayer (Psa 141:2; Rev 8:3). new moons--observed as festivals (Num 10:10; Num 28:11, Num 28:14) with sacrifices and blowing of silver trumpets. sabbaths--both the seventh day and the beginning and closing days of the great feasts (Lev. 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 (Lev 23:36; Joh 7:37).”

“Bring no more - God does not intend absolutely to forbid this kind of worship, but he expresses his strong abhorrence of the manner in which it was done. He desired a better state of mind; he preferred purity of heart to all this external homage. Vain - Hebrew “offering of vanity” - שׁוא shâv' - offerings which were hollow, false, deceitful, and hypocritical. Oblations - מנחת minchath. This word properly denotes a gift, or present, of any kind Genesis 32:13, and then especially a present or offering to the Deity, Genesis 4:3-5. It does not denote a bloody offering, but what is improperly rendered in the Old Testament, a meat-offering Leviticus 2:1; Leviticus 6:14; Leviticus 9:17 - an…”

“The solemn meeting - The most solemn day of each of the three feasts, which was the last day. Isaiah 1:15”

“1:13 The incense that accompanied offerings was intended as a sweet fragrance to the Lord (see Exod 30:7-8), but when offered with hypocrisy it was a nauseating stench and an abomination to God. • While the Lord had ordered special days for fasting at the Temple (Lev 16:31; 23:32; Num 29:7), they were ruined by the guilt of Judah’s sin (see Isa 58:1-7; Matt 6:16-18). • pious meetings: These holy days were associated with the new moon and other festivals (see Lev 23).”

“vain: Eze 20:39; Mal 1:10; Mat 15:9; Luk 11:42 incense: Isa 66:3; Pro 21:27 the new: Lev. 23:1-44; Num. 28:1-29:40; Deut. 16:1-22; Lam 2:6; Joe 1:14, Joe 2:15 it is: Co1 11:17; Phi 1:15 iniquity: or, grief, Psa 78:40; Eph 4:30 Isaiah 1:14”

“Because they had not performed what Jehovah commanded as He commanded it, He expressly forbids them to continue it. "Continue not to bring lying meat-offering; abomination incense is it to me." Minchah (the meat-offering) was the vegetable offering, as distinguished from zebach, the animal sacrifice. It is called a "lying meat-offering," as being a hypocritical dead work, behind which there was none of the feeling which it appeared to express. In the second clause the Sept., Vulg., Gesenius, and others adopt the rendering "incense - an abomination is it to me," ketoreth being taken as the name of the daily burning of incense upon the golden altar in the holy place ( Exo 30:8). But neither in…”