Attributed commentary excerpt
John Gill's Exposition on Isaiah 1:11
A historical reference excerpt for this verse. Read it alongside the biblical text and other available sources.
Exposition of the Old and New Testament
John Gill (1697–1771) · 18th-century historical commentary
Source: BibleWord.ai's local reference edition of this named work.
To what purpose [is] the multitude of your sacrifices unto me? saith the Lord, &c.] These people, though they neglected the weightier matters of the law, and the more substantial duties of religion, as did the Scribes and Pharisees in Christ’s time, (<402323>Matthew 23:23) yet were very diligent in the observance of the ceremonial law, and repeated their sacrifices almost without number, on which they placed all their trust and dependence; wherefore, to take off their confidence in these things, the Lord observes to them the unprofitableness of them; they could be of no avail to them, for they could not expiate their sins, or atone for them; and they could not be profitable to God, for he had no need of them; (see <195010> Psalm 50:10-12). I am full of the burnt offerings of rams, and the fat of fed beasts; to the loathing of them, and therefore would no more eat their flesh, and drink their blood, or accept of them in sacrifice, (<195013>Psalm 50:13) “rams” were used for burnt offerings, (<022918>Exodus 29:18) (<030110>Leviticus 1:10) and the fat of any creature offered in sacrifice was burnt, and forbidden to be eaten by men, (<030108>Leviticus 1:8,12 3:4,5,10,11) (<030115>Leviticus 1:15,16 4:810,19,31,35 7:25,31) and I delight not in the blood of bullocks, or of lambs, or of he goats: as he did in moral services, in acts of beneficence and mercy, and in sacrifices of praise and thanksgiving, (<091522>1 Samuel 15:22) (<280606>Hosea 6:6 <196930>Psalm 69:30,31) much less did he delight in the sacrifices of these creatures, as offered by such wicked hands and without faith in the blood and sacrifice of Christ; and still less when these were superseded and abrogated by Christ; for this prophecy belongs to the times of the apostles, as appears from (<230109>Isaiah 1:9) (see <194006>Psalm 40:6,7). The several creatures mentioned were used in sacrifice, and their blood was sprinkled round about the altar, (<030302>Leviticus 3:2,8,13) and before the vail, (<030406>Leviticus 4:6,17).
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