v 13. Stop bringing me your meaningless gifts;
the incense of your offerings disgusts me!
As for your celebrations of the new moon and the Sabbath
and your special days for fasting— they are all sinful and false.
I want no more of your pious meetings.
At this point in the history of the Jewish nation there was a great deal of ‘religion’ among them – there were apparent acts of ‘worship’ and sacrifices, plenty of ceremony and processions, but a lack of holy living. So by verses 19-20 you find the warnings beginning, and the threat of judgement coming on the nation.
Sadly, this kind of mismatch between ‘public religion’ and personal holiness has often raised its head in society. Even Jesus drew attention to it in His day when He spoke about the behaviour of some Scribes and Pharisees. They were meticulous about tithing, but were known to cheat poor widows out of their possessions. Beware of allowing a gap to open up between a professed faith and public conduct!
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