Proverbs 21:3

3 Doing what is righteous and just is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.^[a]

Proverbs 21:3 Meaning and Commentary

Proverbs 21:3

To do justice and judgment
The moral duties of religion, what is holy, just, and good, which the law requires; what is agreeably to both tables, piety towards God, and justice to men; that which is just and right between man and man; which, especially if done from right principles and with right views, [is] more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice;
not than any sacrifice; than the sacrifice of a broken heart, or the sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving, or of acts of goodness and beneficence, or of a man's whole self to the Lord; but than ceremonial sacrifices; which, though of divine institution, and typical of Christ, and when offered up in the faith of him, were acceptable to God, while in force; yet not when done without faith and in hypocrisy, and especially when done to cover and countenance immoral actions; and, even when compared with moral duties, the latter were preferable to them; see ( 1 Samuel 15:22 ) ( Mark 12:33 ) .

Proverbs 21:3 In-Context

1 A king's heart is a water channel in the Lord's hand: He directs it wherever He chooses.

2 All the ways of a man seem right to him, but the Lord evaluates the motives.

3 Doing what is righteous and just is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.

4 The lamp that guides the wicked- haughty eyes and an arrogant heart-is sin.

5 The plans of the diligent certainly lead to profit, but anyone who is reckless only becomes poor.

Footnotes

• [a] 1 Sm 15:22; Hs 6:6; Mt 9:13