He that killeth an ox, is as if he slew a man
Not that killed the ox of his neighbour, which, according to law,
he was to pay for; or that killed one for food, which was lawful
to be done; but that slew one, and offered it as a sacrifice; not
blamed because blind or lame, or had any blemish in it, and so
unfit for sacrifice; or because not rightly offered, under a due
sense of sin, and with repentance for it, and faith in Christ;
but because all sacrifices of this kind are now abolished in
Gospel times, to which this prophecy belongs; Christ the great
sacrifice being offered up; and therefore to offer sacrifice,
which, notwithstanding the unbelieving Jews continued daily, till
it was made to cease by the destruction of their temple, was a
great offence to God; it was as grievous to him as offering their
children to Moloch; or as the murder of a man; and was indeed a
trampling under foot the Son of God, and accounting his blood and
sacrifice as nothing, which was highly displeasing to God:
he that sacrificeth a lamb, as if he cut off a dog's
neck;
the lamb for the daily sacrifice, morning and evening, or the
passover lamb, or any other: this now is no more acceptable to
God, than if a dog, a very impure creature, was slain, his head
cut off, and offered on the altar; which was so abominable to the
Lord, that the price of one might not be brought into his house,
( Deuteronomy 23:18 ) :
he that offereth an oblation, as if he offered swine's
blood;
the meat offering, made of fine flour, on which oil was poured,
and frankincense put, ( Leviticus
2:1 ) , however rightly composed it might be, and offered
according to law, yet now of no more esteem with God than blood,
which was forbidden by the same law; nay, than the blood of
swine, which creature itself, according to the ceremonial law,
was unclean, and might not be eaten, and much less be offered up,
and still less its blood, ( Leviticus
11:7 Leviticus
11:8 ) ( 17:10 ) :
and he that burneth incense, as if he blessed an
idol;
or that "remembers incense" F16; that offers it as a
memorial of mercies, and by way of thankfulness for them, as if
he gave thanks to an idol, which is nothing, and vanity and
vexation in the world; sacrifices of such kind, be they what they
will, are reckoned no other than as idolatry and will worship:
yea, they have chosen their own ways:
which were evil, and opposite to the ways of God, especially to
the way of salvation by Christ; they gave heed to the traditions
of the elders; continued the service of the ceremonial law; and
set up their own righteousness, in opposition to the doctrines,
ordinances, sacrifice, and righteousness of Christ: and
their soul delighteth in their abominations:
things which were abominable unto God; as were their traditions,
which were preferred to the word of God, and by which they made
it void; and their sacrifices being offered up contrary to his
will, and with a wicked mind; and their righteousness being
imperfect, and trusted in, to the neglect and contempt of the
righteousness of his Son.