Isaiah 1:13

13 "Quit your worship charades. I can't stand your trivial religious games: Monthly conferences, weekly Sabbaths, special meetings - meetings, meetings, meetings - I can't stand one more!

Isaiah 1:13 Meaning and Commentary

Isaiah 1:13

Bring no more vain oblations
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 ( Matthew 15:9 ) . The Targum renders it, "an oblation of robbery"; see ( 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, ( Exodus 30:1 Exodus 30:7 Exodus 30:8 ) ( Leviticus 2:1 ) was typical of prayer, ( Psalms 141:2 ) ( 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 blessed, ( Isaiah 66:3 ) the new moons;
the feasts kept on the first day of the month, at the appearance of the moon: and sabbaths;
observed every seventh day, every seventh year, and every seven times seventh year: the calling of assemblies;
or "the new moon and sabbath, do not call a congregation". These assemblies called were the holy convocations on the seventh day sabbath, at the feasts of passover, pentecost, and tabernacles, at the blowing of the trumpets, and on the day of atonement, ( Leviticus 23:3 ) &c. ( Numbers 28:26 ) ( Numbers 29:1 Numbers 29:7 Numbers 29:12 ) . The words, I cannot away with
or "bear", may be joined with the following word, "iniquity"; and the meaning is, that the Lord could not bear the iniquity that was in their hearts when they had their solemn assemblies and holy convocations: [it is] iniquity, even the solemn meeting:
or cessation from work on any of the above festivals; particularly the feast of weeks, or pentecost, was called (true) , "Atzareth", by the Jews ^F7, the same word with this here ^F8.

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FOOTNOTES:

F7 Misn. Chagiga, c. 2. sect. 4.
F8 The whole verse, agreeably to the accents, is thus rendered by Reinbeck. de Accent. Heb. p. 377, 378. ``Do not go on to offer oblation of vanity; incense of abomination is it to me; [do not go on, I say], on the new moon, and sabbath, to call a convocation: I cannot [bear] iniquity, together with the most solemn congregation.''

Isaiah 1:13 In-Context

11 "Why this frenzy of sacrifices?" God's asking. "Don't you think I've had my fill of burnt sacrifices, rams and plump grain-fed calves? Don't you think I've had my fill of blood from bulls, lambs, and goats?

12 When you come before me, who ever gave you the idea of acting like this, Running here and there, doing this and that - all this sheer commotion in the place provided for worship?

13 "Quit your worship charades. I can't stand your trivial religious games: Monthly conferences, weekly Sabbaths, special meetings - meetings, meetings, meetings - I can't stand one more!

14 Meetings for this, meetings for that. I hate them! You've worn me out! I'm sick of your religion, religion, religion, while you go right on sinning.

15 When you put on your next prayer-performance, I'll be looking the other way. No matter how long or loud or often you pray, I'll not be listening. And do you know why? Because you've been tearing people to pieces, and your hands are bloody.