Obedience is better than offerings and sacrifices
Yahweh does not want offerings and sacrifices from an unclean heart. An unclean heart is found in someone who does not obey Yahweh’s laws and commandments (i.e. Yahweh’s righteousness teachings), does not have love, and sins. This is evidenced in Cain’s sacrifice that was not acceptable to the Almighty.
Genesis 4:3 And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto Yahweh. 4 And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And Yahweh had respect unto Abel and to his offering: 5 But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect.
1 John 3:10 In this the children of Yahweh are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of Yahweh, neither he that loveth not his brother. 11 For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. 12 Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother’s righteous.
Hebrews 11:4 By faith Abel offered unto Yahweh a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, Yahweh testifying of his gifts:
In Yahweh’s eyes, obeying His laws and commandments, which culminate in love, is required before offerings and sacrifices. In fact, if saints don’t obey Yahweh, our offerings and sacrifices are an abomination to Him.
1 Samuel 15:22 And Samuel said, Hath Yahweh as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of Yahweh? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken (#7181) than the fat of rams. 23 For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry.
7181 qashab {kaw-shab’} • a primitive root; TWOT – 2084; v • AV – hearken 27, attend 10, heed 3, hear 2, incline 1, marked 1, regarded 1, mark well 1; 46 • 1) to hear, be attentive, heed, incline (of ears), attend (of ears), hearken, pay attention, listen 1a) (Qal) incline, attend (of ears), hearken, pay attention, listen 1b) (Hiphil) to pay attention, give attention
Jeremiah 6:19 Hear, O earth: behold, I will bring evil upon this people, even the fruit of their thoughts, because they have not hearkened (#7181) unto my words, nor to my law, but rejected it. 20 To what purpose cometh there to me incense from Sheba, and the sweet cane from a far country? your burnt offerings are not acceptable, nor your sacrifices sweet unto me.
Psalm 40:6 Sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire; mine ears hast thou opened: burnt offering and sin offering hast thou not required. 7 Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of me, 8 I delight to do thy will, O my Elohim: yea, thy law is within my heart.
Psalm 51:15 O Sovereign, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise. 16 For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering. 17 The sacrifices of Elohim are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O Elohim, thou wilt not despise.
Hebrews 13:15 Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to Yahweh, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name. 16 But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices Yahweh is well pleased. (NKJ)
Sacrifices, offerings, keeping Yahweh’s Sabbath and Holy Days, and even prayer are not acceptable to Yahweh if saints are not being obedient to Yahweh and all of His word, including love! In fact, obedience by respecting Yahweh and His Word is where believers need to start. Otherwise our sacrifices, offerings, keeping Yahweh’s Sabbath and Holy Days, and even our prayers are an abomination to Him.
Isaiah 1:10 Hear the word of Yahweh, ye rulers of Sodom; give ear unto the law of our Elohim, ye people of Gomorrah. 11 To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices unto me? saith Yahweh: I am full of the burnt offerings of rams, and the fat of fed beasts; and I delight not in the blood of bullocks, or of lambs, or of he goats. 12 When ye come to appear before me, who hath required this at your hand, to tread my courts? 13 Bring no more vain oblations; incense is an abomination unto me; the new moons and sabbaths, the calling of assemblies, I cannot away with; it is iniquity, even the solemn meeting. 14 Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hateth: they are a trouble unto me; I am weary to bear them. 15 And when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you: yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear: your hands are full of blood. 16 Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil;
We find in the Apostle Paul’s letter to the Corinthians those who spoke in the tongue of men and angels, those who had the gift of prophesy, understood all mysteries and had all knowledge, those who had faith to remove mountains, and lastly those who bestowed all their goods to feed the poor. But they didn’t have love. And because they didn’t have love, Yahweh tells us those people are a bunch of noise, are nothing, and what they did profited them not all. Amazing.
1 Corinthians 13:1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. 2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. 3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.
Scriptures tells us that Yahweh’s definition of love includes obeying His commandments (i.e. righteous teachings). The problem with most people is they believe that love is an emotion and possibly go a step further in that love is connected with helping people in need. This is part of love, but not the full comprehension of Yahweh’s love.
1 John 5:3 For this is the love of Yahweh, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.
2 John 1:5 And now I beseech thee, lady, not as though I wrote a new commandment unto thee, but that which we had from the beginning, that we love one another. 6 And this is love, that we walk after his commandments. This is the commandment, That, as ye have heard from the beginning, ye should walk in it.
Deuteronomy 10:12 And now, Israel, what doth Yahweh thy Elohim require of thee, but to fear Yahweh thy Elohim, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve Yahweh thy Elohim with all thy heart and with all thy soul, 13 To keep the commandments of Yahweh, and his statutes, which I command thee this day for thy good?
1 John 2:4 He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 5 But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of Yahweh perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.
John 14:23 Yah’shua answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.
And the book of James tells us, faith without works, that is obeying the righteous commandments of Yahweh is dead. Did you know that “the devil also believes and trembles”! Selah (i.e. think about it). Therefore, faith without works, that is obeying the righteous teachings of Yahweh, is dead.
James 2:17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. 18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. 19 Thou believest that there is one Elohim; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. 20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
James 2:26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
It is clear from Scriptures that obeying Yahweh’s commandments (i.e. teachings) are the conclusion of the whole matter for man. And if we don’t obey Yahweh’s teachings from His Word, whatever sacrifices and offerings we do, whatever Holy times we keep, and even our prayers will not be accepted by Yahweh.
Ecclesiastes 12:13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear The Mighty One, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.
Psalm 103:17 But the mercy of YAHWEH is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children’s children; 18 To such as keep his covenant, and to those that remember his commandments to do them.
Matthew 7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Sovereign, Sovereign, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me in that day, Sovereign, Sovereign, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
Why is it so important to obey Yahweh? Yahweh tells us that those who obey His commandments will receive His Holy Spirit and are “blessed”. Blessed is from the Greek word “makarios” (#3107) and from the Hebrew word “eshter” (#835), which can mean “happy”.
Acts 5:32 And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Spirit, whom Yahweh hath given to them that obey him.
Hebrew 5:9 And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;
Revelation 22:14 Blessed (markarios #3107) are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.
Psalm 119:1 Blessed (eshter #835) are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of Yahweh. 2 Blessed (eshter #835) are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart. (see all of Psalm 119)
Psalm 112:1 Praise ye Yahweh. Blessed (eshter #835) is the man that feareth Yahweh, that delighteth greatly in his commandments.
Psalm 128:1 Blessed (eshter #835) is every one that feareth Yahweh; that walketh in his ways.
HalleluYah
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