Bible Verses About Formalism

I do not rebuke you for your sacrifices, and your burnt offerings are ever before Me.

I have no need for a bull from your stall or goats from your pens,

for every beast of the forest is Mine— the cattle on a thousand hills.

I know every bird in the mountains, and the creatures of the field are Mine.

If I were hungry, I would not tell you, for the world is Mine, and the fullness thereof.

Do I eat the flesh of bulls, or drink the blood of goats?

Sacrifice a thank offering to God, and fulfill your vows to the Most High.

Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor Me.”

For You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; You take no pleasure in burnt offerings.

The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not despise.

I will praise God’s name in song and exalt Him with thanksgiving.

And this will please the LORD more than an ox, more than a bull with horns and hooves.

“What good to Me is your multitude of sacrifices?” says the LORD. “I am full from the burnt offerings of rams and the fat of well-fed cattle; I take no delight in the blood of bulls and lambs and goats.

When you come to appear before Me, who has required this of you— this trampling of My courts?

Bring your worthless offerings no more; your incense is detestable to Me— your New Moons, Sabbaths, and convocations. I cannot endure iniquity in a solemn assembly.

I hate your New Moons and your appointed feasts. They have become a burden to Me; I am weary of bearing them.

When you spread out your hands in prayer, I will hide My eyes from you; even though you multiply your prayers, I will not listen. Your hands are covered with blood.

Therefore the Lord said: “These people draw near to Me with their mouths and honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me. Their worship of Me is but rules taught by men.

Therefore I will again confound these people with wonder upon wonder. The wisdom of the wise will vanish, and the intelligence of the intelligent will be hidden.”

Woe to those who dig deep to hide their plans from the LORD. In darkness they do their works and say, “Who sees us, and who will know?”

You have turned things upside down, as if the potter were regarded as clay. Shall what is formed say to him who formed it, “He did not make me”? Can the pottery say of the potter, “He has no understanding”?

“I hate, I despise your feasts! I cannot stand the stench of your solemn assemblies.

Even though you offer Me burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them; for your peace offerings of fattened cattle I will have no regard.

Take away from Me the noise of your songs! I will not listen to the music of your harps.

With what shall I come before the LORD when I bow before the God on high? Should I come to Him with burnt offerings, with year-old calves?