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Isaiah 1:11-15
“ Of what importance to me are your many sacrifices?” says the LORD.“ I am stuffed with burnt sacrifices of rams and the fat from steers. The blood of bulls, lambs, and goats I do not want.When you enter my presence, do you actually think I want this– animals trampling on my courtyards?Do not bring any more meaningless offerings; I consider your incense detestable! You observe new moon festivals, Sabbaths, and convocations, but I cannot tolerate sin-stained celebrations!I hate your new moon festivals and assemblies; they are a burden that I am tired of carrying.When you spread out your hands in prayer, I look the other way; when you offer your many prayers, I do not listen, because your hands are covered with blood.
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Micah 3:2-4
yet you hate what is good, and love what is evil. You flay my people’s skin and rip the flesh from their bones.You devour my people’s flesh, strip off their skin, and crush their bones. You chop them up like flesh in a pot– like meat in a kettle.Someday these sinners will cry to the LORD for help, but he will not answer them. He will hide his face from them at that time, because they have done such wicked deeds.”
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Isaiah 58:2-6
They seek me day after day; they want to know my requirements, like a nation that does what is right and does not reject the law of their God. They ask me for just decrees; they want to be near God.They lament,‘ Why don’t you notice when we fast? Why don’t you pay attention when we humble ourselves?’ Look, at the same time you fast, you satisfy your selfish desires, you oppress your workers.Look, your fasting is accompanied by arguments, brawls, and fistfights. Do not fast as you do today, trying to make your voice heard in heaven.Is this really the kind of fasting I want? Do I want a day when people merely humble themselves, bowing their heads like a reed and stretching out on sackcloth and ashes? Is this really what you call a fast, a day that is pleasing to the LORD?No, this is the kind of fast I want. I want you to remove the sinful chains, to tear away the ropes of the burdensome yoke, to set free the oppressed, and to break every burdensome yoke.
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Matthew 23:13
“ But woe to you, experts in the law and you Pharisees, hypocrites! You keep locking people out of the kingdom of heaven! For you neither enter nor permit those trying to enter to go in.
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Jeremiah 7:4-11
Stop putting your confidence in the false belief that says,“ We are safe! The temple of the LORD is here! The temple of the LORD is here! The temple of the LORD is here!”You must change the way you have been living and do what is right. You must treat one another fairly.Stop oppressing foreigners who live in your land, children who have lost their fathers, and women who have lost their husbands. Stop killing innocent people in this land. Stop paying allegiance to other gods. That will only bring about your ruin.If you stop doing these things, I will allow you to continue to live in this land which I gave to your ancestors as a lasting possession.“‘ But just look at you! You are putting your confidence in a false belief that will not deliver you.You steal. You murder. You commit adultery. You lie when you swear on oath. You sacrifice to the god Baal. You pay allegiance to other gods whom you have not previously known.Then you come and stand in my presence in this temple I have claimed as my own and say,“ We are safe!” You think you are so safe that you go on doing all those hateful sins!Do you think this temple I have claimed as my own is to be a hideout for robbers? You had better take note! I have seen for myself what you have done! says the LORD.
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Matthew 23:5
They do all their deeds to be seen by people, for they make their phylacteries wide and their tassels long.
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Isaiah 64:5
You assist those who delight in doing what is right, who observe your commandments. Look, you were angry because we violated them continually. How then can we be saved?
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Isaiah 29:15
Those who try to hide their plans from the LORD are as good as dead, who do their work in secret and boast,“ Who sees us? Who knows what we’re doing?”
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Isaiah 59:6-8
Their webs cannot be used for clothing; they cannot cover themselves with what they make. Their deeds are sinful; they commit violent crimes.They are eager to do evil, quick to shed innocent blood. Their thoughts are sinful; they crush and destroy.They are unfamiliar with peace; their deeds are unjust. They use deceitful methods, and whoever deals with them is unfamiliar with peace.
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Romans 3:10-20
just as it is written:“ There is no one righteous, not even one,there is no one who understands, there is no one who seeks God.All have turned away, together they have become worthless; there is no one who shows kindness, not even one.”“ Their throats are open graves, they deceive with their tongues, the poison of asps is under their lips.”“ Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness.”“ Their feet are swift to shed blood,ruin and misery are in their paths,and the way of peace they have not known.”“ There is no fear of God before their eyes.”Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world may be held accountable to God.For no one is declared righteous before him by the works of the law, for through the law comes the knowledge of sin.
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Isaiah 66:3-4
The one who slaughters a bull also strikes down a man; the one who sacrifices a lamb also breaks a dog’s neck; the one who presents an offering includes pig’s blood with it; the one who offers incense also praises an idol. They have decided to behave this way; they enjoy these disgusting practices.So I will choose severe punishment for them; I will bring on them what they dread, because I called, and no one responded, I spoke and they did not listen. They did evil before me; they chose to do what displeases me.”
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Romans 10:2-3
For I can testify that they are zealous for God, but their zeal is not in line with the truth.For ignoring the righteousness that comes from God, and seeking instead to establish their own righteousness, they did not submit to God’s righteousness.
