Scripture clearly tells us that “to do what is right and just is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice” (Prov. 21:3)
Scripture clearly tells us that “to do what is right and just is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice” (Prov. 21:3)
Scripture clearly tells us that “to do what is right and just is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice” (Prov. 21:3)
Amen! Who would argue with Scripture? Elsewhere the Bible teaches that obedience is better than sacrifice (1 Sam. 15:22). But these passages do not denigrate the importance of sacrifices, as some anti-missionaries would claim. Rather, throughout the Bible God opposes religious hypocrisy and formal, outward observance of religious rites.
He would rather have our simple obedience than our lengthy prayers or costly sacrifices if our hearts are not right with him. And he prefers that we just do what he says rather than sin, repent, and bring a sacrifice for our sins. The sad fact is that we all sin grievously and we all need atonement for our sins, a subject that Scripture clearly affirms and teaches.
I am in full agreement with your point, and I have no objection to the translation of Proverbs 21:3 that you cited. My problem is with the misuse and misinterpretation of this verse, as if it were denigrating the importance of sacrifice and offerings. It is simply saying that morality-is more important to the Lord than the observance of religious rituals.
How then can this verse be quoted as an objection to the New Testament faith? Actually, the objection is based on a fundamental misunderstanding of the Messianic Jewish view of the death of Jesus. Somehow, our beliefs are interpreted to mean that the only thing that matters is simply believing that the Messiah died for our sins—in other words, that he gave himself as the perfect sacrifice on our behalf—and that moral living is therefore no longer important. Or to put this in everyday terms, it is as if the believer in Jesus says to himself, “Why should I bother to live right and do right if my sins have all been paid for?” But that is not what followers of Jesus believe.
In the previous objection (3.7, immediately above), we saw that Christianity is not just a religion of the creed (i.e., believing in a specific set of dogmas) but also of the deed. Still, you might argue that our constant emphasis on Yeshua’s sacrificial death completely undercuts and overshadows our emphasis on morality and holiness. Ask a traditional Jew what’s most important regarding his faith, and he’ll tell you that it’s observing the Torah—in other words, doing what is just and right. Ask a Christian or Messianic Jew what’s most important, and he’ll tell you that it’s believing in Jesus the Messiah—in particular, his death on the cross. So the argument goes.
The problem is that there is no substance to this argument. Proverbs 21:3, like many other Scripture passages, is counteracting the attitude of religious hypocrisy that takes refuge in the observance of forms and ceremonies while at the same time one lives in greed, or lust, or selfishness, or idolatry, or injustice, or lies. The verse could just as well say, “To do what is right and just is more acceptable to the Lord than saying your prayers, or attending synagogue, or giving to charity, or studying Talmud.”
As we will see below (3.9), the prophets strongly rebuked religious hypocrites, speaking out against their prayers, their observance of Sabbath, and their celebration of holy days and feasts, along with their offering of sacrifices, since with their mouths they drew near to the Lord but their hearts were far from him (Isa. 29:13). God despises this.
Similar sentiments are expressed elsewhere in Proverbs. See, for example, Proverbs 15:8: “The Lord detests the sacrifice of the wicked, but the prayer of the upright pleases him,” where the contrast is between the religious activities of the righteous and the religious activities of the wicked, prayer and sacrifice being good things in themselves. Similarly, Proverbs 21:27 teaches that “the sacrifice of the wicked is detestable—how much more so when brought with evil intent.” These verses are telling us that even a sacrifice—something of great importance in the Torah—is unacceptable to God if it is brought with an evil heart and an evil intent.
Related to this is the Rabbinic concept that for repentance to have value, it must be sincere: “He who says, ‘I will sin and repent, I will sin and repent,’ repentance is not vouchsafed to him.”105 Obviously, the concept of repentance is not the problem. It is one of the core teachings of Judaism. The problem has to do with religious hypocrisy and moral shallowness. Again, that’s what Proverbs 21:3 is addressing, and we could just as well say, “He who says, ‘I will sin and sacrifice, I will sin and sacrifice, atonement is not vouchsafed to him.’ ” God prefers that you and I live right rather than lie, cheat, steal, hate, lust, and then fast, pray, repent, and offer sacrifices. He prefers obedience.
It’s also important for you to remember that there were various functions for sacrifices in the Hebrew Bible, including purgation, purification, dedication, thanksgiving, and intercession, as well as expiation (see below, 3.12). So Proverbs 21:3 should not be interpreted as an attack on the Torah’s system of blood atonement. Rather, God prefers obedience to sacrifices of any kind, which is exactly what Samuel told Saul in 1 Samuel 15:22–23: “Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of the Lord? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams. For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and arrogance like the evil of idolatry.”
The New Testament teaches exactly the same thing:
One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?” “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” “Well said, teacher,” the man replied. “You are right in saying that God is one and there is no other but him. To love him with all your heart, with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.” When Jesus saw that he had answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.”
Mark 12:28–34
And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.
Hebrews 13:16
So on this point we totally agree!
105 See m. Yoma 8:9; note also Pesikta Rabbati 44a. In a similar vein, the New Testament makes reference to the need to prove one’s repentance by one’s deeds; see, e.g., Matt. 3:8; Acts 26:20. Note also 2 Cor. 7:10–11; James 2:17. For a related New Testament text, see Matt. 21:28–32.
Brown, M. L. (2000). Answering Jewish objections to Jesus, Volume 2: Theological objections (69). Grand Rapids, Mich.: Baker Books.
