1 Samuel 15:22

15:22 Then Samuel said,

“Does the Lord take pleasure in burnt offerings and sacrifices

as much as he does in obedience?

Certainly, obedience is better than sacrifice;

paying attention is better than the fat of rams.

Psalms 50:8

50:8 I am not condemning you because of your sacrifices,

or because of your burnt sacrifices that you continually offer me.

Proverbs 21:3

21:3 To do righteousness and justice

is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.

Ecclesiastes 5:1

Rash Vows

5:1 Be careful what you do when you go to the temple of God;

draw near to listen rather than to offer a sacrifice like fools,

for they do not realize that they are doing wrong.

Isaiah 1:11

1:11 “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.

Isaiah 58:6

58:6 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.

Jeremiah 7:22

7:22 Consider this: When I spoke to your ancestors after I brought them out of Egypt, I did not merely give them commands about burnt offerings and sacrifices.

Daniel 4:27

4:27 Therefore, O king, may my advice be pleasing to you. Break away from your sins by doing what is right, and from your iniquities by showing mercy to the poor. Perhaps your prosperity will be prolonged.”

Amos 5:21

5:21 “I absolutely despise your festivals!

I get no pleasure from your religious assemblies!

Micah 6:6

6:6 With what should I enter the Lord’s presence?

With what should I bow before the sovereign God?

Should I enter his presence with burnt offerings,

with year-old calves?

Matthew 5:7

5:7 “Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.

Matthew 9:13

9:13 Go and learn what this saying means: ‘I want mercy and not sacrifice.’ For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

Matthew 12:7

12:7 If you had known what this means: ‘I want mercy and not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the innocent.