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Proverbs 15:8
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Summary
Commentary
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
- John Gill
- Matthew Henry
- Tyndale
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
The sacrifice [and] prayer--are acts of worship. way . . . followeth . . . righteousness--denote conduct. God's regard for the worship and deeds of the righteous and wicked respectively, so stated in Psa 50:17; Isa 1:11.
John Gill Bible Commentary
The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord,.... Even those sacrifices which were of divine appointment under the former dispensation, when offered by wicked men, without faith in Christ, without any sense of sin, repentance for it, and reformation from it; when these were used as a cloak for sin, under which they sheltered and satisfied themselves, and went on in sin; when they brought them "with a wicked mind", as in Pro 21:27; when either what they brought were not according to the law, the lame and the blind; or were not their own, but robbery for burnt sacrifice; or supposing that these would atone for their sins of themselves; when either of these, or all this, was the case, it was an abomination to the Lord; see Isa 1:11. Wherefore much more must Pagan sacrifices be an abomination to him; which were not of his appointing, and were offered to devils, and not to him; and which were many of them very inhuman and shocking; as giving a man's firstborn for his transgression, and the fruit of his body for the sin of his soul: and so likewise Papal sacrifices, the sacrifice of the mass; the bloodless sacrifice, the offering up again of the body and blood of Christ, they pretend to; which, as it is wicked and blasphemous, is an abomination to the Lord, and perhaps is chiefly intended. Sacrifice may stand for every religious duty performed by a wicked man, being hypocritically done, and with no good view; and all their good works, which seem to be so; and are either not according to the word and will of God, being never commanded by him, of which sort are many among the Papists; or they are not done in faith, and so sin, and do not spring from love to God; but are done with a heart full of enmity to him, and are not directed to his glory: in short, whatever is done by them, let it have ever such an appearance of devotion and goodness; yet if it is placed in the room of Christ, and used to the setting aside of his righteousness, satisfaction, and sacrifice, it is an abomination to the Lord; but the prayer of the upright is his delight: the prayer of such, whose hearts are right with God; who have right spirits renewed in them; are Israelites indeed; have the truth of grace and root of the matter in them; are honest, sincere, and upright in heart: the prayer of such, which is an inwrought one, wrought in his heart by the Spirit of God, and so comes from God, and is his own breathing in him, must be well pleasing to him; that which is fervent, earnest, and importunate, which cometh not out of feigned lips, but from the heart, and is put up with a true heart, in the sincerity of it; the prayer of faith, the cry of the humble; the prayer which is addressed to God as a Father, in the name of Christ the Mediator, which comes perfumed with the incense of his mediation, introduced with the celebration of the divine perfections, contains humble confessions of sin and unworthiness, ascribes all blessings to the grace of God, and expresses thankfulness for favours received, is very acceptable and delightful to God; though it is the prayer of a poor, mean, despicable creature in his own eyes, and in the eyes of others, Psa 102:17. This stands opposed to the pompous rites and ceremonies, the gaudy worship and costly sacrifices, of wicked men; such as used by the Papists.
Matthew Henry Bible Commentary
Note, 1. God so hates wicked people, whose hearts are malicious and their lives mischievous, that even their sacrifices are an abomination to him. God has sacrifices brought him even by wicked men, to stop the mouth of conscience and to keep up their reputation in the world, as malefactors come to a sanctuary, not because it is a holy place, but because it shelters them from justice; but their sacrifices, though ever so costly, are not accepted of God, because not offered in sincerity nor from a good principle; they dissemble with God, and in their conversations give the lie to their devotions, and for that reason they are an abomination to him, because they are made a cloak for sin, Pro 7:14. See Isa 1:11. 2. God has such a love for upright good people that, though they are not at the expense of a sacrifice (he himself has provided that), their prayer is a delight to him. Praying graces are his own gift, and the work of his own Spirit in them, with which he is well pleased. He not only answers their prayers, but delights in their addresses to him, and in doing them good.
Proverbs 15:8
A Gentle Answer Turns Away Wrath
7The lips of the wise spread knowledge, but not so the hearts of fools. 8The sacrifice of the wicked is detestable to the LORD, but the prayer of the upright is His delight.
- Scripture
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Grave Warnings!
By David Daniel28657:08WarningWorshipReverence for GodNUM 30:2PSA 34:13PRO 15:8ECC 5:1ISA 1:10JON 2:9MAL 1:6ACT 5:1HEB 10:19JAS 3:1David Daniel emphasizes the sacredness of entering the house of the Lord, warning against the dangers of familiarity that can lead to contempt. He urges believers to approach worship with reverence, ready to listen and engage with God's word rather than offering empty sacrifices. Daniel highlights the importance of fulfilling vows made to God, reminding the congregation that their words and commitments carry weight in the presence of the Almighty. He calls for a balance between joyful fellowship and the seriousness of worship, encouraging the church to honor God in all aspects of their lives.
Because You Are God's Beloved Child
By David Wilkerson0PrayerFaithPSA 34:15PSA 34:17PRO 15:8MAT 6:33PHP 4:6HEB 2:3HEB 10:22David Wilkerson emphasizes the power of prayer mixed with faith as the essential response to every aspect of our lives. He highlights the importance of seeking God first, as instructed by the Apostle Paul and Jesus, and encourages believers to approach God with their needs and thank Him in advance for His answers. Wilkerson reminds us that God is attentive to the cries of His children and warns against the neglect of prayer, which can lead to spiritual apathy. He urges Christians to draw near to God with confidence, assuring them that He is faithful and will respond in His perfect timing. Ultimately, we are reminded of our identity as God's beloved children, which should motivate us to seek Him earnestly.
God's Delight
By David Wilkerson0God's LoveDivine DelightNUM 14:8PSA 18:17PRO 11:20PRO 15:8David Wilkerson emphasizes that God not only loves His people but also delights in each one of us, taking great pleasure in our lives and well-being. He compares this divine delight to the joy a parent feels when hearing from their children, illustrating that if imperfect human love can be so strong, God's love must be even greater. Wilkerson encourages believers to focus on God's love and delight, as exemplified by Joshua and Caleb's faith in God's promises despite obstacles. He cites various scriptures that affirm God's delight in the upright and the prayers of His people, urging us to trust that every circumstance is part of God's loving will. Ultimately, he reassures that through faith, we will find joy and deliverance in our lives.
Continue Upright
By C.H. Spurgeon0IntegrityPrayerPSA 34:15PSA 145:18PRO 15:8MAT 7:7JHN 16:24ROM 12:12PHP 4:61TH 5:17HEB 4:16JAS 5:16C.H. Spurgeon emphasizes the significance of being upright in our lives, as the prayer of the upright is a delight to God, according to Proverbs 15:8. He urges believers to maintain integrity and straightforwardness, warning that any deviation from this path can hinder our prayers. Spurgeon reassures that God values the sincerity of our prayers over their eloquence, encouraging us to approach Him with childlike faith. He calls for a commitment to prayer, highlighting that it is a privilege that brings joy to both God and His children. Ultimately, Spurgeon reminds us that our prayers should be abundant, as they are a source of delight for the Lord.
Polycarp, John and Jesus
By Peter Hammond02CH 16:9PRO 15:8JER 17:10JHN 3:16JHN 14:6JHN 15:13Peter Hammond preaches about the inspiring story of Polycarp, the Bishop of Smyrna, who faced persecution with unwavering faith and courage, refusing to renounce Christ even in the face of death. Polycarp's trust in Christ, mentored by the Apostle John, exemplifies true discipleship and sacrificial service, challenging believers to trust Jesus completely, even in the midst of trials and tribulations. The sermon emphasizes the importance of being trustworthy and faithful servants of Christ, willing to be entrusted with hard assignments and fully committed to God's will.
The Giver's Hand
By John Henry Jowett0PSA 24:3PRO 15:8ISA 1:15MAT 5:81TI 2:8John Henry Jowett emphasizes the importance of offering gifts to the Lord with clean hands, highlighting that God looks at the heart of the giver rather than the gift itself. He stresses the need for purity and cleanliness in our actions and offerings to God, as defilement can render even the most elaborate gifts unacceptable. Jowett urges the congregation to present everything to the Lord with pure intentions and a clean heart, as even the smallest offerings, when given sincerely, receive God's blessing and favor.
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
- John Gill
- Matthew Henry
- Tyndale
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
The sacrifice [and] prayer--are acts of worship. way . . . followeth . . . righteousness--denote conduct. God's regard for the worship and deeds of the righteous and wicked respectively, so stated in Psa 50:17; Isa 1:11.
John Gill Bible Commentary
The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord,.... Even those sacrifices which were of divine appointment under the former dispensation, when offered by wicked men, without faith in Christ, without any sense of sin, repentance for it, and reformation from it; when these were used as a cloak for sin, under which they sheltered and satisfied themselves, and went on in sin; when they brought them "with a wicked mind", as in Pro 21:27; when either what they brought were not according to the law, the lame and the blind; or were not their own, but robbery for burnt sacrifice; or supposing that these would atone for their sins of themselves; when either of these, or all this, was the case, it was an abomination to the Lord; see Isa 1:11. Wherefore much more must Pagan sacrifices be an abomination to him; which were not of his appointing, and were offered to devils, and not to him; and which were many of them very inhuman and shocking; as giving a man's firstborn for his transgression, and the fruit of his body for the sin of his soul: and so likewise Papal sacrifices, the sacrifice of the mass; the bloodless sacrifice, the offering up again of the body and blood of Christ, they pretend to; which, as it is wicked and blasphemous, is an abomination to the Lord, and perhaps is chiefly intended. Sacrifice may stand for every religious duty performed by a wicked man, being hypocritically done, and with no good view; and all their good works, which seem to be so; and are either not according to the word and will of God, being never commanded by him, of which sort are many among the Papists; or they are not done in faith, and so sin, and do not spring from love to God; but are done with a heart full of enmity to him, and are not directed to his glory: in short, whatever is done by them, let it have ever such an appearance of devotion and goodness; yet if it is placed in the room of Christ, and used to the setting aside of his righteousness, satisfaction, and sacrifice, it is an abomination to the Lord; but the prayer of the upright is his delight: the prayer of such, whose hearts are right with God; who have right spirits renewed in them; are Israelites indeed; have the truth of grace and root of the matter in them; are honest, sincere, and upright in heart: the prayer of such, which is an inwrought one, wrought in his heart by the Spirit of God, and so comes from God, and is his own breathing in him, must be well pleasing to him; that which is fervent, earnest, and importunate, which cometh not out of feigned lips, but from the heart, and is put up with a true heart, in the sincerity of it; the prayer of faith, the cry of the humble; the prayer which is addressed to God as a Father, in the name of Christ the Mediator, which comes perfumed with the incense of his mediation, introduced with the celebration of the divine perfections, contains humble confessions of sin and unworthiness, ascribes all blessings to the grace of God, and expresses thankfulness for favours received, is very acceptable and delightful to God; though it is the prayer of a poor, mean, despicable creature in his own eyes, and in the eyes of others, Psa 102:17. This stands opposed to the pompous rites and ceremonies, the gaudy worship and costly sacrifices, of wicked men; such as used by the Papists.
Matthew Henry Bible Commentary
Note, 1. God so hates wicked people, whose hearts are malicious and their lives mischievous, that even their sacrifices are an abomination to him. God has sacrifices brought him even by wicked men, to stop the mouth of conscience and to keep up their reputation in the world, as malefactors come to a sanctuary, not because it is a holy place, but because it shelters them from justice; but their sacrifices, though ever so costly, are not accepted of God, because not offered in sincerity nor from a good principle; they dissemble with God, and in their conversations give the lie to their devotions, and for that reason they are an abomination to him, because they are made a cloak for sin, Pro 7:14. See Isa 1:11. 2. God has such a love for upright good people that, though they are not at the expense of a sacrifice (he himself has provided that), their prayer is a delight to him. Praying graces are his own gift, and the work of his own Spirit in them, with which he is well pleased. He not only answers their prayers, but delights in their addresses to him, and in doing them good.