But cursed be the deceiver, which hath in his flock a male, and voweth, and sacrificeth unto the LORD a corrupt thing: for I am a great King, saith the LORD of hosts, and my name is dreadful among the heathen.
Maldito el engañoso, que tiene macho en su rebaño, y promete, y sacrifica corrompido al SEÑOR; porque yo soy Gran Rey, dice el SEÑOR de los ejércitos, y mi Nombre es formidable entre los gentiles.
And voweth, and sacrificeth-a corrupt thing] The history of Ananias and Sapphira, Acts v. 1, &c., is a complete comment on this. It was high time to break up this corrupt service; and after this time God does not appear to have paid any regard to it, for he sent them no other prophet.
Ver. 14. But cursed be the deceiver , etc.] A cunning, crafty, subtle man, who thinks and contrives, speaks and acts, in a very artful and deceiving manner; though some derive the word from lky , “to be able”; and so the Septuagint and Arabic versions render it, “who is able”; to bring a proper offering, a perfectlamb, as it follows: which hath in his flock a male ; without spot and blemish, as the law requires: and voweth and sacrificeth to the Lord a corrupt thing ; that was a female, or had blemishes in it; for the law required what was perfect and without a blemish for a vow; what was superfluous or deficient in its parts might do for a freewill offering, but not for a vow, ( Leviticus 22:18-20,23) wherefore such a man must be accursed, and such conduct must be highly resented by the Lord; had he it not in his power to do better, it might be excusable; but then it would be better not to have vowed at all; but to vow a sacrifice to the Lord, and deal deceitfully with him, when he could have brought an offering agreeable to his vow, and to the law, this is aggravated wickedness: for I [am] a great King, saith the Lord of hosts ; the King of the whole world, the King of kings, and Lord of lords; and therefore to be honoured and reverenced suitable to his dignity and greatness: and my name [is] dreadful among the heathen ; because of his judgments executed among them; or rather because of his Gospelpreached unto them; for this may be considered as a prophecy of what would be when the Gospel should be spread in the Gentile world; and therefore if they, when he was made known to them, would fear and reverence him; then the Israelites, to whom he had given such instances and proofs of his love, ought to have shown a greater regard unto him.
Verses 6-14 - We may each charge upon ourselves what is here charged upon the priests. Our relation to God, as our Father and Master, strongl obliges us to fear and honour him. But they were so scornful that the deridedreproof. Sinnersruin themselves by trying to baffle their convictions. Those who live in careless neglect of holy ordinances, wh attend on them without reverence, and go from them under no concern, in effect say, The table of the Lord is contemptible. They despisedGod' name in what they did. It is evident that these understood not the meaning of the sacrifices, as shadowing forth the unblemished Lamb of God; they grudged the expense, thinking all thrown away which did no turn to their profit. If we worshipGod ignorantly, and withou understanding, we bring the blind for sacrifice; if we do it carelessly, if we are cold, dull, and dead in it, we bring the sick; i we rest in the bodily exercise, and do not make heart-work of it, we bring the lame; and if we suffervain thoughts and distractions to lodge within us, we bring the torn. And is not this evil? Is it not great affront to God, and a great wrong and injury to our own souls? I order to the acceptance of our actions with God, it is not enough to d that which, for the matter of it, is good; but we must do it from right principle, in a right manner, and for a right end. Our constan mercies from God, make worse our slothfulness and niggardliness, in ou returns of duty to God. A spiritualworship shall be established Incense shall be offered to God's name, which signifies prayer an praise. And it shall be a pure offering. When the hour came, in whic the true worshippers worshipped the Father in Spirit and in truth, the this incense was offered, even this pure offering. We may rely on God' mercy for pardon as to the past, but not for indulgence to sin in future. If there be a willing mind, it will be accepted, thoug defective; but if any be a deceiver, devoting his best to Satan and to his lusts, he is under a curse. Men now, though in a different way profane the name of the Lord, pollute his table, and show contempt for his worship __________________________________________________________________
