They sacrifice flesh [for] the sacrifices of mine offerings, and eat [it; but] the LORD accepteth them not; now will he remember their iniquity, and visit their sins: they shall return to Egypt.
Ver. 13. They sacrifice flesh in the sacrifices of mine offerings, and eat it] q.d. They would seem not to have rejected the great things of my law, not to be such strangers thereunto; since they were much in sacrificing according to the law. But their hypocrisy is most hateful: in that first, they offer (with Cain) non personam, sed opus personae, as Luther saith; not themselves, but their bare sacrifices, Isaiah 66:3, which is but as a brainless head and soulless body; it is but flesh, as it is here called in contempt and scorn. See the like, Jer 7:21 Hosea 9:4. And think the same of all external services, si careant anima sua, id est recta in Deum fide, et erecta in illum mente, if not performed in faith and obedience. Secondly, they pretended to serve God, when indeed they only served their own bellies, as those, Romans 16:18, sought their own ends, Philippians 2:21, catered for the flesh, Romans 13:14, insigne donum quo afficior (as Luther paraphraseth the text) carnem offertis quam vos ipsi voratis, i.e. A goodly gift it is that you give me, viz. the flesh of your peace offerings which yourselves may feast with; and you therefore multiply sacrifices, that you may gorge yourselves with good cheer. Now one egg is not more like to another than these old fleshmongers were to the Popish flesh flies at this day. It was an honest complaint of one of them: We, saith he, handle the Scripture, tantum utnos pascat et vestiat, only that it may feed us and clothe us. And it is evident to all the world that their masses, pilgrimages, festivals, vowed presents and memorials, &c., are only to pamper their paunches; which made them so angry with Erasmus and Luther for meddling.
But the Lord accepteth them not] How should he, pray, when there was nothing but flesh, nothing but self in them. See the like, Jer 4:10 Amos 5:22 Isaiah 1:10, where God telleth them that their sacrifices were grievous and offensive to all his several senses, nay, to his very soul too. "The sacrifice of the wicked is abomination to the Lord," Proverbs 15:8, yea, though he bring it with never so good an intent, Proverbs 21:27; how much more if he bring ex rapina holocaustum, a sacrifice of what he hath got by rapine and robbery! and so the Chaldee carrieth the sense of the former words; the sacrifices of mine offerings, quae collecta sunt ex iniuria, saith he, which were gathered and gotten by wrong dealing: how then should the Lord accept them?
Now will he remember their iniquity] Even while they are sacrificing, let them not think to blind his eyes with the smoke of their offerings, to stop his mouth with their rich gifts and donaries; to bribe him into a connivance; to expiate and set off their sins with their sacrifices; for God will remember them, and punish them. Yea, now will he do it, in the time of their holy duties; he will come upon them then in his wrath, as Pilate came upon the Galileans, and mingled their blood with their sacrifices, Luke 13:2. Sure it is that sin (brought into God's holy presence) petitions against the sinner, as Esther did against Haman at the banquet of wine, Esther 7:6; picks out the time of prayer and other duties to accuse and call for vengeance. Take we heed, lest while we are confessing our sins (which yet we close with, and will not forsake) and judging ourselves worthy to be destroyed, God say not, Out of thine own mouth will I condemn thee, thou graceless person, that hast so much impudence as to bring thy Cozbi into my presence, Num 25:18 then, when all the people (as on a fastday) are weeping before the door of the tabernacle. God will be sanctified of all that draw nigh unto him; one way or other he will be sanctified, either in them, or on them, Leviticus 10:3. Of such he saith, as Solomon once did of Adonijah, "If he show himself a worthy man, there shall not a hair of his head fall to the earth: but if wickedness shall be found in him, he shal1 die," 1 Kings 1:52. If any defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy, 1 Corinthians 3:17 .
They shall return to Egypt] They had a mind to run thither for refuge; they sent also to So, king of Egypt, for that purpose, 2 Kings 17:4. Instead of making their peace with God, they betook themselves to base shifts, and sought help of the creature. This is the guise of graceless men when distressed. But they shall soon have enough of Egypt, Hosea 9:8; Hosea 9:6. Their strength (or their Egypt) had been to have sat still, in expectation of help from heaven, Isaiah 30:7, and to have considered that the last and greatest curse denounced against their disobedience was, "And the Lord shall bring thee into Egypt," &c., Deuteronomy 28:68 .