661 Thus says the Lord , " Heaven is My throne and the earth is My footstool e . Where then is a house you could build for Me? And where is a place that I may rest ? 2 "For My hand made all these things , Thus all these things came into being ," declares the Lord . "But to this one I will look , To him who is humble and contrite of spirit , and who trembles at My word . 3 "But he who kills an ox is like one who slays a man ; He who sacrifices a lamb is like the one who breaks a dog's neck ; He who offers a grain offering is like one who offers swine's blood ; He who burns incense is like the one who blesses an idol . As they have chosen their own ways , And their soul delights in their abominations , 4 So I will choose their punishments And will bring on them what they dread . Because I called , but no one answered ; I spoke , but they did not listen . And they did evil in My sight And chose that in which I did not delight ."
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Isaiah 66:1-4
Commentary on Isaiah 66:1-4
(Read Isaiah 66:1-4)
The Jews gloried much in their temple. But what satisfaction can the Eternal Mind take in a house made with men's hands? God has a heaven and an earth of his own making, and temples of man's making; but he overlooks them, that he may look with favour to him who is poor in spirit and serious, self-abasing and self-denying; whose heart truly sorrows for sin: such a heart is a living temple for God. The sacrifice of the wicked is not only unacceptable, but a great offence to God. And he that now offers a sacrifice after the law, does in effect set aside Christ's sacrifice. He that burns incense, puts contempt upon the incense of Christ's intercession, and is as if he blessed an idol. Men shall be deceived by the vain confidences with which they deceive themselves. Unbelieving hearts, and unpurified consciences, need no more to make them miserable, than to have their own fears brought upon them. Whatever men put in the place of the priesthood, atonement, and intercession of Christ, will be found hateful to God.