Proverbs 21:2-4
2 Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the heart. 3 To do righteousness and justice is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice. 4 Haughty eyes and a proud heart, the lamp of the wicked, are sin.
Matthew Henry’s Commentary:
- We are all apt to be partial in judging of ourselves and our own actions, and to think too favorably of our own character, as if there was nothing amiss in it: Every, way of a man, even his byway, is right in his own eyes.
- The proud heart is very, ingenious in putting a fair face upon a foul matter, and in making that appear right to itself which is far front being so, to stop the mouth of conscience.
- We are sure that the judgment of God concerning us is according to truth.
- Whatever our judgment is concerning ourselves, the Lord ponders the heart.
- God looks at the heart, and judges of men according to that, of their actions according to their principles and intentions; and his judgment of that is as exact as ours is of that
- Verse 3: Here, it is implied that many deceive themselves with a conceit that, if they offer sacrifice, that will excuse them from doing justice and procure them a dispensation for their unrighteousness, and this makes their way seem right,
- We have fasted. Isa 58:3
- I have peace-offerings with me, Prov 7:14.
- It is plainly declared that living a good life (doing justly and loving mercy) is more pleasing to God than the most pompous and expensive instances of devotion
- Sacrifices were of divine institution, and were acceptable to God if they were offered in faith and with repentance, otherwise not – Is 1:11, etc.
- 11 “What to me is the multitude of your sacrifices? says the Lord; I have had enough of burnt offerings of rams and the fat of well-fed beasts; I do not delight in the blood of bulls, or of lambs, or of goats.”
- But even then moral duties were preferred before them(1 Sa. 15:22), which intimates that their excellency was not innate nor the obligation to them perpetual, Mic. 6:6-8.
- 1 Sa. 15:22 – And Samuel said, “Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices,as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice,and to listen than the fat of rams.”
- Much of religion lies in doing judgment and justice from a principle of duty to God, contempt of the world, and love to our neighbor: and this is more pleasing to God than all burnt-offerings and sacrifices, Mk 12:33
- Mk 12:33 – And to love him with all the heart and with all the understanding and with all the strength, and to love one’s neighbor as oneself, is much more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.”
