Jesus Christ Reads Psalm

And Speaks Against

Unnecessary Sacrifices

By

The Twelve Apostles

Jesus Christ Reads From The Psalms

The Sabbath came and Jesus went into the synagogue. He took the book of Psalms and read:

“Blest is the man who puts his trust in God,

respecting not the proud nor such as turn aside to lies.
O Lord, my God, the works that you have done for us are wonderful.

And many are your thoughts for us.

We cannot count them all,
You do not call for sacrifice, nor offerings of blood.

Burnt offerings and offerings for sin you do not want.

And behold, I come to do your will,

O God, your law is in my heart,
And I have preached the word of righteousness

and peace unto the thronging multitudes.

I have declared the counsel of my God in full.

I have not hid your righteousness within my heart.

I have declared your faithfulness and grace.
I have not kept your loving-kindness

and your truth away from men.

I have declared them to the multitudes.

O Lord, make wide my lips that I may tell your praise.

I do not bring the sacrifice of blood, nor yet burnt offerings for sin.
The sacrifices I would bring to thee, O God,

are purity in life, a contrite heart, a spirit full of faith and love,

and these you will receive. ”

Jesus Christ Speaks Against Sacrifices Without Righteousness

And when He had read this, He gave the book back to the keeper of the books, and then He said, “Upon these ends of earth these messages of God have come. Our people have exalted sacrificial rites and have neglected mercy, justice and the rights of humanity. You Pharisees, you priests, you scribes, your God surfeited with blood. God does not heed your prayers. You stand before your burning victims (animals used as sacrifices). But you stand in vain. Turn you unto the testimonies of the law. Reform and turn to God, and you shall live.

“Let not your altars be accursed again with smoke of innocence. Bring unto God as sacrifice a broken and a contrite heart. Lift from your fellow men the burdens that you have imposed. And if you do not hearken to this message, and if you do not turn from your evil ways, behold, God will smite this nation with a curse. ”

And when He had thus said He stood aside, and all the people were astonished, and they said, xxWhere did this man get all His knowledge and His power?

From whence did all this wisdom come?
Is not this Mary's son, whose home is out on Marmion Way?
Are not His brothers, Joses, Judas, Jude, James and Simon, known among our honoured men?

Are not His sisters, Miriam, with us here?”

But they were all offended by the words He spoke. And Jesus said, “A prophet has no honour in his native land. He is not well received among his kin. His foes are in his home.” And Jesus did not perform many mighty works in Nazareth, because the people had no faith in Him. He did not tarry long.