Charles Spurgeon on Religious "Sacrifices"

Charles Spurgeon, 1834-1892, was an English Baptist pastor at New Park Street Chapel in London for thirty-eight years. He has written many books and sermons that I believe to be some of the best Christian writing to be had, not only for its sound handling of Scripture, but its unmatched beauty. The quote below comes from Morning and Evening, revised and updated by pastor and author Alistair Begg.

"Never forget that to keep strictly to the path of your Savior's command is better than any outward form of religion; and to pay attention to His precept is better than to bring animals or other precious things to lay upon His altar. If you are failing to keep the least of Christ's commands to His disciples, I urge you to be disobedient no longer. All the pretensions you make of attachment to your Master and all the devout actions that you may perform are no substitute for disobedience. 'To obey,' even in the slightest and smallest thing, 'is better than sacrifice,' however pompous. Forget the Gregorian chants, sumptuous robes, incense, and banners; the first thing that God requires of His child is obedience; and even if you gave your body to be burned and all your goods to feed the poor, if you did not listen to the Lord's commands, all your formalities would profit you nothing. It is a blessed thing to be teachable as a little child, but it is a much more blessed thing, when one has been taught the lesson, to carry it out to the letter. How many adorn their temples and decorate their priests, but refuse to obey the word of the Lord! My soul, do not share in their deceit." Charles H. Spurgeon


"But Samuel replied, 
'Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of the LORD? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams. For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and arrogance like the evil of idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, he has rejected you as king.'" 1 Samuel 15:22-23

"For we do not preach ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord..." 2 Corinthians 4:5