In this article, we will explain to you what does the Bible say about obedience is better than sacrifice and also share some of the most important KJV Bible verses related to obedience is better than sacrifice.
What Does The Bible Say About Obedience Is Better Than Sacrifice?
In the Bible, specifically in the Old Testament book of 1 Samuel, there is a famous verse that highlights the importance of obedience over sacrifices. In 1 Samuel 15:22, Samuel tells King Saul, “Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the Lord? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams.”
This verse is a powerful reminder that God values obedience and a heart that seeks to follow His commands more than outward displays of religious ritual or sacrifices. It emphasizes the idea that true obedience to God involves not just going through the motions of religious practices, but having a willing heart that is ready to submit to His will and instructions.
Throughout the Bible, there are numerous examples of individuals who chose to obey God’s commands and experienced blessings and favor as a result. Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice his son Isaac (Genesis 22), Noah’s obedience in building the ark (Genesis 6), and the Israelites’ obedience in following Moses out of Egypt (Exodus) are just a few examples of how obedience to God’s commands leads to His blessings and favor.
On the other hand, there are also examples of individuals who chose to prioritize their own desires or sacrifices over obedience to God, and faced consequences as a result. King Saul’s disobedience in not completely destroying the Amalekites as God commanded led to him losing his kingship (1 Samuel 15), and King Solomon’s disobedience in marrying foreign wives led to the downfall of his kingdom (1 Kings 11).
Ultimately, the message of obedience being better than sacrifice is a timeless lesson for believers today. It challenges us to examine our hearts and motives, and to prioritize obedience to God’s commands above all else. When we choose to obey God and seek His will above our own desires, we can experience the blessings and favor that come from walking in alignment with His plans for our lives.
KJV Bible Verses on obedience is better than sacrifice
Here are the top 10 KJV Bible Verses on obedience is better than sacrifice:
1. 1 Samuel 15:22 – “And Samuel said, Hath 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 hearken than the fat of rams.”
2. Proverbs 21:3 – “To do justice and judgment is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.”
3. Hosea 6:6 – “For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.”
4. Mark 12:33 – “And to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbour as himself, is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.”
5. Matthew 9:13 – “But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”
6. Hebrews 10:8 – “Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the law;”
7. Psalm 40:6 – “Sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire; mine ears hast thou opened: burnt offering and sin offering hast thou not required.”
8. Isaiah 1:11 – “To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices unto me? saith the Lord: I am full of the burnt offerings of rams, and the fat of fed beasts; and I delight not in the blood of bullocks, or of lambs, or of he goats.”
9. Micah 6:6-8 – “Wherewith shall I come before the Lord, and bow myself before the high God? shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves of a year old? Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, or with ten thousands of rivers of oil? shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?”
10. Psalm 51:16-17 – “For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.”