Charles Spurgeon Commentary Isaiah 1:14-15

"Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hateth; they are a trouble unto me; I am weary of bearing them. And when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you; yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear: your hands are full of blood." — Isaiah 1:14-15 (ASV)

Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hateth: they are a trouble unto me; I am weary to bear them. And when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you: yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear: your hands are full of blood.

This is plain speaking; but God never sends velvet-tongued men as his messengers. They who are called to testify for God speak out boldly, and faithfully denounce the sins of the day in which they live. Blessed be God for Isaiah and for men like him!

When men are committing crimes, when they are oppressing the poor, when they are living in the daily practice of injustice, when they indulge in secret drunkenness, when their whole life is a lie, they may do what they will, but God will not hear their prayers.

While we keep sin in our hearts, it is in vain for us to stretch out our hands to God. He is a holy God, and he seeks holy hearts and holy lives; and nothing short of these can be acceptable to him.