Zechariah Video Sermons

Obedience Rather Than Ritual Zechariah 7:1-10

Oct 01, 2023

Summary of Sermon

One of the hardest things to learn as a Christian is that the highest form of worship is obedience. We like rituals because they are ‘easy’. They are external and do not necessarily require any genuine change. Most of us can fake the rituals for a short period of time.

Here in the text, the people have returned to Jerusalem from Babylon and they have built a Temple and now they are planning to offer sacrifices and beginning to perform the rituals laid out in the Law. While they were in Babylon, they used to fast and mourn in the 5th and 7th months each year. They wanted to know if they should still do this now that they are home.

God asks them WHY they perform the rituals. They were not sorry for their sins, and they assumed that their empty rituals would bring God’s favour. God hates empty rituals. Rather He lays out true religious faith in Him from verses 8-10, love your neighbours, do not plot evil against your neighbours, and be compassionate (think of other’s situations and pain) before you act or react. James tells us about true religion in James 1:26, we are to tame our tongues, how do we speak to each other? Micah tells us in Micah 6:8, that we are asked by God to do justly (treat others lovingly), love mercy (love to forgive and hate getting revenge), walk humbly with God (you are only blessed because God is gracious, never forget that).