Jeffrey Johnson Supporter

What does Psalm 40:6 mean by, "Sacrifice and offering You did not desire"?

Psalm 40:6 ("Sacrifice and offering You did not desire...") means God prioritises heartfelt obedience, love, and a surrendered will over mere ritualistic sacrifices. While animal sacrifices were commanded under Mosaic law, they were never intended as substitutes for a repentant heart and ethical living. The verse signals that true devotion—"open ears" to hear and follow God—matters more than the technical performance of religious duties.

David ponders how he might show his gratitude for all the wondrous things God had done for him (Psalm 40:1–5). Certainly, David knew that God accepted and even commanded certain physical sacrifices under the Old Testament law. However, David has enough wisdom to understand that God looks at the worshiper's heart and not simply at his sacrifices and offerings.

Remember, King Saul had learned the hard way what David knew: The Lord delights in obedience, not in the ritual of offering sacrifices when the heart is not in tune with His will. 

Samuel reprimanded Saul for disobeying the Lord by not slaying Agag and all that pertained to Agag and by offering sacrifices after disobeying the Lord. He told Saul: "Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams" (1 Samuel 15:22). 

Sacrifice and offering, You did not desire.

This phrase highlights a recurring biblical theme that God values obedience and a contrite heart over ritualistic sacrifices. In the Old Testament, sacrifices were a central part of worship, yet prophets like Samuel (1 Samuel 15:22) and Hosea (Hosea 6:6) emphasised that God desires mercy and knowledge of Him more than burnt offerings. This reflects a deeper spiritual truth that external rituals are meaningless without genuine faith and obedience.

Jesus was praying when he was baptised. (Luke 3:21) 

Evidently, from this point on in his life, he fulfilled the words of Psalm 40:6-8, as later indicated by the apostle Paul: “Sacrifice and offering you did not want, but you prepared a body for me.” (Hebrews 10:5) 

Jesus showed his awareness that God “did not want” animal sacrifices to continue being offered at Jerusalem's temple. Instead, he realised that God had prepared a perfect human body for him, Jesus, to offer as a sacrifice. This would remove any further need for animal sacrifices. 

Showing his heartfelt desire to submit to God's will, Jesus continued praying: “Look! I am come (in the roll of the book it is written about me) to do your will, O God." (Hebrews 10:7) 

What a magnificent example of courage and unselfish devotion Jesus set on that day for all who would later become his disciples!—Mark 8:34.

May 02 2026 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Leslie Coutinho Supporter

Psalm 40:6 Sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire; mine ears hast thou opened: burnt offering and sin offering hast thou not required.

In the Garden of Eden, having the “Tree of Life and the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil,” Adam’s wife was deceived by the serpent. (Gen 2:9,15-17/3:5-6) Eve then bore sons, Cain and Abel, who were born and then grew up, and brought their offerings to the Lord God. Cain brought the fruit of the ground, and Abel brought the firstling of his flock and offered it to the Lord God, who then had respect unto Abel’s offering. Cain’s offering, He had no respect. Cain was then very angry and disappointed. (Gen 4:1-5) The Lord then said unto Cain, “Why art thou angry? And why are you disappointed? If you had done well, shall thou not be accepted? And if you have not done well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his, Satan’s desire, and thou shall rule over him.” (Gen 4:6-7) And then it came to pass when they were in the field, Cain rose up against his brother, Abel, and he slew him. The Lord then came and said to Cain, “Where is thy brother Abel?” and he said, "I know not." Lord then said unto him, “The voice of thy brother's blood cries unto me, from the ground.” (Gen 4:8-10)

Abraham trusted in the Lord, and the Lord counted him as righteous by his faith. Lord God then gave him a covenant to keep between Him and his coming generation, for “Every male child born among his generation shall be then circumcised.” (Gen 15:6/17:9-10) Sarah then bore a son, Isaac, and it came to pass that God did tempt Abraham and said, “Take now thine only son Isaac, to the land of Mo-ri’-ah and offer him as a burnt offering, on the mountain which I will tell thee of.” (Gen 21:3,22:1-2) He then took him to the mount, built an altar, and bound his son Isaac on the altar; he stretched forth his hand, took a knife to offer him, for a burnt offering. (Gen 22:2,9-10) The Angel of the Lord called unto him out of heaven, and said, “Lay not thine hand upon Isaac, for now, I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from Me.” (Gen 22:11-12) Abraham, was led in the right spirit who hearkened to voice of the Lord God, having his ears opened leading his heart and mind. He then looked around, saw a ram, took the ram, and “offered it as a burnt offering unto the Lord God.” (Psa 40:7-8/Gen 22:13) 

The children of Adam, who were led to bring their offerings to God the Father, the ages were then “Framed by the Word of God.” Abel, and then Abraham, by faith offered unto God the Father the excellent sacrifice, who witnessed that they were righteous, for “God testifying their gifts.” (Heb 11:3-4,17/Gen 22:9,13) Today, “One whose Ears are Spiritually Opened” is then led to incline thine ear unto wisdom and apply thine heart and mind to understanding. (Pro 2:2,6) There was a woman having issues of blood who spent all that she had with the physicians and yet grew worse. When she heard of our Lord Jesus, “The Holy Spirit led her to open her ear, and who was then brought out of a horrible pit, with miry clay, and was set up to keep her feet upon a rock to establish her goings.” She then came and “Touched Lord Jesus Garment, and she felt in her body that she was healed of the plague.” (Psa 40:1-2/Mark 5:25-29)

Micah 6:8: 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? Psalm 51:17: The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.

May 09 2026 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report