You are not pleased with the sacrifices {\cf2\super [122]} of animals killed and burned.\par And you are not pleased with sacrifices to take away sins.\par
Lord, you made me understand this: {\cf2\super [250]} \par You don’t really want\par sacrifices {\cf2\super [251]} and grain offerings.\par You don’t really want\par burnt offerings and sin offerings.\par
“Surely, some of you priests could close the temple doors and light the fires correctly. I am not pleased with you. I will not accept your gifts.” The Lord All-Powerful said these things.
Live a life of love. Love other people the same as Christ loved us. Christ gave himself for us—he was a sweet-smelling offering and sacrifice {\cf2\super [37]} to God.
I have all the things I need. I have even more than I need. I have all I need because Epaphroditus brought your gift to me. Your gift is like a sweet-smelling sacrifice {\cf2\super [24]} offered to God. God accepts that sacrifice and it pleases him.
But Samuel answered, “Which pleases the Lord more: burnt offerings and sacrifices [138] or obeying the Lord’s command? It is better to obey God than to offer sacrifices to him. It is better to listen to God than to offer the fat from rams.