Isaiah 58:4

New International Reader's Version

When you fast, it ends in arguing and fighting. You hit one another with your fists. That is an evil thing to do. The way you are now fasting keeps your prayers from being heard in heaven.

Cross References

Proverbs 21:27

God hates sacrifices that are brought by evil people. He hates it even more when they bring them for the wrong reason.

Isaiah 1:15

You might spread out your hands toward me when you pray. But I do not look at you. You might even offer many prayers. But I am not listening to them. Your hands are covered with the blood of the people you have murdered.

Isaiah 3:14

He judges the elders and leaders of his people. He says to them, “My people are like a vineyard. You have destroyed them. The things you have taken from poor people are in your houses.

Isaiah 3:15

What do you mean by crushing my people? Why are you grinding the faces of the poor into the dirt?” announces the Lord. He is the Lord who rules over all.

Isaiah 59:2

But your sins have separated you from your God. They have caused him to turn his face away from you. So he won’t listen to you.

Isaiah 59:6

Those people weave their evil plans together like a spider’s web. But the webs they make can’t be used as clothes. They can’t cover themselves with what they make. Their acts are evil. They do things to harm others.

Joel 2:12

The Lord announces to his people, “Return to me with all your heart. There is still time. Do not eat any food. Weep and mourn.”

Jonah 3:7

Here is the message he sent out to the people of Nineveh. “I and my nobles give this order. Don’t let people or animals taste anything. That includes your herds and flocks. People and animals must not eat or drink anything.

Matthew 23:13

“How terrible it will be for you, teachers of the law and Pharisees! You pretenders! You shut the door of the kingdom of heaven in people’s faces. You yourselves do not enter. And you will not let those enter who are trying to.

Luke 20:47

They take over the houses of widows. They say long prayers to show off. God will punish these men very much.”

John 18:28

Then the Jewish leaders took Jesus from Caiaphas to the palace of the Roman governor. By now it was early morning. The Jewish leaders did not want to be made “unclean.” They wanted to be able to eat the Passover meal. So they did not enter the palace.