It is clear from Malachi 2:13 that God takes no delight in worship offered by those who fail to walk in obedience to God’s commandments. To use the words of Samuel spoken to King Saul in 1 Samuel 15:22, "Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams.” Those who worship the Lord while living in disobedience to his commandments during the week must not suppose that God will be pleased with or accept their worship. This was a sinful tendency that arose often among God’s people, and was often addressed in Scripture (Isaiah 1:11; Hosea 6:6; Jeremiah 7:22–23; Proverbs 21:3; Mark 12:33). God’s people today must be warned of this same sinful tendency. Living daily in humble obedience to God’s commandments has priority in the forms of worship that pleases God.
13 And this second thing you do. You cover the LORD’s altar with tears, with weeping and groaning because he no longer regards the offering or accepts it with favor from your hand.