No! The priests and people knew well that God demanded perfect sacrifices. That is clear from the reference to “the cheat” or “the deceiver.” The people made vows before God, promising to present a perfect offering to God in thankful response to God’s favour, as God’s law required (Leviticus 22:18–23). But when the time came to fulfil their vows, they offered to God the sick and the lame. By so doing, they added insult to injury insofar as they not only blasphemed God’s name but also lied to God by breaking their vows. The Lord God, who is a God of truth, took vow-breaking and deception very seriously (Deuteronomy 23:21; Ecclesiastes 5:5; Psalm 15:4; Psalm 24:4; Acts 5:4).
14 Cursed be the cheat who has a male in his flock, and vows it, and yet sacrifices to the Lord what is blemished. For I am a great King, says the LORD of hosts, and my name will be feared among the nations.