Repentance Accepted Before God

The holy things of the temple were made with measure, order, and reverence. Brass altar, sea for washing, tables, basins, lamps: none of this taught Israel that God could be bribed by abundance, but that those who draw near must do so cleanly and obediently. The Lord who appointed sacred rites also searches the hidden man. As Cyprian says, “the eyes of the Lord are in every place, beholding the evil and the good.” Therefore Proverbs joins the tongue, the heart, and the offering together: wrathful speech, proud thoughts, and crooked ways defile worship; gentle speech, correction received, and the fear of God make it acceptable.

Nineveh proves that judgment threatened is not judgment escaped by empty words. The king came down from his throne, the city fasted, the people cried mightily to God, and each one turned from violence. Then mercy followed repentance. Chrysostom says, “What then is this? God, says He, saw that they turned every one from his evil way, and He repented of the evil that He had said He would do unto them.” God is not mocked by sackcloth without amendment, but He does receive the sinner who forsakes his sins.

James presses the same truth upon the church. Riches hoarded rot; unpaid wages cry out; self-indulgence ripens for slaughter. So let prayer be plain, truth-speaking be simple, patience endure, and the sick be sought out with prayer and confession. If a brother wanders, bring him back. The acceptable sacrifice is not noise of lips, but repentance joined to mercy, truth, and steadfast works.