The prophet Zechariah asks the people of his time a very good question. However, we must not overlook the fact that this is a call to all the peoples of the world: if we are going to make a sacrifice to the Lord, it must be with a sincere heart and with genuine worship before God.
In this passage, the priests were committed to guiding the people along the right path, giving good instructions so that they would be submissive and comply with the Lord’s statutes. That’s why we see this question, because the prophet observed that the people were not sincere in the sacrifices they offered to the Lord.
The Lord speaks to them clearly about the fast they had undertaken, which was neither sincere. That is, the entire time they offered that sacrifice was not pleasing to God.
Speak unto all the people of the land, and to the priests, saying, When ye fasted and mourned in the fifth and seventh month, even those seventy years, did ye at all fast unto me, even to me?
Zachariah 7:5
And if we were asked that same question today about our commitment to God—whether we have acted in obedience, with good conduct, and offering a full and sincere sacrifice—what would we answer?
It is important to understand that if we are making sacrifices for the Lord, they must be sincere and truly come from the heart. We must not be like those people who praised God with their lips, but whose hearts were far from Him.
Whatever you do—whether fasting or other sacrifices—do it well, showing obedience and goodwill before the Lord. Then God will be pleased with your good behavior.
