Isaiah 58:5

“When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that your fasting will not be obvious to others, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”

Addresses the outward performance of religious acts like fasting, contrasting it with true, inward devotion.

“"Even now," declares the Lord, "return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning." Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity.”

Contrasts outward signs of repentance with genuine inner change, emphasizing the need for a sincere return to God.

“Ask all the people of the land and the priests, ‘When you fasted and mourned in the fifth and seventh months for the past seventy years, was it really for me that you fasted? And when you eat and drink, do you not do it for yourselves?’”

Questions the motives behind fasting, highlighting that outward religious practices are meaningless without genuine devotion to God.

“When you spread out your hands in prayer, I hide my eyes from you; even when you offer many prayers, I am not listening. Your hands are full of blood!”

Connects outward religious practices with inner righteousness, indicating that God rejects worship from those who are unjust.

“With what shall I come before the Lord and bow down before the exalted God? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old? Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousands of rivers of olive oil? Shall I offer my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”

Emphasizes that God desires justice, mercy, and humility over outward religious rituals.