Jeremiah 6:20

"For what purpose cometh there to me frankincense from Sheba, and the sweet cane from a far country? your burnt-offerings are not acceptable, nor your sacrifices pleasing unto me. Therefore thus saith Jehovah, Behold, I will lay stumbling-blocks before this people; and the fathers and the sons together shall stumble against them; the neighbor and his friend shall perish."

"Your burnt-offerings are not acceptable ..." (Jeremiah 6:20). "This does not mean that Jehovah was against sacrifices per se; he was only against unethical sacrifices."[15] When habitual sinners, insincere, hypocritical, and rebellious against God brought sacrifices to God, they were not merely unacceptable but were an abomination to the Holy God.

There was nothing capricious or vindictive on God's part who is represented here as placing "stumbling blocks" in the way of Israel. "The stumbling blocks confronting the people were of their own making,"[16] when they had deliberately refused to walk in the good way (v. 17). Yes God had placed the stumblingblocks in the way of evil which Judah elected to take with such disastrous consequences. It is, as if God had said, "Take your choice; choose your way, either (1) the ancient paths, the good way, or (2) the way with the stumbling-blocks."[17]