“tears.” The priests and people were crying, but for the wrong reason. They were not crying tears of repentance, being sorry for their sin and the way they had turned away from God and His Word. Instead, they were crying because they were not getting their way and God was not accepting them. Evil and prideful people want their way, and cry and complain when they don’t get it. That was the case with these people.

“no longer pays attention to the offering.” Sacrifices and offerings made to God by wicked people are detestable to God; He has no respect for them and will not accept them. Sacrifices and offerings were never designed to make a person with an evil heart acceptable in the sight of God. Proverbs 21:27 and 28:9 say that the sacrifices of a wicked person are an abomination to God.

[For more information about the sacrifices of wicked people being of no value, see commentary on Amos 5:22. For more information about God not hearing the prayers of the ungodly and unrepentant, see commentary on Prov. 28:9.]