Isaiah

Hear the word of the Lord you rulers of Sodom (Jerusalem); give ear to the law of our God, you people of Gomorrah. To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices to Me says the Lord? I am full of the burnt offerings of rams and the fat of fed beasts; and I delight not in the blood of bullocks, or of lambs, or of he goats.

When you come to appear before Me, who has required this at your hand, to tread My courts? Bring no more vain oblations; incense is an abomination to Me; the new moons and Sabbaths, the calling of assemblies, I cannot. Away with it, it is iniquity, even the solemn assembly. Your new moons and your appointed feasts My soul hates: they are a trouble to Me; I am weary of them.

And when you spread forth your hands, I will hide My eyes from you: yes, you shall make many prayers, I will not hear: your hands are full of blood. Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before My eyes; cease to do evil; learn to do well; seek judgement, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow. (Is 1:10-17).

This was the mindset of the nations, that Israel adopted. They saw religion as appeasing gods, keeping them happy, paying them a bribe, meetings their needs, as we get on with own lives, doing what we want. They tried to make their god more glorious than the nations around them by building them a greater temple. The gods needed them to do this, because they were impotent: they could not do it for themselves. How is it that our mind can be so dumb, that we worship a god who cannot care for himself?

True religion is not sacrifice, but justice and judgement. It is not ritual and trying to be spiritual, but truth and mercy. This is why Jesus came to end all sacrifice and put it away. It promotes false religion, which God hates. This is why in Isaiah 58 God condemned their fasting. He said that the fast (meaning true religion) that He has chosen is righteousness and caring for the needy.