When Christianity becomes a ritual habit, and has lost its meaning, then no spiritual benefit comes to the individual who pretends or lives their life in some sort of delusion. And this occurs when people do not listen or make any attempt to learn, and therefore do not learn the basics of that which is expected of them. Generally they do not learn because they are not interested in learning. And that leads to what is in this verse.

Woe, is a reference to distress or alarm, in the extreme. Ariel is a substitute name for Jerusalem, referring to the sacrifices. It means alter or hearth, where the sacrificial offerings are burned, symbolizing Gods wrath of divine judgment on sin. This is the principle taught of Christ on the Cross when God sent punishment against sin, onto Him.

But here, the sacrifices have become routine ritual and have lost their meaning. They are done out of habit and the principles that the sacrifices teach, are not learned.

People then begin to believe that whatever it is that they do, is correct, and that all they need do is continue in their ways of pretense.



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