Mathetes - on the Jews

Superstitions of the Jews

And next, I imagine that you are most desirous of hearing some- thing on this point, that the Christians do not observe the same forms of divine worship as do the Jews. The Jews, then, if they ab- stain from the kind of service above described, and deem it proper to worship one God as being Lord of all, [are right]; but if they of- fer Him worship in the way which we have described, they greatly err. For while the Gentiles, by offering such things to those that are destitute of sense and hearing, furnish an example of madness; they, on the other hand by thinking to offer these things to God as if He needed them, might justly reckon it rather an act of folly than of divine worship. For He that made heaven and earth, and all that is therein, and gives to us all the things of which we stand in need, certainly requires none of those things which He Himself bestows on such as think of furnishing them to Him. But those who imagine that, by means of blood, and the smoke of sacrifices and burnt- offerings, they offer sacrifices [acceptable] to Him, and that by such honors they show Him respect, — these, by supposing that they can give anything to Him who stands in need of nothing, ap- pear to me in no respect to differ from those who studiously confer the same honor on things destitute of sense, and which therefore are unable to enjoy such honors.