In Psalm 51:17, King David writes:

"The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, You will not despise."

This passage emphasises that humility and repentance are more important to God than ritual sacrifices. While sacrifices (like lambs without blemish) were part of the religious practices in the Old Testament, what God truly desires is a genuine, repentant heart—a broken spirit and contrite heart.