Mercy not Sacrifice!!

Matthew 9:12-13 But go and learn what this means I desire mercy not sacrifice For i have not come to call the righteous,but sinnersShow more

The passage that Jesus is challenging them to go and learn is found in the Old Testament book of Hosea, and it is an indicator as to the nature of God. The default position for God has never been judgment, but rather, it has always been mercy. When Adam sinned in Eden, God could have killed him outright or worse yet, he could have let him remain in the Garden to eat the Tree of Life and live forever in a fallen state. God’s mercy kept Adam from that terrible fate, and then went with him to rule the earth.

When God dealt with Abraham, He showed him constant mercy, even though Abraham brought along his nephew Lot, and lied to Abimelech about his wife, as well as to Pharaoh. God gave him endless mercy, for that is the heart of God.

God desires mercy over sacrifice because mercy speaks of relationship, while sacrifice speaks of religion. For a merciful exchange, there is an intimate relationship that results, while a sacrifice is a ritualistic, religious practice that needs only obedience but no emotional attachment. In other words, anyone can offer up a sacrifice with no change of heart, but God wants to know His children. Mercy is for those that you know, while sacrifice is for those that you wish to know. We have a greater relationship with our Daddy God than to just “want to know”.

Apparently, the Pharisees didn't get what Jesus was saying in Matthew 9 he repeats to them again three chapters later to study Hosea in Matthew 12:7 If you had known what these words mean I desire mercy not sacrifice you would not condemn the innocent.

Hosea 6:6 For I desire mercy, not sacrifice and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings.