June
11, 2003
I
DESIRE MERCY AND NOT SACRIFICE
"But
go and learn what this means: 'I desire mercy and not sacrifice"
(Matthew 9:13, NKJV).
This
conversation took place when Jesus sat as an honored guest
at Matthew's (Levi, see Mark 2:15)) house with those who were
tax collectors and sinners who were despised by the scribes
and Pharisees. The latter said to Christ's disciples, "Why
does your Teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners? (Matthew
9:11). When Jesus heard what was said, He replied directly,
"Those who are well have no need
of a physician, but those who are sick. But go and learn what
this means: 'I desire mercy and not sacrifice,' For I did
not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance"
(Matthew 9:12, 13).
The quotation
that Jesus used came from Hosea 6:6. It was an appeal that
God made to Israel and Judah because of their unfaithfulness.
"O Ephraim, what shall I do to you? O Judah, what shall
I do to you? For your faithfulness is like a morning cloud,
and like the early dew it goes away.. For I desire mercy and
not sacrifice, and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings"
(Hosea 6:4, 6). Because of the Lord's displeasure, the Israelites
sought to appease Him with many and costly sacrifices. Samuel,
the prophet, put it best when he said, "Has the Lord
as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in
obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than
sacrifice, and to heed than the fat of rams" (1 Samuel
15:22).
The "knowledge
of God" is more important than "burnt offerings."
Knowledge is the guide of proper conduct. Mercy is religion
in practice. Without these two basic elements religion tends
to be merely an empty form without inspiration or satisfaction.
Although the Pharisees thought so highly of themselves, they
were really in a worse condition than the ones they despised.
The tax collectors and sinners referred to were less bigoted
and self-sufficient, and were more open to the influence of
the truth than the rabbis. Jesus said to the scribes and Pharisees,
"Go and learn what this means:
'I desire mercy and not sacrifice" (Matthew 9:13).
By this He showed that while they claimed to understand and
expound on the word of God, they were wholly ignorant of its
spirit. The Pharisees were silenced for a time, but only became
more determined in their enmity against Christ.
"The
sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, a broken and a contrite
heart-- These, O God, You will not despise" (Psalm 51:17).
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