Twice Jesus quotes the prophet Hosea “I desire mercy and not sacrifice” - check out Matthew 9:9-12 and 12:1-8. Jesus tells the religious leaders of the day, “I desire mercy and not sacrifice.” He says if they had understood what that meant then they would understand why Jesus hung out with prostitutes, tax collectors and sinners; and why he could heal and eat on the Sabbath. What do you hear when you read Jesus words in those passages? What does it mean that God desires mercy over the religious rules?
#1 by Rhonda Denterlein on November 14th, 2009 - 5:51 pm
The religious/righteous people thought they were better than everyone else because they followed the details of the law, but they missed the “heart” of the law to love God and love one another. Jesus mission was to demonstrate the love, grace, and mercy of God to the broken, the sick, the captives, and the sinners not to reward the self-righteous rule-followers.