3rdCompass.org: Can you fully explain what God meant by, 'I desire mercy and not sacrifice'?

3rd Compass -> Group News and Articles -> Can you fully explain what God meant by, 'I desire mercy and not sacrifice'?

Can you fully explain what God meant by, 'I desire mercy and not sacrifice'?

12/6/2023

The other week, someone asked me what “sacrifice” meant in Matthew 9:13 when Christ said, “Now go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice,’ for I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners” (Matthew 9:13, 12:7). He noted Yeshua (Jesus) was referencing Old Testament scripture in the statement, but was not sure what scripture it was.

When I looked at the scriptures for him, I also noted Christ used the same Old Testament reference in Matthew 12:7, saying, “But if you had known what this means, ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the innocent.”

In these two statements, the Lord was telling those who were against Him and His ways (the Jewish teachers and leaders) that they were wrongly legalistic about observing the Law of Moses, first in socializing with sinners (Matthew 9:9-13), then in violating the commandment to rest on the weekly sabbath (Matthew 12:1-7). Christ told them to go and learn what He meant, then He implied that they did not know what was meant by His desire for “mercy and sacrifice.”

They were scholars of the Law of Moses and the Old Testament, but the Lord told them to go learn. Likewise today, there are many Christian scholars of the Bible who think they know everything God meant in these statements. It isn’t that hard, after all, to understand that Christ was emphasizing mercy or compassion for people instead of sacrifice.

However, in my work with the prophecies of Hosea, I immediately knew the Lord was referring to Hosea 6:6, which I translated, “For I [God] desire loyalty rather than sacrifice…,” which is how the NASB translates it. Other Bibles, like the KJV and NIV, use “mercy” instead, which seems to align with Christ’s statements in the New Testament where a Greek word, eleos, is used, meaning “mercy, kindness, or compassion”^[2.900.4.0].

What translations are correct? Some of you will think that because Christ used a word that only means mercy or compassion when He rebuked the Jews in the New Testament, that Hosea 6:6 must line up with that. He was quoting the Old Testament words of Hosea 6:6, wasn’t He?

Yes, He did, but you would be wrong to think Hosea 6:6 must be translated with “mercy or compassion” instead of “loyalty or faithfulness.” The Lord was phrasing...

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God linked this discussion for Judaism

12/7/2023

Today I saw a Times of Israel article written by someone who longed to return home to one of the kibbutz towns that were attacked on October 7. Of significant note, I saw she stated, "I understand that the aura of security that I had on October 6th was no more solid than the fog of the morning desert that burns off and dissipates with the rising sun." (https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/returning-home-the-long-road-ahead)

Her imagery was very vivid in my mind because I had just posted more about scripture where God stated, "For your loyalty is like a morning cloud, and like dew that is gone early" (Hosea 6:4). Her article was published just a day before I published the teaching about Hosea 6 above.

God wants this link known to His people, so I made comment in her article which I copy here:

Minister Ty Alexander: The author, Adele, said, "I understand that the aura of security that I had on October 6th was no more solid than the fog of the morning desert that burns off and dissipates with the rising sun."

Oh Israel, how does El Elyon, God Most High, long for you to understand. Did I not say your security is in Him but your ways have made you unfaithful? Israel, recall God said, "What shall I do with you, Ephraim? What shall I do with you, Judah? For your loyalty is like a morning cloud, and like dew that is gone early. Therefore I have cut them to pieces by the prophets. I have slain them by the words of My mouth. And the judgments on you are like the light that goes forth. For I desired CHESED rather than sacrifice, and the understanding of God rather than burnt offerings." (Hosea 6:4-6)

Israel, Do you understand what God says in those words? Be not complacent, but go and learn...

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