But if you had known what this means, ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the guiltless.
Parallel translations
- WEB But if you had known what this means, ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the guiltless.
- KJV But if ye had known what this meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless.
- BSB If only you had known the meaning of ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the innocent.
- ESV And if you had known what this means, ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the guiltless.
- NASB But if you had known what this means: ‘I desire compassion, rather than sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the innocent.
- NLT But you would not have condemned my innocent disciples if you knew the meaning of this Scripture: ‘I want you to show mercy, not offer sacrifices.’
Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Jesus rebukes the Pharisees for condemning his innocent disciples, quoting Hosea 6:6 to show that God prizes mercy over mere ritual.
Overview
Citing Hosea, Jesus exposes how the Pharisees' rigid Sabbath rules had blinded them to God's heart. They had elevated ceremonial sacrifice above compassion and so condemned the guiltless. Jesus, who is mercy incarnate, here defends his hungry disciples and reveals that true obedience flows from a heart attuned to God's character of steadfast love.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 11
- Hos 6:6For I desire mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.
- Matt 9:13But you go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice,’ for I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”
- Mic 6:6–8How shall I come before Yahweh, and bow myself before the exalted God? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old?
- Isa 1:11–17“What are the multitude of your sacrifices to me?”, says Yahweh. “I have had enough of the burnt offerings of rams, and the fat of fed animals. I don’t delight in the blood of bulls, or of lambs, or of male goats.
- Prov 17:15He who justifies the wicked, and he who condemns the righteous, both of them alike are an abomination to Yahweh.
- Acts 13:27For those who dwell in Jerusalem, and their rulers, because they didn’t know him, nor the voices of the prophets which are read every Sabbath, fulfilled them by condemning him.
- Matt 22:29But Jesus answered them, “You are mistaken, not knowing the Scriptures, nor the power of God.
- Ps 109:31For he will stand at the right hand of the needy, to save him from those who judge his soul.
- Jas 5:6You have condemned, you have murdered the righteous one. He doesn’t resist you.
- Ps 94:21They gather themselves together against the soul of the righteous, and condemn the innocent blood.
- Job 32:3Also his wrath was kindled against his three friends, because they had found no answer, and yet had condemned Job.
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Christ at the center
Matthew presents Jesus as the promised King — son of David, son of Abraham — the new Moses and true Israel in whom every prophecy reaches 'that it might be fulfilled.'
How Matthew 12:7 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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