I'm not following this "mercy" thing. In the context of the English language, it doesn't really fit; with regards to the context that it was used at least. Or maybe it does. But this: "I desire mercy, not sacrifice". To me that's a hodgepodge arrangement of nouns. Jesus wants our mercy? Why? Seems to me he'd ask to show mercy anywhere else but for him. One can define both 'mercy' and 'sacrifice' in a bunch of different ways.
See this is why so many charlatans can use biblical verse however they chose. Not you; I'm certainly not implying that, but just in general.
Yes, sadly there’s a few that do that.
To your question, Jesus was quoting an Old Testament prophet Hosea. Some back history is necessary....it wasn’t long after the Nation of Israel had conquered and taken possession of their promised land that they started falling back into their old ways, idol worship, breaking their religious laws, etc. As a result of the nation turning their back on God and his provision, God removed his protection and through the voices of his prophets, warned the Israelites of their sin and upcoming destruction and captivity. This is the basic theme of the OT prophets, repent of your sin and return to God.
The prophet Isiah starts his writings with the statement that God is tired of the Israelite’s sacrifices, actually calls them vain and abominations. They were doing the ritual sacrifices, going through the religious motions, but their hearts and minds were on everything other than God.
Hosea another Old Testament prophet echoes this and was the scripture Jesus referenced.
For I desire steadfast love [mercy] and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings. Hosea 6:6 ESV
For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings. Hosea 6:6 KJV.
I quoted a couple of different translations to better understand the context, actually the text explains itself. God desires mercy or the knowledge of God i.e. our personal knowledge or relationship with God more than sacrifice i.e. burnt offerings (the type of animal sacrifices used by the Jews)
To put it simply God desires our attention, love, friendship more than just religious duty. Specially when we’re daily doing the things that God hates and then showing up at Church like everything’s ok thinking we’re Saints.
Now here’s the catch. It doesn’t matter how good I am, doing everything right day after day.... I’m still not doing enough good to overcome my bad stuff in God’s eyes. He even says our good deeds are like filthy rags to him.
So how can I or what can I do that’s enough to tip the scales in my benefit?........ I can’t, a sinful man, even the slightest sinful man you can imagine, Billy Graham for example, cannot coexist/commune with a completely HOLY GOD. Actuality God in being Just, has to condemn all sin...... and that’s the whole point of Jesus and why he came.
God placed on Jesus the sin of mankind, the penalty and judgment. Jesus paid “in full” the total debt of sin. The Bible says God was pleased to do this.??? Why, because He loves us.
Understand there is nothing that you or I can do to balance the scales, actually there’s nothing we can even add, everything is based on Jesus, his death and resurrection, alone, period.
Like a pardon, God offers this (paid in full pardon)to each us, but we have to accept it. When we do, God no longer holds our sins against us, instead he sees the price Jesus paid on our behalf, allowing the relationship God seeks. It’s at this point God allows his Holy Spirt, His presence into a person’s life enabling that relationship. You just have to ask and accept it and have faith that God will do it. He will!
I can’t fully explain it Van but there’s a difference.
This is the “Mercy” of which Jesus spoke.
