Go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.’ For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus's call to "go and learn" isn't just about understanding a Bible verse; it's a directive to grasp a fundamental principle of God's heart. He highlights that God's desire for mercy trumps even religious sacrifice, revealing that His mission is to seek out those who know they are lost, not those who think they've got it all together.
Go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.’ For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus is eating with tax collectors and sinners, which deeply offends the Pharisees. In response to their criticism, Jesus quotes the prophet Hosea, reminding them that God values compassion over mere religious ritual. He then clarifies his mission: he came not for those who think they're already righteous, but specifically to call sinners to himself.
The Pharisees were upset because Jesus was eating with 'sinners.' But Jesus didn't just shrug it off; he taught them a profound lesson about God's heart.
Jesus quotes Hosea 6:6, 'I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.' This isn't saying God hates religious rituals or sacrifices. The sacrificial system was God's idea!
But here's the key:
Jesus identifies himself as a doctor, but not just any doctor. He's here for a very specific kind of patient, and his methods might surprise you.
Jesus directly addresses the Pharisees' criticism: 'For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.'
This reveals Jesus's mission and purpose:
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Understand the original words
eleos · Greek Noun
Kindness, compassion, or loyalty shown to others, especially those in need or distress; in a covenantal context, it often refers to God’s faithful love (hesed) that outweighs mere ritualistic obedience.
thysia · Greek Noun
The act of offering something to God, specifically animal offerings under the Mosaic Law; it signifies worship and atonement, but is rejected by God when divorced from inward obedience and moral integrity.
dikaios · Greek Adjective
Those who consider themselves justified by their own adherence to the law; in this context, it refers to those who trust in their own self-righteousness, rendering them unable to receive the gospel.
The Pharisees' rigid adherence to ritual laws blinded them to the deeper meaning of Scripture. Jesus uses the ancient words of Hosea to highlight that His mission—and God's heart—is for the marginalized and repentant, not just the self-proclaimed 'righteous'.
c. 750 BC
Prophet Hosea delivers message
Hosea delivers a prophecy to the Northern Kingdom of Israel, including the famous declaration, 'I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.' This message emphasizes God's preference for genuine love and compassion over mere ritualistic observance.
c. 450 BC
Hosea's prophecy recorded
The prophecies of Hosea are compiled and preserved, ensuring his message about the primacy of mercy would be available for future generations to study and, ideally, understand.
c. 250 BC
Septuagint translation of Hosea
The Hebrew Scriptures are translated into Greek, making texts like Hosea accessible to a wider audience, including Hellenistic Jews and early followers of Jesus.
c. AD 28-30
Jesus' public ministry begins
Jesus begins His public ministry, calling disciples and teaching throughout Galilee and surrounding regions. His ministry is characterized by outreach to all people, including those considered outcasts.
c. AD 28-30— this verse
Jesus dines with tax collectors and sinners
Jesus accepts an invitation to eat at the house of Matthew (or Levi), a tax collector. This action draws criticism from the Pharisees and scribes who adhere strictly to ritual purity laws.
c. AD 28-30
Jesus explains His mission
In response to the Pharisees' criticism, Jesus quotes Hosea 6:6, stating He desires mercy over sacrifice. He explains His purpose is to call sinners to repentance, not those who see themselves as righteous.
This is the primary Old Testament passage Jesus quotes, directly stating 'I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.' It highlights that God values genuine compassion and inner disposition over mere ritualistic performance, just as Jesus emphasizes.
1 Samuel 15:22Samuel rebukes King Saul by saying, 'Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams.' This underscores the ancient prophetic emphasis on obedience and inner heart-attitude over empty ritual, a principle Jesus is invoking.
Matthew 12:7Jesus quotes the same phrase from Hosea again, this time in response to the Pharisees' anger over his disciples plucking grain on the Sabbath. It reinforces the idea that acts of compassion and understanding, rather than rigid adherence to religious law, are God's true desire.
Luke 15:1-7This parable of the lost sheep directly illustrates Jesus' mission to seek out and save those who are lost ('sinners'). It shows the immense joy in heaven over one sinner who repents, aligning perfectly with Jesus' statement about calling sinners.
Micah 6:8The prophet Micah declares, 'He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?' This passage encapsulates the 'mercy' Jesus champions, contrasting it with the mere 'sacrifice' the Pharisees clung to.
clarkeMatthew 9:13: "But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance."
I will have mercy, and not sacrifice - Quoted from 1 Samuel 15:22 . These are remarkable words. We may understand them as implying, 1st. That God prefers an act of mercy, shown to the necessitous, to any act of religious worship to which the person might be called at that time. Both are good; but the former is the greater good, and shou…
barnesMatthew 9:13: "But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance."
But go ye and learn ... - To reprove them, and to vindicate his own conduct, he appealed to a passage of Scripture with which they ought to have been acquainted: "I will have mercy, and not sacrifice," Hosea 6:6 . This is not a declaration on the part of God that he was opposed to "sacrifices" or "offerings for sin;" for he had appointe…
Jesus's call to "go and learn" isn't just about understanding a Bible verse; it's a directive to grasp a fundamental principle of God's heart. He highlights that God's desire for mercy trumps even religious sacrifice, revealing that His mission is to seek out those who know they are lost, not those who think they've got it all together.
Jesus is eating with tax collectors and sinners, which deeply offends the Pharisees. In response to their criticism, Jesus quotes the prophet Hosea, reminding them that God values compassion over mere religious ritual. He then clarifies his mission: he came not for those who think they're already righteous, but specifically to call sinners to himself.
Jesus is eating with tax collectors and sinners, which deeply offends the Pharisees. In response to their criticism, Jesus quotes the prophet Hosea, reminding them that God values compassion over mere religious ritual. He then clarifies his mission: he came not for those who think they're already righteous, but specifically to call sinners to himself.
"Go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.’ For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”" — Jesus's call to "go and learn" isn't just about understanding a Bible verse; it's a directive to grasp a fundamental principle of God's heart. He highlights that God's desire for mercy trumps even…
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Last reviewed October 2026