Matthew 9:13
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)
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Jesus is quoting Hosea 6:6, but the Pharisees missed the point. They thought God wanted their ritual sacrifices, but He actually prioritized acts of mercy – like Jesus showing compassion to sinners – over mere religious performance. Jesus came not to pat those on the back who think they're good enough, but to call those who know they need healing.
Jesus is sharing a meal with tax collectors and sinners, prompting the Pharisees to criticize him. He responds by quoting from the prophet Hosea to explain that his mission isn't about religious ritual but about bringing mercy and healing to those who recognize their need for it, unlike the self-righteous Pharisees. He came specifically to call those considered "sinners" to repentance, not those who thought they were already righteous.
Why did Jesus tell the Pharisees to 'go and learn' a specific biblical phrase? It turns out, God's preference isn't always what we might expect.
Jesus quotes Hosea 6:6, 'I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.' This isn't saying God hates sacrifice; He commanded it! But this quote highlights a divine preference.
A Hierarchy of Divine Desire
Jesus is telling the Pharisees that God values the heart behind worship more than the performance. True devotion isn't just about following rules; it's about reflecting God's own loving and merciful nature, especially towards those who are struggling.
The Pharisees were offended that Jesus ate with 'sinners.' But Jesus saw them differently. What does this reveal about His mission?
Jesus directly contrasts two groups: the 'righteous' and 'sinners.'
Who Needs a Doctor?
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.
Jesus uses a well-known prophetic phrase to explain that his mission is to bring people to repentance, prioritizing compassion and spiritual transformation over rigid adherence to external religious rules.
c. 750 BC
Prophet Hosea Speaks
During the reign of Jeroboam II in Israel, the prophet Hosea delivers his message, including the famous words, 'I desire mercy, and not sacrifice, and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.' This was a time of outward prosperity but inward spiritual decay for the northern kingdom.
c. 5th-4th Century BC
Hosea's words compiled
Hosea's prophecies are collected and preserved by Jewish scribes, becoming part of the Hebrew Scriptures. The message of prioritizing mercy over mere ritual would continue to resonate through centuries of Jewish thought and practice.
c. AD 28-30
Jesus begins public ministry
Jesus begins his itinerant ministry in Galilee, calling disciples and teaching about the Kingdom of God. His ministry emphasizes compassion, healing, and forgiveness, often challenging the religious establishment.
c. AD 30-33— this verse
Jesus dines with tax collectors
Jesus accepts an invitation to eat at the home of Matthew (or Levi), a tax collector, along with many other tax collectors and sinners. This act is viewed as scandalous by the Pharisees and scribes, prompting their criticism.
This is the direct source of Jesus' quote, emphasizing that God values acts of kindness and compassion ('mercy') more than mere outward religious rituals ('sacrifice').
1 Samuel 15:22This passage also highlights God's preference for obedience and relational faithfulness ('mercy') over rote religious observance ('sacrifice'), showing this is a long-standing principle in God's heart.
Matthew 12:7Jesus quotes the same passage from Hosea again, this time in response to the Pharisees accusing Him of breaking the Sabbath, reinforcing that acts of mercy and necessity outweigh rigid religious rules.
Luke 15:1-7This parable of the lost sheep directly illustrates Jesus' mission: seeking out and celebrating the 'lost' (sinners) who have 'strayed' rather than focusing on those who already believe they are 'safe' (the self-righteous).
Romans 5:8This verse beautifully echoes the theme of God's mercy extended to 'sinners' through Christ's sacrifice, showing that God's initiative is rooted in love, not in the merit of those He saves.
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 is quoting Hosea 6:6, but the Pharisees missed the point. They thought God wanted their ritual sacrifices, but He actually prioritized acts of mercy – like Jesus showing compassion to sinners – over mere religious performance. Jesus came not to pat those on the back who think they're good enough, but to call those who know they need healing.
Jesus is sharing a meal with tax collectors and sinners, prompting the Pharisees to criticize him. He responds by quoting from the prophet Hosea to explain that his mission isn't about religious ritual but about bringing mercy and healing to those who recognize their need for it, unlike the self-righteous Pharisees. He came specifically to call those considered "sinners" to repentance, not those who thought they were already righteous.
Jesus is sharing a meal with tax collectors and sinners, prompting the Pharisees to criticize him. He responds by quoting from the prophet Hosea to explain that his mission isn't about religious ritual but about bringing mercy and healing to those who recognize their need for it, unlike the self-righteous Pharisees. He came specifically to call those considered "sinners" to repentance, not those who thought they were already righteous.
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Jesus came not to applaud self-sufficiency, but to rescue the lost. His association with 'sinners' wasn't an endorsement of their sin, but an act of mercy and an extension of His saving call to those who recognized their need.
c. AD 30-33
Pharisees and scribes object
Religious leaders, including Pharisees and scribes, witness Jesus eating with 'sinners' and question his disciples, 'Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?' This highlights the deep social and religious divide.
"Go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.’ For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”" — Jesus is quoting Hosea 6:6, but the Pharisees missed the point. They thought God wanted their ritual sacrifices, but He actually prioritized acts of mercy – like Jesus showing compassion to sinners –…
