I Will Have Mercy and not Sacrifice

Dear class,

Today's readings are taken from Genesis 30 and Matthew 9.

Just a note on Matthew 9:13
Mat 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.

Jesus was most likely alluding to the writings of Hosea
Hos 6:6 For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.

And we read again in Micah
Mic 6:6  Wherewith shall I come before the LORD, and bow myself before the high God? shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves of a year old?
Mic 6:7  Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, or with ten thousands of rivers of oil? shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?
Mic 6:8  He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?

And we are all familiar with the account of Saul's disobedience in the matter of the Amalekites, where Samuel rebuked Saul in 1Samuel
1Sa 15:22  And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.

The context and application is slightly different but the concept is the same - what are we truly focussing on when we claim to do God's will? Jesus was targeting people who had the form without the function! As were the case in Old Testament Israel. Again, as we've mentioned in class, the problem was not with the sacrifice. Sacrifice authorised by God is all good! But the bigger picture we all need to have is what does God want us to truly to do.

In the context of Matthew 9, the Pharisees were accusing Jesus of keeping company with publicans and sinners. Some use this to justify going with friends to pubs, discos, etc.
First of all, notice the order of things:
Mat 9:10  And it came to pass, as Jesus sat at meat in the house, behold, many publicans and sinners came and sat down with him and his disciples. (Emphasis mine)

So did Jesus go to an undesirable place to "undesirable people" or was it the other way round?

Secondly, the purpose of Jesus associating with the so called sinners is clear - "...for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance." (Mat 9:13b)
It wasn't a casual chit chat, makan session! It was Jesus preaching the gospel to the lost!

To make an appropriate application, it would be not turning away someone outside of the church, regardless of who it may be, when that individual approaches us to learn more, but to spend time in study with that individual. And yes, it could be over a meal in your house.

The point of the matter is this - Christ came to seek and save to lost (Luk 19:10). We have been beneficiaries of that mercy or compassion and it is our duty and privilege to extend that mercy to others. Yes it is all good and yea commanded for us to keep ourselves pure and unspotted and live righteously (Ti 2:12; Jam 1:27, etc). But it would be a grave mistake to divorce all these away from the two great commandments -  to love God and keep His commandments and to love our neighbours (Matthew 22:37-39; Jhn 14:15). It would be pointless if not done in knowledge of truth and in a mere show of pride and false piety (c.f. Hos 6:6 "knowledge"; Mic 6:8 "humbly").

Let us be reminded our great privilege and responsibility as the Lord's redeemed and go about showing compassion to others (Luk 6:36) as Christ had patterned that we should follow His steps (1Pe 2:21). In all humility and contriteness of heart, which is the true sacrifice to God (Psa 51:17) and again, as Christ has demonstrated in giving His life for us (Phi 2:8)

The Lord bless our day ahead.

in Him
Paul

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But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. ~ Hebrews 3:13

Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. ~ 2 Corinthians 7:1