Jesus frequently referenced the Old Testament during His earthly ministry. It wasn’t until very recently, when reading Matthew 9:13, that I realised the profound significance of that: Jesus wasn’t just quoting Scripture – He was, as God incarnate (He is, still today), reminding the Israelites of the promises, teachings, and words He had spoken to their forebears through the prophets, thereby underscoring His divine identity and authority.
Matthew 9:13 NIV
But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”
In Matthew chapter 12 He quotes the same scripture again, particularly in verse 7: refer below where I’ve also included the verses before and after it:
Matthew 12:6-8 NIV
[6] I tell you that something greater than the temple is here. [7] If you had known what these words mean, ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the innocent. [8] For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.
So, which old testament verse is Jesus quoting in these two readings?
Hosea 6:6 NIV
[6] For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings.
Hosea 6 explores the unrepentant Israelites, their persistent disobedience, and highlights God’s unwavering mercy. The same mercy resonates today:
Mercy! In a world that continues to defy God,
Mercy! In a world that refuses to repent,
Mercy! Amidst judgmental attitudes,
Mercy! When kindness is scarce,
Mercy! In the face of unforgiveness.
Mercy! For the redeemed,
Mercy! For the saved,
Mercy! For the forgiven,
Mercy! For the lost,
Mercy! For the sick,
Mercy! To those shunned by society.
Mercy! A promise from heaven,
Mercy! From the eternal I AM,
Mercy! through Christ alone,
Mercy! In the presence of the Holy Spirit,
Mercy! From the Triune God – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit
~ idauhahine, Jan-25 ~
What a profound challenge! Jesus, with His eternal perspective, knew that humanity’s struggle with mercy would persist from the beginning of time (Cain in his envious rage didn’t show mercy to Abel) to the end.
Christ foresaw the unmerciful treatment He Himself would endure, and so, He issued a compelling call to His followers in Matthew 9:13, ‘Go and learn what this means: “I desire mercy, not sacrifice.”‘
From the outset, Jesus’ mission was clear: centred on calling sinners, outcasts, the socially excluded or marginalised, etc, to experience His mercy rather than seeking the self-righteous. This call to mercy remains a challenging one, even to this today.
Christianity is not a comfortable, feel-good religion. If we’re not challenged by God’s Word or don’t experience discomfort when confronted with our own sinfulness, we may be succumbing to self-righteousness.
Jesus referenced Hosea 6:6 to caution His disciples against this very attitude. Let’s inspect our hearts and values: are we prioritizing mercy, compassion, and humility, or have we become complacent in our faith journey?
Our God is a God of boundless mercy, extending His grace to every individual, believer, and non-believer alike. May we, as followers of Christ, reflect His mercy and kindness in our daily lives, especially to those who have yet to encounter the transformative power of Jesus’ love.
Gracious God, have mercy on us and grant us Your loving-kindness. Dear Jesus, walk alongside us as we seek to follow Your example and reflect Your love. Holy Spirit, illuminate our path, leading us in the ways of life everlasting. In Jesus' name, we pray, Amen.
To God be the glory always 🙏❤️
Idau Hahine 