Mercy, Rather Than Sacrifice?

 

Today's verse is Hosea 6:6

     For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice;

      And the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.

    Matthew tells us us Jesus had rebuked the Pharisees for not understanding the first part of this verse, “I will have mercy, and not sacrifice.” Ever since reading the first command to go understand what if means, i have had trouble doing so. For, as I understand it, without the sacrifice Christ made for us, there is no mercy. Yet, Paul in Hebrews, I believe, has given an answer. For he quotes Psalms, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me. For Jesus Christ has shown us mercy, and the Pharisees were to be looking for that one that Isaiah spoke of that would suffer for our transgressions, even that our iniquities would in the sight of God be forgiven. But go and search the scriptures and see if you can understand what the Pharisees did not. Amen.

To God be the Glory

Scott

Today’s reading is 2 Kings 13, 2 Timothy 3, Hosea 5-6, Psalm 119:145-176

Tomorrow’s reading will be 2 Kings 14, 2 Timothy 4, Hosea 7, Psalm 120-122