Matthew 9:13

The Lord said to the Pharisees that “[He] would have mercy, and not sacrifice” (Matthew 9:13) . To me this is a recurring theme throughout the Gospels: the Lord is trying to teach that love is greater than keeping the law and traditions of the Jews, which sometimes were used to justify being outright cruel and selfish to others. The ‘obedient’ frequently were hypocrites who looked down on other men and their traditions also allowed them to claim things as corban to deny giving to their parents. Mainstream Judaism had become very corrupt in this regard, especially with many of the leaders seeking their own power and not to uplift others. The very doctrine and ordinances of the Law were meant to point to Christ, but it seems that many lived only to practice the Law and didn’t grasp the meaning of it. Jesus wanted people to learn that living the commandments was important but that it had the end of leading them to love one another and help each other, not despise people according to their profession or beliefs about whether or not they are sinners. The Gospel is of love. Sacrifices are fairly worthless if done grudgingly and without care or regard for others, but if sacrifices are done in love they can change the world; certainly they change the world of the person for whom they are carried out. It doesn’t mean as much to God if we sacrifice something for Him but it doesn’t lead us to love Him and our fellow man. Our sacrifices and obedience should be out of love, just as the Savior’s sacrifice was out of pure love.