What does the quote, ‘I want mercy and not sacrifice.’ really mean? This is what Jesus told the religious leaders of his day and followed that by saying that they needed to learn what this meant. This verse is a quote from Hosea 6:6.
Jesus uses this quote twice and it is found in Matthew 9:13 and He repeats it again in Matthew 12:7. Here are the verses in context:
9:9 As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax booth.“Follow me,” he said to him. And he got up and followed him. 9:10 As Jesus was having a meal in Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with Jesus and hisdisciples. 9:11 When the Pharisees saw this they said to his disciples, “Why does yourteacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” 9:12 When Jesus heard this he said, “Those who are healthy don’t need a physician, but those who are sick do. 9:13 Go and learn what this saying means: ‘I want mercy and not sacrifice.’ For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”
And:
12:1 At that time Jesus went through the grain fields on a Sabbath. His disciples were hungry, and they began to pick heads of wheat and eat them. 12:2 But when the Pharisees saw this they said to him, “Look, your disciples are doing what is against the law to do on the Sabbath.” 12:3 He said to them, “Haven’t you read what David did when he and hiscompanions were hungry – 12:4 how he entered the house of God and they ate the sacredbread, which was against the law for him or his companions to eat, but only for the priests?12:5 Or have you not read in the law that the priests in the temple desecrate the Sabbath andyet are not guilty? 12:6 I tell you that something greater than the temple is here. 12:7 If you had known what this means: ‘I want mercy and not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the innocent. 12:8 For the Son of Man is lord of the Sabbath.”
As I see it, this really points out the difference between religion and relationships. Religion places a priority on rules, & customs . People need to make sacrifice to make themselves worthy before a relationship can be established. Relationships makes people the priority and mercy is freely given so relationships can be established. Mercy is unmerited favor toward those who have done wrong without them having to atone for their failures. Sacrifice is people having to make amends for their failures before the relationship is restored.
So, where do we place our priorities? Where do we place our highest priorities? Are our rules and customs, our highest priority; or do we want friendships with all people?
Sunday, January 20, 2013
Wednesday, January 9, 2013
A difference in philosophy
During my lifetime, I have noticed two different philosophies competing for the way that we do things here in the USA. I do not know what the official designations are for these points of view. I simply describe them as Childproofing vs Responsibility training.
I first noticed these different philosophies as a kid and later as a parent. If you store dangerous chemicals under your sink, then Responsibility training will try to teach your child not to go there. This is done by constantly monitoring them and punishing them if they should go there. Punishment usually was a spanking. The purpose here was to teach them that bad things will happen if they handle those chemicals in a way that will not cause permanent damage to them. Childproofing says that you can't monitor them as you should, so you need to put locks on the doors to prevent them from going there.
You can see a difference between the two philosophies later as the kids grow and start playing in the street. Responsibility training will teach them to watch for cars and it is their responsibility to get out of the way of traffic. Childproofing will say that it is the responsibility of the oncoming traffic to avoid the kids.
Also you can see this in schools. Responsibility training says that it is the students responsibility to learn. Childproofing places to total responsibility on the teachers.
Again, when someone goes berserk and starts killing others. Responsibility training says the cure is to see that the criminal is made accountable for their actions. Childproofing says we need gun control.
It is this last example that I have a problem with both philosophies. My problem with them here is that neither of them will prevent these tragedies from happening. History shows us this. There has been many of a criminal in our history who has been taught responsibility in their actions but still went on and did terrible things. History has also shown us that tragedies can and will happen without guns (i.e. Ireland, Oklahoma City, September 11).
I believe that the only thing that will prevent these things from happening is love. When this world was created, love ruled. People rebelled against that love and that is why bad things happen now. However, we now live in a time where it is possible to know that love and to experience that love. As we experience that love, it will flow through us and will change the way we interact with each other. As that love changes us, we naturally start loving others with that type of love. I believe that the only answer that will stop the violence within America is that love.
Here's to living loved and loving others.
I first noticed these different philosophies as a kid and later as a parent. If you store dangerous chemicals under your sink, then Responsibility training will try to teach your child not to go there. This is done by constantly monitoring them and punishing them if they should go there. Punishment usually was a spanking. The purpose here was to teach them that bad things will happen if they handle those chemicals in a way that will not cause permanent damage to them. Childproofing says that you can't monitor them as you should, so you need to put locks on the doors to prevent them from going there.
You can see a difference between the two philosophies later as the kids grow and start playing in the street. Responsibility training will teach them to watch for cars and it is their responsibility to get out of the way of traffic. Childproofing will say that it is the responsibility of the oncoming traffic to avoid the kids.
Also you can see this in schools. Responsibility training says that it is the students responsibility to learn. Childproofing places to total responsibility on the teachers.
Again, when someone goes berserk and starts killing others. Responsibility training says the cure is to see that the criminal is made accountable for their actions. Childproofing says we need gun control.
It is this last example that I have a problem with both philosophies. My problem with them here is that neither of them will prevent these tragedies from happening. History shows us this. There has been many of a criminal in our history who has been taught responsibility in their actions but still went on and did terrible things. History has also shown us that tragedies can and will happen without guns (i.e. Ireland, Oklahoma City, September 11).
I believe that the only thing that will prevent these things from happening is love. When this world was created, love ruled. People rebelled against that love and that is why bad things happen now. However, we now live in a time where it is possible to know that love and to experience that love. As we experience that love, it will flow through us and will change the way we interact with each other. As that love changes us, we naturally start loving others with that type of love. I believe that the only answer that will stop the violence within America is that love.
Here's to living loved and loving others.
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