“Mercy and Sacrifice?"
Hosea 6

July 3, 2005
by C.W. Powell

1 Come, and let us return unto the LORD: for he hath torn, and he will heal us; he hath smitten, and he will bind us up.
2 After two days will he revive us: in the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight.
3 Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the LORD: his going forth is prepared as the morning; and he shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth.
4 O Ephraim, what shall I do unto thee? O Judah, what shall I do unto thee? for your goodness is as a morning cloud, and as the early dew it goeth away.
5 Therefore have I hewed them by the prophets; I have slain them by the words of my mouth: and thy judgments are as the light that goeth forth.
6 For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.
7 But they like men have transgressed the covenant: there have they dealt treacherously against me.
8 Gilead is a city of them that work iniquity, and is polluted with blood.
9 And as troops of robbers wait for a man, so the company of priests murder in the way by consent: for they commit lewdness.
10 I have seen an horrible thing in the house of Israel: there is the whoredom of Ephraim, Israel is defiled.
11 Also, O Judah, he hath set an harvest for thee, when I returned the captivity of my people.” (Ho 6:1-11 AV)

This passage has importance to us because our Lord Jesus quoted it directly on two separate occasions in his controversy with the Pharisees. It is a rule of interpretation to know the meaning and context of such a quotation. We use the Old Testament passage as foundation, and the New Testament passage for illumination, for very often the Holy Spirit sheds light upon an Old Testament passage that dazzles the mind with its insight and spiritual truth. So it is in this passage. I will try to do three things today. [1] Look at the meaning of verse 6 in the context of Hosea; [2] Look at the two places where Jesus quoted this passage; [3] Make application.

I. The Hosea Passage: There are several things:

A. God promises to show blessing to Israel and restore them. Vs. 1,2.

1. This speaks of the coming of Messiah and the pouring out of the Holy Spirit. All of the Lord’s people are raised with Christ on the third day. All revival promises to Israel and to the church is in terms of the life of Christ.
2. “But there is forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared.” (Ps 130:4 AV)

B. The knowledge of the Lord by the coming of Christ is like showers of blessing upon dry land, reviving and refreshing and renewing it. Vs. 3. This is a figure that was used by the prophets, by Christ Himself, and by the New Testament writers:

1. “10 For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: 11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.” (Isa 55:10-11 AV)

2. “But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.” (Joh 4:14 AV)

3. “And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.” (Re 22:17 AV)

C. God’s blessing upon them would not be because of any righteousness of their own. Vs. 4-11.

1. Their goodness was early dew that vanishes: compared with early and latter rains.
2. He had chopped them down by the prophets, slain by the word.
3. They were covenant breakers, like Adam or like men. Vs. 7
4. Their religion was defiled and horrible—unfaithful to God.
5. This was because they did not know the Lord: vs. 6. The knowledge of God is everything:

a) They thought that if they renewed their efforts and put more energy into their sacrifices, they would be spared the judgment of God. But it was the knowledge of God that they lacked. God did not need to be persuaded to do them good.

b) This is pagan thought: that the energy supplied to the religious ceremony will impress the gods: The priest of Baal cut themselves as they danced around the altar. Elijah mocked them.

c) God is not impressed with the energy and the sincerity that you profess. These things are impressive in the eyes of men.

d) It is the knowledge of God. God delights in mercy.

(1) Yes God is just; but it is too late for us approach God this way, because of Adam’s sin and our alienation from God.
(2) God delights in mercy. They are called to believe this, not think they must meet some condition.

II. Christ two references.

A. Matthew 9. To show what is meant by the mercy side.

1. The Scripture:

“9 And as Jesus passed forth from thence, he saw a man, named Matthew, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he saith unto him, Follow me. And he arose, and followed him.
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.
11 And when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto his disciples, Why eateth your Master with publicans and sinners?
12 But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick.
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.” (Mt 9:9-13 AV)

2. The meaning:

a) There is no question that Matthew and his friends were sinners. But sinners need mercy, not hoops to jump through.

b) Jesus did not condone their sin, nor indulge in sin with them. He met with them as a physician meets with a patient, to do them good. This is right and proper.

c) To have fellowship with the ungodly is to walk in their ways and partake of their sins; it does not mean to have contact with them. It is not the personal contact that defiles, but the participation in their sinful and ungodly ways.

B. Matthew 12:1-8

1. The Scripture: To show what “not sacrifice” means:

1 At that time Jesus went on the sabbath day through the corn; and his disciples were an hungred, and began to pluck the ears of corn, and to eat.
2 But when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto him, Behold, thy disciples do that which is not lawful to do upon the sabbath day.
3 But he said unto them, Have ye not read what David did, when he was an hungred, and they that were with him;
4 How he entered into the house of God, and did eat the shewbread, which was not lawful for him to eat, neither for them which were with him, but only for the priests?
5 Or have ye not read in the law, how that on the sabbath days the priests in the temple profane the sabbath, and are blameless?
6 But I say unto you, That in this place is one greater than the temple.
7 But if ye had known what this meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless.” (Mt 12:1-7

2. The meaning.

a) The purpose for the sacrifice: the keeping the Sabbath and all that went with the Jewish worship, was the knowledge of God.
b) If you don’t know Christ, how in the world can you keep the Sabbath or any worship of God.
c) Christ is the temple; not the stones in Jerusalem. One greater than the temple is here.
d) If Christ is with us, our life is holy, for He is the Temple.
e) The very purpose for the Sabbath day is the knowledge of God. “God wills that the ministry of the Word be maintained….” In you life; in the church; in the community. This is the great reason for public and private worship; the knowledge of God: But this is not the exercise of one day; but of every day.
f) How wicked were the Pharisees!!!

III. Application:

A. The foundation of the church is mercy and not ceremony, for this is what is near the heart of God. There are many passages that teach this:

“Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?” (Eze 33:11 AV)

“31 For the Lord will not cast off for ever: 32 But though he cause grief, yet will he have compassion according to the multitude of his mercies. 33 For he doth not afflict willingly nor grieve the children of men.” (La 3:31-33 AV)

“Sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire; mine ears hast thou opened: burnt offering and sin offering hast thou not required.” (Ps 40:6 AV) I will preach on this text next week.

B. The sacrifices required in the Old Testament point to the only sacrifice that satisfied the justice of God, and that is the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross. This is the subject of next week’s sermon.

C. Any sacrifice or offering that you bring to God for the purpose of easing your conscience or seeking to propitiate God—any offering that you do for the purpose of persuading God that you are worth listening to is an offering of unbelief and is against Christ, who freely offers you mercy and grace by faith.

D. All offerings acceptable to God are not sacrifices, but are offerings of love and gratitude for the free mercy that God has provided for you and me in Jesus Christ.

E. Let us show mercy to one another, and accept one another as Christ as accepted us, without condition and without price.

F. Let us show our love and mercy to each other by setting ourselves in a life of thankfulness and holiness so that we do no bring reproach upon the Name of the the Lord Jesus who loves us and died for us. We will do this if we are truly thankful for His grace to us and we will not be slothful in well doing.

Amen and Amen. May God bless you.