Hosea 6:6 For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings. God had Himself, after the fall, enjoined sacrifice to foreshow and plead to Himself the meritorious sacrifice of Christ. He had not contrasted mercy and sacrifice who enjoined them both. When then they were contrasted, it was through man's severing what God had united. If we were to say, "Charity is better than churchgoing," we should be understood to mean that it is better than such churchgoing as is severed from charity. For, if they were united, they would not be contrasted. The soul is of more value than the body. But it is not contrasted, unless they come in competition with one another, and their interests seem to be separated. In itself, sacrifice represented all the direct duties to God, all the duties of the first table. Mercy represented all the duties of the second table. (E. B. Pusey, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.WEB: For I desire mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings. |
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