Matthew 12:7
But if ye had known what this meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless.
KJV
εἰ δὲ ἐγνώκειτε τί ἐστιν· ἔλεος θέλω καὶ οὐ θυσίαν, οὐκ ἂν κατεδικάσατε τοὺς ἀναιτίους.
Greek NT
Si autem sciretis, quid est : Misericordiam volo, et non sacrificium : numquam condemnassetis innocentes :
Vulgate
But if ye had known what this meaneth, I desire mercy, and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless.
ASV
And if you knew what this meaneth: I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: you would never have condemned the innocent.
Douay-Rheims
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In the original Greek
14 distinct Greek words appear in this verse.
γινώσκω
ginosko
verb · 222×
δέ
de
conjunction · 2781×
εἰ
ei
conditional · 491×
εἰμί
eimi
verb · 2461×
θέλω
thelo
verb · 208×
θυσία
thusia
noun · 28×
καί
kai
conjunction · 8973×
καταδικάζω
katadikazo
verb · 6×
οὐ
ou
particle · 1626×
τίς
tis
interrogative_pronoun · 533×
ἀναίτιος
anaitios
adjective · 2×
ἄν
an
particle · 165×
ἔλεος
eleos
noun · 27×
ὁ
o
article · 19778×
Themes
Historic Christian voices
6 passages from patristic writers, Reformers, and church catechisms citing this verse.
§2100Outward sacrifice, to be genuine, must be the expression of spiritual sacrifice: "The sacrifice acceptable to God is a broken spirit...."17 The prophets of the Old Covenant often denounced sacrifices that were not from the heart or not coupled with love of neighbor.18 Jesus recalls the words of the prophet Hosea: "I desire mercy, and not sacrifice."19 The only perfect sacrifice…
Proof that God did not appoint the Levitical dispensation for His own sake, or as requiring such service; for He does, in fact, need nothing from men. 1. Moreover, the prophets indicate in the fullest manner that God stood in no need of their slavish obedience, but that it was upon their own account that He enjoined certain observances in the law. And again, that God needed not…
2. Afterwards again He refutes it in another way also. For as at first He brought in David, by the dignity of the person quelling their pride; so when He had stopped their mouths, and had put down their boasting, then He adds also the more appropriate refutation. And of what sort is this? Do you not know, that in the temple the priests profane the Sabbath, and are blameless? Ma…
1. Do we then run and labor in vain? Are we sowing upon the rocks? Does the seed fall upon the rocks? Does the seed fall without our knowing it by the wayside, and among thorns? I am greatly troubled and fear, lest our husbandry be unprofitable; not as though I shall be a loser as well as you, touching the reward of this labor. For it is not with those who teach as it is with h…
Cross-references
- 1Sam 15:22 — And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.
- Acts 13:27 — For they that dwell at Jerusalem, and their rulers, because they knew him not, nor yet the voices of the prophets which are read every sabbath day, they have fulfilled them in condemning him.
- Hos 6:6 — For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.
- Hos 6:6 — For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.
- Isa 1:11 — To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices unto me? saith the LORD: I am full of the burnt offerings of rams, and the fat of fed beasts; and I delight not in the blood of bullocks, or of lamb
- Jas 5:6 — Ye have condemned and killed the just; and he doth not resist you.
- Mark 12:33 — And to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbour as himself, is more than all whole burnt offerings and s
- Matt 9:13 — 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.
- Matt 9:13 — 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.
- Matt 22:29 — Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God.
- Matt 23:23 — Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have do
- Mic 6:6 — Wherewith shall I come before the LORD, and bow myself before the high God? shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves of a year old?
- Prov 17:15 — He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, even they both are abomination to the LORD.
- Ps 40:6 — Sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire; mine ears hast thou opened: burnt offering and sin offering hast thou not required.
- Ps 94:21 — They gather themselves together against the soul of the righteous, and condemn the innocent blood.
- Ps 109:31 — For he shall stand at the right hand of the poor, to save him from those that condemn his soul.