Matthew 12:7
But if these words had been in your minds, My desire is for mercy and not for offerings, you would not have been judging those who have done no wrong.
Bible in Basic English
In The King James Version
In Context
6But I say to you that a greater thing than the Temple is here.
8For the Son of man is lord of the Sabbath.
Cross References
Joshua 5:5All the people who came out had undergone circumcision; but all the people whose birth had taken place in the waste land on their journey from Egypt had not.
Psalms 94:21They are banded together against the soul of the upright, to give decisions against those who have done no wrong.
Proverbs 17:15He who gives a decision for the evil-doer and he who gives a decision against the upright, are equally disgusting to the Lord.
Hosea 6:6Because my desire is for mercy and not offerings; for the knowledge of God more than for burned offerings.
Matthew 9:13But go and take to heart the sense of these words, My desire is for mercy, not offerings: for I have come not to get the upright, but sinners.
Acts 13:27For the men of Jerusalem and their rulers, having no knowledge of him, or of the sayings of the prophets which come to their ears every Sabbath day, gave effect to them by judging him.
Matthew Henry on Matthew 12:2-14
Christ Vindicates His Disciples. 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 showbread, which was not lawful for him… Read the whole commentary →