Matthew 12:7
But if you had known what this means, ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice,’ you wouldn’t have condemned the guiltless.
World English Bible
In The King James Version
In Context
6But I tell you that one greater than the temple is here.
8For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.”
Cross References
Joshua 5:5For all the people who came out were circumcised; but all the people who were born in the wilderness along the way as they came out of Egypt had not been circumcised.
Psalms 94:21They gather themselves together against the soul of the righteous, and condemn the innocent blood.
Proverbs 17:15He who justifies the wicked, and he who condemns the righteous, both of them alike are an abomination to the LORD.
Hosea 6:6For I desire mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.
Matthew 9:13But you go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice,’ for I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”
Acts 13:27For those who dwell in Jerusalem, and their rulers, because they didn’t know him, nor the voices of the prophets which are read every Sabbath, fulfilled them by condemning 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 →