Matthew 12:7

And if ye knew, what it is, I will mercy, and not sacrifice, ye should never have condemned innocents. (And if ye only knew, what is meant by, I want mercy, or kindness, and not sacrifice, ye would never have condemned the innocent.)

Wycliffe Modern Spelling

In The King James Version

But if ye had known what this meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless.

In Context

6And I say to you, that here is a greater than the temple. (And I tell you, that here is something greater than the Temple.)

8For man’s Son is Lord, yea, of the sabbath.

Read all of Matthew 12

Cross References

Joshua 5:5the which all were circumcised. But the other people that was born in desert by forty years, in the way of the full broad wilderness, was uncircumcised, (were all circumcised. But the other males, those who were born in the wilderness, were uncircumcised.)

Psalms 94:21They shall take (hold) against the soul of a just man; and they shall condemn innocent blood. (For they gather themselves together against the life of the righteous; and they condemn the innocent to death.)

Proverbs 17:15Both he that justifieth a wicked man, and he that condemneth a just man, ever either is abominable to God. (Both he who justifieth a wicked person, and he who condemneth a righteous person, be abominable to God.)

Hosea 6:6For I would mercy, and not sacrifice, and I would the knowing of God, more than burnt sacrifices. (For I desire love, and not sacrifices, yea, I desire the knowing of God, more than any burnt sacrifices.)

Matthew 9:13But go ye, and learn what it is, I will mercy, (or I want mercy, or kindness), and not sacrifice; for I came, not to call rightful [or rightwise] men, but sinful men to penance (or but sinners to repentance).

Acts 13:27For they that dwell at Jerusalem, and (the) princes of it, (or For they who live in Jerusalem, and their leaders), that knew not this Jesus, and the voices of (the) prophets, that by every sabbath be read, deemed, and fulfilled;

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 →

This Verse In Other Editions

Study Matthew 12:7