Summer 1995

PREFACE

By: Michael Tao

Hosea 6:6, "For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings".

Matthew 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 righteousness, but sinners to repentance."

When God said that he desired mercy and will have mercy, he is undoubtedly a merciful God. However when we take a further step into the understanding of these verses, we can see the "mercy" that God claimed, is not the mercy from God to men, but from the Israelites towards their kinsmen. At that time, there were cursing, lying, killing, stealing and committing adultery among Israelites (Hosea 4:2); God was not even able to find a priest and prophet that he could use(4:5,6).

In Matthew 9:10 ff, the Pharisees complaint to Jesus' disciples that their master was eating with the publicans and sinners. When "Jesus heard that, he said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick. 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".

Again, the mercy that Jesus "will have", can also be translated as "would have". Christ would rather these Pharisees have mercy towards these sinners, and not sacrifice of animals as an outward obedience. Obviously the Pharisees treated these publicans and sinners as outcasts of the society, and demonstrated no mercy towards them. However, Jesus saw a lot more that this, he saw a soul in every man. He also saw there is a chance in every soul, He saw eternity, He saw heaven and hell, He saw Adam took the bite on the forbidden fruit, He saw the condemnation brought onto all generations, He saw the only way out, He saw himself on the cross, He saw his saints covered by His own precious blood, He saw His father bypass His condemnation because of that blood. So out of His grace and mercy, Christ comes to call sinners to repent. Christ does not come to call the righteous to repent. As a matter of fact, there are none righteous, except those who are self-righteous to think that they deserve God and Heaven.

God has instructed us what kind of mercy he expects. What about you? Do you have mercy on your kinsmen? Do you care enough to tell them about Jesus Christ, and how much He has done for you?