WHEN WE PARDON SOMEONE, WE ARE WILLING TO FORGIVE AND PROVIDE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR A PERSON TO HAVE ANOTHER CHANCE TO PROVE HIMSELF. The Bible Informs Us That Mercy Triumphs Over Judgment. This is because the person who has been shown mercy is given an opportunity to put things right or demonstrate that righteousness is done

What is the meaning of Jesus' statement, "I desire mercy, not sacrifice"?

Happy Riches answers question by anonymous

If you said to somebody that you desire mercy, not sacrifice, what would you mean?

Would you be saying to the person, go and do good works? Would you be saying, go and show mercy? Would you be saying, have pity of the less fortunate? Would you be saying, demonstrate that you are better than others? Would you be saying, blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy?

Maybe you might identify with one of these ideas: doing good works, showing mercy, having pity on the less fortunate, expecting to receive mercy, demonstrating that you are superior to others by your charity?

However, if I said to someone that I desire mercy, I would be saying that I expect to receive mercy rather than being judged.

The dictionary definitions for “mercy” are along the following lines:

compassionate treatment of or attitude towards an offender, adversary, benevolence, kindness shown, leniency, pardon —mercy

What particularly is overlooked by every commentator I have read concerning the idea of someone desiring mercy when it comes to the verse you have quoted is the concept of “pardon”.

• For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy; yet mercy triumphs over judgment. (James 2:13)

• Go and learn what this means, ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.’ For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.” (Matthew 9:13)

• And if you had known what this means, ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the guiltless. Matthew 12:7

When we pardon someone, we are willing to forgive and provide the opportunity for a person to have another chance to prove himself. The Bible informs us that mercy triumphs over judgment. This is because the person who has been shown mercy is given an opportunity to put things right or demonstrate that righteousness is done.

Jesus was effectively saying that He desires mercy, not sacrifice. Jesus said that if a person knows what this meant they would not have condemned the guiltless. You see the idea of judgment impregnates the concept of mercy. This means that people could judge God for being born into a world as a sinner, when they had no say in the matter. He was not telling anybody to go and demonstrate their good works, but to asking people to show Him mercy, instead of judging Him—as so many are wont to do!

• But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from law, although the law and the prophets bear witness to it, the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction; since all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, they are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as an expiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins; it was to prove at the present time that he himself is righteous and that he justifies him who has faith in Jesus.

The Apostle John, who was the most beloved of Jesus, understood the truth about mercy and why God had to show His righteousness. The Apostle wrote:

• I am writing to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven for his sake. (1 John 2:12)

Self-righteous people do not understand this. They judge God and others, but do not see that when they make judgments, they are the ones who are not exercising mercy.

Blessed Are Those Who Understand The Truth About Mercy Their Reward Is Great