by Phil Lapp

Matthew 12:7 But if ye had known what this meaneth, I will have mercy and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless.

To illustrate this truth Jesus used King David as an example. His unlawful deed of eating the showbread, which was only to be eaten by the priests, serving in the tabernacle, went unpunished by God.

The 2nd example Jesus used was the priests themselves work on the Sabbath, and are blameless.

These two examples were not just random excuses Jesus used to justify his disciples breaking the law, of plucking corn and eating on the Sabbath day. Rather, Jesus was intentionally teaching a truth of God to the people of God, that they had missed. So while obeying God’s law they were not pleasing Him.

In our world of Christian culture, Could it be that many “Christians” are living the same way?

How come is it so natural to put more emphasis on obeying the “letter of the Bible” and in so doing we condemn those whom God deems guiltless?

Do you understand what these words mean?: “I will have mercy and not sacrifice.” If we do not understand this truth, surely we will also condemn the guiltless. Yet, while we do so, we think we are getting it right, just as they thought.

Notice, Jesus did not say you will condemn the righteous. Was David right in eating the showbread? Not according to the law…Jesus says in verse 4, it was unlawful for him to do so.

Why did God have mercy on David? Read the story in 1 Sam. 21 & 22. You will find that David did not carelessly eat the showbread…He understood what he was doing. Yet, he ate because his faith in God told him that God cared more for what is in the heart of man, than the letter of the law.

Let me be clear. I am not advocating that we should ignore sin, or try to hide sin, and most importantly, think we can sin so that grace will abound. God Forbid. This is not what Jesus was trying to teach and the Holy Ghost doesn’t teach this today. Rather, Jesus is teaching us the heart of God. That God is full of mercy, yet his truth endureth to all generations.

God always confronts sin. He did so in David’s life, and surely does so today in our lives. However, look at how God dealt with David, and David’s response to God in Psalm 51.

He then makes us a promise. In Isaiah 55:3 “Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and
I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David.

Why did God have mercy on David? Because David understood what it really was that God was looking for in him. Psalm 51:16-17 For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering. ( 17) The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.

Is mercy triumphing over judgment in your life? James 2:13 Why is mercy so scarce and judgment so abundant in my personal life, in my home, and in the Church of Jesus Christ?

Surely this is the heart of the matter, that Jesus is teaching in Luke 6:36-38.

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