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Selected Verse: Matthew 12:7 - Strong Concordance
Verse |
Translation |
Text |
Mt 12:7 |
Strong Concordance |
But [1161] if [1487] ye had known [1097] what [5101] this meaneth [2076], I will have [2309] mercy [1656], and [2532] not [3756] sacrifice [2378], ye would [302] not [3756] have condemned [2613] the guiltless [338]. |
|
King James |
But if ye had known what this meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless. |
Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse
A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882] |
But if ye had known what this meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice-- (Hos 6:6; Mic 6:6-8, &c.). See on Mat 9:13.
ye would not have condemned the guiltless--that is, Had ye understood the great principle of all religion, which the Scripture everywhere recognizes--that ceremonial observances must give way before moral duties, and particularly the necessities of nature--ye would have refrained from these captious complaints against men who in this matter are blameless. But our Lord added a specific application of this great principle to the law of the sabbath, preserved only in Mark: "And he said unto them, the sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath" (Mar 2:27). A glorious and far-reaching maxim, alike for the permanent establishment of the sabbath and the true freedom of its observance. |
Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65] |
I will have mercy and not sacrifice - That is, when they interfere with each other, I always prefer acts of mercy, before matters of positive institution: yea, before all ceremonial institutions whatever; because these being only means of religion, are suspended of course, if circumstances occur, wherein they clash with love, which is the end of it. Mat 9:13. |
Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826 |
I will have mercy, etc. - See this explained, Mat 9:13.
There are four ways in which positive laws may cease to oblige.
First, by the natural law of necessity.
Secondly, by a particular law, which is superior.
Thirdly, by the law of charity and mercy.
Fourthly, by the dispensation and authority of the Lawgiver.
These cases are all exemplified from Mat 12:4-8. |
27 And [2532] he said [3004] unto them [846], The sabbath [4521] was made [1096] for [1223] man [444], and not [3756] man [444] for [1223] the sabbath [4521]:
13 But [1161] go ye [4198] and learn [3129] what [5101] that meaneth [2076], I will [2309] have mercy [1656], and [2532] not [3756] sacrifice [2378]: for [1063] I am [2064] not [3756] come [2064] to call [2564] the righteous [1342], but [235] sinners [268] to [1519] repentance [3341].
6 Wherewith shall I come before [06923] the LORD [03068], and bow [03721] myself before the high [04791] God [0430]? shall I come before [06923] him with burnt offerings [05930], with calves [05695] of a year [08141] old [01121]?
7 Will the LORD [03068] be pleased [07521] with thousands [0505] of rams [0352], or with ten thousands [07233] of rivers [05158] of oil [08081]? shall I give [05414] my firstborn [01060] for my transgression [06588], the fruit [06529] of my body [0990] for the sin [02403] of my soul [05315]?
8 He hath shewed [05046] thee, O man [0120], what is good [02896]; and what doth the LORD [03068] require [01875] of thee, but to do [06213] justly [04941], and to love [0160] mercy [02617], and to walk [03212] humbly [06800] with thy God [0430]?
6 For I desired [02654] mercy [02617], and not sacrifice [02077]; and the knowledge [01847] of God [0430] more than burnt offerings [05930].
13 But [1161] go ye [4198] and learn [3129] what [5101] that meaneth [2076], I will [2309] have mercy [1656], and [2532] not [3756] sacrifice [2378]: for [1063] I am [2064] not [3756] come [2064] to call [2564] the righteous [1342], but [235] sinners [268] to [1519] repentance [3341].
4 How [4459] he entered into [1525] [1519] the house [3624] of God [2316], and [2532] did eat [5315] the shewbread [740] [4286], which [3739] was [2258] not [3756] lawful [1832] for him [846] to eat [5315], neither for [3761] them which [3326] were with him [846], but [1508] only [3441] for the priests [2409]?
5 Or [2228] have ye [314] not [3756] read [314] in [1722] the law [3551], how that [3754] on the sabbath days [4521] the priests [2409] in [1722] the temple [2411] profane [953] the sabbath [4521], and [2532] are [1526] blameless [338]?
6 But [1161] I say [3004] unto you [5213], That [3754] in this place [5602] is one [2076] greater than [3187] the temple [2411].
7 But [1161] if [1487] ye had known [1097] what [5101] this meaneth [2076], I will have [2309] mercy [1656], and [2532] not [3756] sacrifice [2378], ye would [302] not [3756] have condemned [2613] the guiltless [338].
8 For [1063] the Son [5207] of man [444] is [2076] Lord [2962] even [2532] of the sabbath day [4521].
13 But [1161] go ye [4198] and learn [3129] what [5101] that meaneth [2076], I will [2309] have mercy [1656], and [2532] not [3756] sacrifice [2378]: for [1063] I am [2064] not [3756] come [2064] to call [2564] the righteous [1342], but [235] sinners [268] to [1519] repentance [3341].