Jesus Will Have Mercy, and Not Sacrifice

These are Jesus words to the Pharisees in Matthew 9:12, 13: “They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick. But go and learn what that means. I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” (Parallel texts are Mark 2:17 and Luke 5:31,32) When Jesus says, “I will have mercy, and not sacrifice,” he is saying that those whom he saves must believe they are sinners and confess their sins with sorrow and repentance. Only...