Love Jesus, Do Mercy

Matthew 12:6-7 “I tell you that one greater than the temple is here. 7 If you had known what these words mean, ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the innocent.”

AS we continue from the previous lesson, Jesus’ teachings are simple: Be merciful. Do good. Reveal God’s gospel.

God first spoke, ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice,’ to Israel through the prophet Hosea. From the time God revealed himself to Israel in the Exodus miracles, God longed for his people to be devoted to him. But over the years, the generations, Israel had turned the sacrifices from an expression of faith and gratitude into empty religious rituals. God never desired sacrifices apart from a heart devoted to Him.

Yes, it’s true. Proper administration of the sacrifices was essential for Israel to receive God’s blessings. Leviticus 25:18-19 “Follow my decrees and be careful to obey my laws, and you will live safely in the land. 19 Then the land will yield its fruit, and you will eat your fill and live there in safety.”

And we remember again that Jesus instructed the people to active obedience this way: “But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand.” (Matthew 7:26)

We must know these fundamental words that direct us toward a true relationship with the LORD God. With very direct language, clear illustrations and memorable parables throughout his Bible, the Living Word wants us to know this vital truth: James 1:22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.

To help us do what it says, from a heart that loves God, Jesus teaches, “I desire mercy, not sacrifice.” He transforms faith works from a set of rules into a faithful love response to the “one greater than the temple”. He wants us to know the temple and its sacrifices were God’s design to prepare for Jesus.

Now Jesus has come and fulfilled the purpose of the temple and the sacrificial system. Through his once-for-all sacrifice, believers no longer need animal sacrifices to approach God. (See, too, Hebrews 10.) Our faithful response to do what God’s Word says is a merciful heart revealed in the ways we obey the two great commandments: Love God. Love others as ourselves. (from Matthew 22:38-39)

We must be careful we don’t base our level of love for Jesus on how busy we are for Jesus. Too busy hearts can lose track of Jesus’ love and mercy. Three times in 1 Corinthians 13:1-3 the apostle Paul confirms, But (if I) have not love, I gain nothing.

How then are we to faithfully put Jesus’ words into right actions? We begin with loving mercy itself. When the priests sacrificed the animals, they were to remember God’s great mercy to release Israel from Egypt. The blood pouring from the animals was a memorial to God’s mercy to redeem Israel from slavery and mankind from sin. Each time they approached the altar, the priests were to be grateful for the LORD God’s mercy and kindness.

Now that Jesus has become the sacrificial Lamb, we must remember even more God’s extraordinary mercy through Jesus’ blood poured from the cross with every breath we take. Mercy is an active expression of loving-kindness, compassion and tenderness. No one in history is more merciful than our incarnate Lord Jesus Christ, born of a woman, suffered, crucified, buried and risen. He defended the innocent and taught that compassion is at the heart of God's will.

If you truly love mercy, you will understand how to respond to Jesus’ commands, so you can do what it says.

Jesus Teaches: Love Jesus first. Do what he tells you with a merciful heart.