Compassion

"But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire compassion, and not sacrifice,’ for I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners." - Matthew 9:13

Jesus had just called Matthew to "Follow Me", a tax-collector of all people. In the ensuing scene, Matthew’s fellow tax-collectors and fellow sinners are enjoying dinner with Jesus and His newest disciple. The Pharisees are of course immediately irate. "Why is Jesus eating with the despised tax-collector and sinners?", they wanted to know. This is not simple curiosity, but rather a rhetorical question revealing their ugly self-righteousness. Jesus responds with the obvious: the healthy do not need a physician but rather those who are sick.

Then comes the rebuke: "go and learn what this means". This phrase was commonly used to rebuke someone for something they should have already known. The verse Jesus is referring to is found in the Old Testament book of Hosea, chapter 6, verse 6 (For I delight in loyalty, rather than sacrifice, and in the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings).

The Greek word in this verse for ‘compassion’ is pronounced 'eleos' and means mercy or pity. What Jesus was after here was typical in His approach to the Pharisees: He wanted them to know that tenderhearted mercy and undeserved pity toward others was to be desired over the self-righteous, judgmental, looking-down-the-nose attitude that prevailed in their hearts.

That Jesus would quote this verse from Hosea is of particular interest. Faithful Hosea was married to the adulterous Gomer. Hosea’s response is a beautiful picture of God’s faithful love for the stubborn and adulterous nation of Israel.

What response would God require of us? Go and learn what this means.