Matthew 12:7Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Here stands the Lord of the temple, the embodiment of Truth rather than mere representation. Hence, He proclaimed, "I say unto you, that the church is greater here." The Pharisees, despite hearing such significant statements, remained silent, for the teaching presented did not pertain to the salvation of humanity. As this message was burdensome to those listening, the Lord swiftly provided clarification, justifying His followers through His words and admonishing the Pharisees by stating, "If thou hadst known what is, I would have mercy, and not sacrifice, thou wouldst not have condemned the innocent." Observe how He again defends His disciples with His words and simultaneously illustrates that they do not require justification.

He demonstrates their lack of understanding, as they are unfamiliar with the scriptures of the prophets. He indicates that one ought to show compassion to those who are in need.

Previously, we discussed the significance of the phrase, "I desire mercy, not sacrifice." The subsequent words, "would not condemn the innocent," should be interpreted in the context of the apostles. Essentially, this verse conveys: If you commend Ahimelech's act of compassion in providing sustenance to David and his hungry companions, why, then, do you criticize my followers who have not committed a similar offense?

Since His actions appeared harsh, stating that the church is more prominent here, He guides the conversation toward the theme of forgiveness, albeit with correction. Furthermore, He rebukes them for their lack of understanding of the Scriptures, asserting that if they comprehended the prophetic message (Hos. 6:6), in which God emphasizes mercy over sacrifice, they would demonstrate compassion toward those in need of sustenance and refrain from condemning the innocent, especially in cases of hunger. If the Sabbath can be set aside for the purpose of sacrifice, as it is stated, then even more so should it be set aside for the sake of mercy; for mercy holds a higher value than sacrifice according to the Divine teaching indicated.

To illustrate that every action embodies a foreshadowing of what is to come, He remarked, "If you understood what it means, ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice,’ you would not condemn the blameless." Our salvation is not achieved through sacrifice, but through grace; the cessation of the law signifies our redemption by God's grace. Had they recognized this gift, they would never have wrongfully judged the innocent, namely the apostles, who were about to face false accusations of violating the law driven by malice. With the end of the old sacrifices, a new mercy emerged through them for everyone, nor would they have believed that the Lord of the Sabbath could impose restrictions on its observance.

On a Sabbath, the Lord was journeying with His devoted disciples and apostles through the fields where grain had been sown. Feeling hungry, the disciples began to harvest the ears of grain, cleansing them with their hands so that they could partake of the food. When the Pharisees observed this, they questioned the Lord, saying, “Look, Your disciples are doing what is not lawful on the Sabbath” (Matthew 12:2). In response, the Lord referenced David and the priests, noting how the former occasionally transgressed ceremonial law, while the latter upheld the law's prescriptions. He then admonished the Pharisees with the damning words: “If you had known what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the innocent” (Matthew 12:7).

To eliminate the sin of condemnation, one must cultivate a heart full of compassion. A compassionate heart will not only refrain from judging perceived violations of the law but will also respond to evident wrongs with acceptance and sorrow rather than reproach. The sin of condemnation arises from a heart lacking mercy, one that derives joy from humiliating others, tarnishing their reputation, and disregard for their dignity. Such actions are akin to murder, drawing from the nature of the one who has been a murderer since the very beginning. Additionally, slander proliferates from this same source, for the adversary is known for his deceitful and slanderous ways. Be quick to awaken empathy within yourself whenever the insidious temptation to condemn arises.

If you truly understood the significance of Hosea's words, "I desire mercy, not sacrifice," you would show compassion to those in need and refrain from criticizing my blameless disciples. A compassionate spirit recognizes human frailty and refuses to cast judgment on others. You would comprehend that the Sabbath was established for the good of humanity, "and not man for the Sabbath" (Mark 2:27). It was meant to redirect our minds and hearts from earthly concerns toward God, rather than to restrict the hands of a person seeking righteousness.

The Pharisees lack the merciful and compassionate love for their neighbors that God desires; instead, they are preoccupied with rituals, religious observances, and customs rooted in tradition. Had they recognized that genuine love for those in need surpasses all customs and sacrifices, they would not have judged the hungry who gathered grain on the Sabbath. Thus, Jesus tells them, ‘If you had known what it means, “I desire mercy and not sacrifice,” you would not have pronounced judgment on the innocent. Following the visit of Matthew the tax collector, Jesus clarified to the Pharisees this very principle: I desire mercy, not sacrifice.

The Christ whom they persecute is indeed greater than the temple, and as the Son of Man, He holds authority over the Sabbath. Rather than fixating on trivial matters of equality, they would do well to recall the profound words of the prophet, which declare that mercy surpasses sacrifice (Hos. 6:6), emphasizing the value of compassion over empty rituals.

“If you had understood,” etc. - After justifying the actions of His followers by citing examples, the Savior now unveils to the Pharisees the root of their unjust criticism of His disciples, which lies in their misunderstanding of the relationship between legal regulations and higher moral obligations. The Pharisees lack the merciful and compassionate love for others that God desires, as stated by the prophet Hosea (Hosea 6:6). Their focus is solely on sacrifices, rituals, ceremonies, and traditional customs, which have closed off the wellspring of true love.