Matthew 9:13 · Bible study
Matthew 9:13 Commentary: Mercy Over Sacrifice, Call to Sinners
Greek · 10 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Jesus quotes Hosea to prioritize mercy over ritual and defines His mission: to call sinners to repentance, not the self-righteous.
Research Summary
- Meaning: Jesus quotes Hosea to show that God values mercy over ritual, and His mission is to call sinners to repentance, not the self-righteous.
- Key words: ἔλεος (mercy, compassionate action), θυσία (sacrifice, ritual offering), μετάνοια (repentance, change of mind).
- Main debate: Are the “righteous” non-existent (irony) or are there some truly righteous who don’t need repentance?
- Theological theme: God’s priority of compassionate love over religious performance; the gospel’s call to the humble.
- Best use: To teach that true religion is not avoidance of sinners but redemptive engagement with them.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”
WEB World English Bible 2000
But you go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice,’ for I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”
KJV King James Version 1769
But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
But go ye and learn what this meaneth, I desire mercy, and not sacrifice: for I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
but having gone, learn ye what is, Kindness I will, and not sacrifice, for I did not come to call righteous men, but sinners, to reformation.'
Darby Darby Bible 1890
But go and learn what [that] is — I will have mercy and not sacrifice; for I have not come to call righteous [men] but sinners.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
Go then and learn what this meaneth, I will have mercy and not sacrifice. For I am not come to call the just, but sinners.
Translations in other languages (10 available)
Andad pues, y aprended qué cosa es: Misericordia quiero, y no sacrificio: porque no he venido á llamar justos, sino pecadores á arrepentimiento.
Mas ide aprender o que significa: “Quero misericórdia, e não sacrifício”. Porque eu não vim chamar os justos, mas sim os pecadores.
Allez, et apprenez ce que signifie: Je prends plaisir à la miséricorde, et non aux sacrifices. Car je ne suis pas venu appeler des justes, mais des pécheurs.
Gehet aber hin und lernet, was das sei: “Ich habe Wohlgefallen an Barmherzigkeit und nicht am Opfer.” Ich bin gekommen die Sünder zur Buße zu rufen, und nicht die Gerechten.
Doch gaat heen en leert, wat het zij: Ik wil barmhartigheid, en niet offerande; want Ik ben niet gekomen om te roepen rechtvaardigen, maar zondaars tot bekering.
Or andate e imparate che cosa significhi: Voglio misericordia, e non sacrifizio; poiché io non son venuto a chiamar de’ giusti, ma dei peccatori.
Owszem idźcie, a nauczcie się, co to jest: Miłosierdzia chcę, a nie ofiary; bom nie przyszedł wzywać sprawiedliwych, ale grzesznych do pokuty.
пойдите, научитесь, что значит: милости хочу, а не жертвы? Ибо Я пришел призвать не праведников, но грешников к покаянию.
經上說：『我喜愛 憐恤， 不 喜愛祭祀。』這句話 的意思，你們且 去 揣摩。我來 本 不是 召 義人，乃是 召罪人。」
But go and take to heart the sense of these words, My desire is for mercy, not offerings: for I have come not to get the upright, but sinners.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Koine Greek)
New Testament · Koine Greek · Matthew 9:13
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators across traditions agree that Jesus rebukes the Pharisees by appealing to Hosea 6:6. The statement “I desire mercy, and not sacrifice” is comparative: God prefers mercy over empty ritual (Calvin; Barnes). “Not sacrifice” does not reject the sacrificial system outright but places it below compassion (Gill). Jesus then defines His mission: He came for those who know they are sinners, not for those who think themselves righteous. The “righteous” are the Pharisees trusting in external observance (Barnes; Jamieson-Fausset-Brown). Clarke notes that “go and learn” (צא ולמד) was a rabbinic formula to introduce scriptural interpretation. The priority of mercy over ceremony is the consistent prophetic message (Hosea 6:6; Micah 6:8).
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Low
What is clear: Jesus quotes Hosea to prioritize mercy over ritual, and His mission is to call sinners to repentance.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning of 'the righteous' | The 'righteous' refers to the Pharisees who considered themselves righteous through external obedience. | Some argue Jesus speaks ironically about self-righteous people; others suggest He acknowledges that some are truly righteous in the Jewish sense, but their lack of need means they reject His call. |
| 'Mercy and not sacrifice', is it absolute or comparative? | All major commentators read this as comparative: God desires mercy rather than sacrifice when the two conflict, or mercy is of higher value. | Some traditions emphasize that this statement critiques the entire sacrificial system as temporary; others hold that God still commanded sacrifice but requires mercy first (the Reformers). |
| Textual variant: 'to repentance' | The phrase 'to repentance' (εἰς μετάνοιαν) is absent in many early manuscripts (Vaticanus, Bezae, Syriac). | Scholars debate whether the original text included it; some argue the shorter reading is original (Clarke, Nestle-Aland), while others see the longer reading as harmonization with Luke 5:32. |
Historical & Cultural Context
Jesus has just called Matthew, a tax collector, to follow Him (Matthew 9:9). Tax collectors were despised as collaborators with the Roman occupation and were often dishonest. The Pharisees scrupulously avoided such people. When Jesus eats at Matthew’s house with “many tax collectors and sinners,” the Pharisees demand an explanation (v.11). Jesus answers with a proverb (“physician for the sick”) and then turns to Scripture.
He quotes Hosea 6:6 from the Septuagint, where the prophet confronted Israel’s empty worship. The phrase “go and learn” (πορευθέντες μάθετε) was a standard rabbinic expression: a teacher would send a student to study a text that should have been obvious (Clarke; Gill). Jesus turns the Pharisees’ own interpretive tradition against them. The Hosea passage itself is a protest against those who offered sacrifice while neglecting covenant loyalty and mercy.
In the context of Matthew’s gospel, this verse connects with the call to repentance that begins Jesus’ public ministry (Matthew 3:2; 4:17). The table fellowship Jesus practices is not indiscriminate; it is the means by which sinners are invited into the kingdom. The Pharisees, by contrast, define righteousness by separation from the unclean.
Textual Notes
The phrase “to repentance” (εἰς μετάνοιαν) at the end of the verse is textually disputed. Clarke notes it is omitted in Codex Vaticanus, Codex Bezae, sixteen other Greek manuscripts, both Syriac versions, the Vulgate, and many church fathers (Clement, Origen, Jerome, Augustine). Mill and Bengel approve the omission. The Cambridge Bible also reports that “to repentance” is omitted in the leading manuscripts. Many modern critical editions place it in brackets, judging the shorter reading original. Luke 5:32 includes the phrase undisputedly, which may explain why scribes added it here.
Reception History
Early church writers like Clement of Rome and Augustine cited this verse to argue that mercy matters more than ritual observance. In the Reformation, both Luther and Calvin used the text to critique reliance on external works and to emphasize faith working through love. The verse has been a key text for mission movements: it justifies eating with sinners as an act of evangelism. In the Wesleyan tradition, Clarke highlighted that God prefers “acts of mercy” to any act of worship if the two conflict. The verse continues to challenge churches that prioritize doctrinal purity over compassionate outreach.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- The Rebuke: Go and Learn, Jesus commands the self-confident to become students of Scripture. The rabbinic formula “go and learn” exposes the gap between their knowledge and their hearts.
- The Quotation: Mercy Over Sacrifice, Hosea proclaimed that God values covenant loyalty and compassion more than burnt offerings. Jesus applies this to table fellowship: reaching sinners is a greater act of worship than avoiding them.
- The Mission: Call to Sinners, Jesus clearly states His purpose. He did not come for those who consider themselves well; He came for those who know they are sick. The gospel’s primary address is the repentant sinner, not the self-righteous.
Five-point outline
- Context of Criticism, The Pharisees object to Jesus eating with “tax collectors and sinners.”
- The Physician Analogy, Those who are healthy do not need a doctor; the sick do.
- The Prophetic Appeal, Jesus quotes Hosea to show that mercy is the heart of God’s requirement.
- The Self-Righteous Exposed, The “righteous” are those who think they have no need, and Jesus does not call them because they will not come.
- The Sinner’s Invitation, Repentance is the door to the kingdom, and Jesus seeks those who will enter.
Illustration hooks
- A church that spends more on its building than on outreach to the poor. The activity is good, but the priority is misplaced.
- A volunteer who avoids a homeless shelter because it feels messy and uncomfortable, preferring a clean committee meeting.
- A Christian who measures faith by attendance and rule-keeping, while neglecting the kindness that God says He truly desires.
Questions your congregation is asking
- Does this mean I should avoid church if I feel like I’m not a sinner?
- How do I balance caring for sinners and not being drawn into sin myself?
- What does “mercy” look like in my daily interactions?
Leading a Discussion
This passage confronts us with a question: are we more like the Pharisees, proud of our religious separation, or like Jesus, willing to be found with those who need mercy? The quote from Hosea reminds us that God does not want ritual without compassion. As you discuss, consider where you might be valuing “sacrifice” (religious routine) over “mercy” (active kindness).
Discussion questions
- Read Matthew 9:9-13. Why were the Pharisees upset that Jesus ate with tax collectors and sinners?
- Jesus uses a proverb about the physician. What does this tell us about how He views sinners?
- Look up the Hosea 6:6 quotation. In its original context, who was Hosea addressing? How does that apply to the Pharisees?
- What does Jesus mean by “Go and learn?” Why is learning an act of humility?
- Jesus says He did not come to call the righteous. Is He saying some people are truly righteous? How does the rest of the New Testament answer this?
- What is the relationship between mercy and sacrifice in your own life? Give an example where you prioritized one over the other.
- If Jesus’ mission is to call sinners, what does that imply for how we treat people outside the church?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Proverbs 21:3 | To do righteousness and justice is more acceptable to Yahweh than sacrifice. |
| Isaiah 55:6 | Seek Yahweh while he may be found. Call on him while he is near. |
| Isaiah 55:7 | Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts. Let him return to Yahweh, and he will have mercy on him, to our God, for he will freely pardon. |
| Hosea 6:6 | For I desire mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings. |
| Micah 6:6 | How shall I come before Yahweh, and bow myself before the exalted God? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old? |
| Micah 6:8 | He has shown you, O man, what is good. What does Yahweh require of you, but to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God? |
| Matthew 3:2 | “Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!” |
| Matthew 3:8 | Therefore produce fruit worthy of repentance! |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
10 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
Clarke interprets Jesus' words to mean that showing mercy to the needy takes priority over religious rituals, even though both are good. He adds that the entire sacrificial system was designed only to point ahead to the mercy of redemption through Christ, so believers should not rest in the sacrifices themselves but look for the salvation they foreshadowed.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes explains that when Jesus says God prefers mercy to sacrifice, he uses a Hebrew idiom that means preference, not opposition. God commanded sacrifices, so the point is he values kindness toward others more than mere external worship. Jesus applies this to defend associating with sinners for the purpose of doing them good, which is his proper mission.
Calvin's Commentaries Reformed 1564
Calvin treats Jesus' command "go and learn" as a rebuke to the Pharisees who oppose mercy to sinners. His key point is that the statement comparing mercy to sacrifice is a ranking, not a rejection. Spiritual worship and kindness to neighbors come first; outward ceremonies have no value without them.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
The Cambridge Bible notes that Jesus is echoing a protest from Hosea against insincere religious formalists. God desires mercy, not mere sacrifice; loving sinners fulfills the law better than standing aloof from them. A sacrifice offered without mercy is no acceptable sacrifice at all.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
The Geneva note highlights that Christ quotes the prophet to rebuke the Pharisees’ misplaced priorities: mercy toward the needy matters more than ritual sacrifice. Jesus came not for those who think themselves righteous, but for sinners who know they need repentance.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill argues that Jesus' "I desire mercy, not sacrifice" is a comparative statement, not an absolute rejection of offerings. God delights in acts of mercy even more than in the ceremonial sacrifices He Himself appointed. Therefore, Jesus' compassionate outreach to sinners is fully justified, as it fulfills this higher priority.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Protestant 1871
JFB explains that "sacrifice" stands for a religion of rigid rule-keeping, while "mercy" means the kind of compassion that actively lifts up the fallen. The Pharisees wrongly thought holiness meant avoiding sinners entirely, but Jesus came precisely to reach those who need recovery, not those already satisfied with themselves.
Lange's Commentary Reformed 1857
Lange focuses on the two parables together: the new patch is raw cloth that shrinks, and the new wine is still fermenting and expands. The incompatibility is not just the old being worn out, but the new having an inherent, unstoppable power that will destroy both if mixed. This illustrates how Christianity could not simply patch up the old system, nor be forced into its forms.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Henry notes that Matthew humbly used the name he was known by as a tax collector rather than the more honorable name Levi. He also highlights that Christ called Matthew while he was actively working at his post, showing that Jesus often summons people who are already engaged in their daily occupations.
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
Wesley notes that Jesus' command "Go and learn" is aimed at those who presume to teach others. The point is that God values mercy above ritual sacrifice; He loves acts of mercy more than the act of sacrifice itself.