1 Machabæorum 12:7

Nova Vulgata

Si autem sciretis quid est: "Misericordiam volo et non sacrificium", numquam condemnassetis innocentes.

Parallel Translations

Clementine Latin Vulgate (1592)
Si autem sciretis, quid est : Misericordiam volo, et non sacrificium : numquam condemnassetis innocentes :

Jerome's Latin Vulgate (405)
Si autem sciretis, quid est: Misericordiam volo, et non sacrificium: numquam condemnassetis innocentes:

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

if: Matthew 9:13, Matthew 22:29, Acts 13:27

I will: That is, I desire, or require mercy, or acts of humanity, rather than sacrifice. Isaiah 1:11-17, Hosea 6:6, Micah 6:6-8

condemned: Job 32:3, Psalms 94:21, Psalms 109:31, Proverbs 17:15, James 5:6

Reciprocal: Joshua 5:5 - they had not 1 Samuel 15:22 - Hath the Lord Psalms 40:6 - Sacrifice Matthew 22:31 - have Matthew 23:23 - the weightier Mark 12:33 - is more

Gill's Notes on the Bible

But if ye had known what this meaneth, c,] The passage of Scripture in Hosea 6:6

I will have mercy, and not sacrifice of the sense of which,

see Gill "Mt 9:13"

ye would not have condemned the guiltless. Our Lord taxes the Pharisees both with ignorance of the Scriptures, in which they pretended to be very knowing, and took upon them to be the interpreters of; and with inhumanity, for condemning innocent persons, the apostles, for rubbing a few ears of corn, for the refreshment of nature; which they would never have done, had they understood the word, and will of God; who prefers acts of humanity, compassion, and mercy, to the observance of rites and ceremonies; or had they the common affections of human nature, and those bowels of compassion which one man ought to show to another.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

One greater than the temple - Here the Saviour refers to himself, and to his own dignity and power. “I have power over the laws; I can grant to my disciples a dispensation from those laws. An act which I command or permit them to do is therefore right.” This proves that he was divine. None but God can authorize people to do a thing contrary to the divine laws. He refers them again Matthew 12:7 to a passage he had before quoted (See the notes at Matthew 9:13), showing that God preferred acts of righteousness, rather than a precise observance of a ceremonial law.

Mark adds Mark 2:27 “the Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath.” That is, the Sabbath was intended for the welfare of man; it was designed to promote his happiness, and not to produce misery by harsh, unfeeling requirements. It is not to be so interpreted as to produce suffering by making the necessary supply of wants unlawful. Man was not made for the Sabbath. Man was created first, and then the Sabbath was appointed for his happiness, Genesis 2:1-3. His necessities, his real comforts and needs, are not to be made to bend to that which was made “for him.” The laws are to be interpreted favorably to his real wants and comforts. This authorizes works only of real necessity, not of imaginary wants, or amusements, or common business and worldly employments.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Matthew 12:7. I will have mercy, &c. — See this explained, Matthew 9:13. There are four ways in which positive laws may cease to oblige.

First, by the natural law of necessity.

Secondly, by a particular law, which is superior.

Thirdly, by the law of charity and mercy.

Fourthly, by the dispensation and authority of the Lawgiver.

These cases are all exemplified from Matthew 12:4-8.