God desires mercy and acknowledgement of Him more than sacrifice because He is primarily interested in changing people’s hearts and having a loving relationship with them, not just going through empty religious rituals. Sacrifice in the Old Testament was often done as a religious duty without much heart behind it. God wants our hearts to be aligned with His, not just outward actions. Here are some key reasons why God desires mercy and acknowledgement more than sacrifice:
1. Sacrifice alone is meaningless without a repentant and obedient heart
Throughout the Old Testament prophets like Hosea, God makes it clear that He is not pleased with sacrifice if it is not accompanied by true repentance and obedience. Going through the motions of sacrifice while living in open rebellion against God is useless. In Hosea 6:6, God says “I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.” Burnt offerings and sacrifices were a key part of Israel’s religious system, but without a loving, repentant heart behind them, they were worthless in God’s eyes.
We see this in other verses like 1 Samuel 15:22 – “Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams.” And Psalm 51:16-17 – “For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it; you will not be pleased with a burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.”
Outward ritual without inward repentance is empty religion. God wants our hearts to be fully His, not just outward compliance.
2. Sacrifice focuses on appeasing God’s wrath, while mercy and acknowledgement focus on relationship
The sacrificial system was oriented around appeasing God’s wrath and atoning for sins. While this is an important part of reconciliation with God, taken alone it can paint a picture of God as angry and needing to be appeased. But God desires relationship with His people that goes far beyond just appeasing His wrath.
Showing mercy and lovingkindness to others, and acknowledging God’s love and goodness, gets to the heart of what He really wants – loving relationship. As Hosea 6:6 says, God desires “steadfast love” (hesed in Hebrew), which refers to covenant loyalty and love. Jesus Himself quoted Hosea 6:6 twice in the Gospels, emphasizing that God cares more about our hearts and attitudes than religious duty (Matthew 9:13, 12:7).
3. Mercy and acknowledgement lead to inward transformation, sacrifice focuses on outward actions
Sacrifice focuses on external rituals and actions, while mercy and loving God require inward transformation. It’s easy to go through the motions of religious rituals without changing your heart. But showing genuine mercy and love to others requires renewing your mind and attitudes. Truly acknowledging God’s character also leads to inner change as you align your heart with His.
God said in Ezekiel 36:26: “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.” This inner transformation was far more important than just going through the motions of sacrifice.
Likewise, acknowledging who God really is opens your eyes to see Him accurately. Hosea 6:3 says “Let us know; let us press on to know the Lord.” Knowing God intimately is far more meaningful than external religion. As we acknowledge Him, we are changed.
4. Mercy and acknowledgement align with God’s character of faithful love
Whereas sacrifice focuses on law and appeasing wrath, mercy and loving God align with who He really is – faithful, gracious, compassionate, slow to anger, abounding in love (Exodus 34:6-7). He wants His people to represent His heart and character to the world through how they live.
Jesus emphasized ministering to people’s needs and showing mercy. The religious leaders focused on rituals and sacrifice while neglecting “the more important matters of the law – justice, mercy and faithfulness” (Matthew 23:23). God cares far more about reflecting His heart than checking religious boxes.
5. Without the heart behind it, sacrifice can feed self-righteousness and sin
When people focus on religious sacrifice without an inward change, it can actually provide a cover for sin and self-righteousness. The religious leaders of Jesus’ day appeared righteous on the outside by offering sacrifices, but inside were “full of greed and self-indulgence” (Matthew 23:25). They became proud of their religious duties, while missing the heart of God entirely.
Any good deeds done for outward show without the right heart motive are worthless to God. He said in Hosea 6:4, “Your love is like the morning mist, like the early dew that disappears.” Their loyalty and love disappeared as quick as the morning dew. God wants our hearts, not just superficial sacrifices and outward displays of religion.
6. The sacrificial system was a picture of the ultimate sacrifice of Christ
The whole sacrificial system was intended to point ahead to Christ’s ultimate sacrifice on the cross. Animal sacrifices could never fully atone for human sin (Hebrews 10:4). They served as a picture of the perfect sacrifice Jesus would offer to fully atone for sins.
Now that Christ has offered the perfect sacrifice, our focus shifts from animal sacrifice to whether we have embraced Christ’s sacrifice through repentance and faith. Outward sacrifice is fulfilled in Jesus. What God now desires is inward repentance, mercy, and acknowledgement of who Jesus is and what He accomplished for us.
7. Jesus quoted Hosea 6:6 twice, emphasizing God’s desire for mercy
It’s very significant that Jesus Himself quoted from Hosea 6:6 twice in the gospels. In Matthew 9:13 and 12:7, when questioned why He associated with sinners, Jesus responded by saying “Go and learn what this means, ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.’ For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”
Jesus emphasized that He is far more concerned with showing mercy to broken people than with superficial religious sacrifice. His sacrifice fulfilled the need for atonement. What matters now is extending God’s mercy and grace to others.
8. Walking humbly with God reflects His heart more than religious duty
The prophet Micah summarized what God requires of His people this way: “He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God” (Micah 6:8).
Outward sacrifice is not listed here. Rather than focusing on religious duty, God wants us to walk in close relationship with Him, evident by justice, mercy and humility. This reflects His heart far more than empty ritual.
9. Jesus and the New Covenant fulfill the purpose of sacrifices
The purpose of the Old Testament sacrificial system was to provide atonement for sins and restore relationship with God. Jesus’ perfect sacrifice achieved this once and for all. As Hebrews says, “Therefore, when Christ came into the world, he said: ‘Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but a body you prepared for me; with burnt offerings and sin offerings you were not pleased’…He sets aside the first to establish the second” (Hebrews 10:5-9).
While God ordained the sacrificial system for Israel, it was intended to point to Christ who fulfilled its purpose. Now that Christ has come and offered the perfect sacrifice, our focus shifts to walking in relationship with God through repentance and faith in Christ.
10. Walking justly, loving mercy and humbly acknowledging God pleases Him more than empty sacrifice
In summary, while God instituted a system of sacrifice for Israel in the Old Testament, His desire has always been for His people to walk in justice, mercy and faithful relationship with Him from the heart. Empty sacrifice and religious ritual apart from inward change and sincere love for God always misses the point.
Through Christ, the ultimate sacrifice has been made. What God now desires is for us to grow in knowing Him, walking in His ways, representing His heart of mercy to the world, and living in humble acknowledgement that we love and serve a gracious, compassionate God. This brings Him far more joy than any amount of empty religious ritual ever could.