Welcome to Hank’s Place –
The prophet Jeremiah, foretold of a NEW Covenant coming, not like the performance based Old Covenant, IF you do this THEN I will bless—but based on the “I wills” of God Himself – Believing God would keep His promises replacing obedience to EARN His blessings.
And there is Hosea the prophet that married and was faithful – to a faithless prostitute – it was a picture of Israel. And God promised through Hosea, “in the place where it was said, “you are not My people, there it will be said you are sons of the Living God.”” Hosea 1:10.
Jesus quoted Hosea 6:6 twice, each time in conversation with Pharisees. The first is found in Mat 9. Jesus called Matthew to follow Him, and Matthew threw a big party with his friends – the house was full of ‘tax collectors and sinners.’ Gasp!
“Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” the Pharisees who were tagging along asked the disciples. Jesus heard it and replied (vs 12-13), “It is not those who are well who need a doctor, but those who are sick. Go and learn what this means: I desire mercy and not sacrifice. (Hosea 6:6) For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”
Matthew was considered a corrupt outsider. It is safe to say he would’ve had no expectation whatsoever that someone like Jesus would reach out to him.
The Pharisees in asking why Jesus would eat with tax gatherers appear to be genuine and not trying to trick Jesus. And when Jesus says very rabbinically to go and learn with this means, His words are not necessarily confrontational. If the Pharisees are in time able to understand the passage Jesus quotes – Hosea 6:6, they will indeed realize why Jesus is showing kindness to a group of people who were thought to be unworthy of God’s mercy.
To a people who have been preoccupied with complex religious observance and temple activity, Hosea’s words are – mysterious. God would rather His people be kind, merciful, rather than offer a sacrifice. The passage Jesus quotes would’ve been known ‘by heart’ by all the Pharisees, but really it was only in their heads, not their hearts.
My friend, may Hosea’s words find understanding in YOUR heart today – as they do, you will – COME ALIVE!
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