‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’

[MT1926]

When does the Mosaic Law “get in the way of a person reaching out to the sick or the poor with divine mercy”?

You answered your own question when you said…

Sinners deserve mercy, but tax collectors are the one group toward which we should NOT have mercy.

Why don’t tax collectors deserve mercy? It’s just a job.

Aren’t tax collectors still your neighbor? Whom we are commanded to love.

Read the parable of the Good Samaritan. There’s a good example.

Luke 10:25-37 New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSVCE)

The Parable of the Good Samaritan
25 Just then a lawyer stood up to test Jesus.[a] “Teacher,” he said, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 26 He said to him, “What is written in the law? What do you read there?” 27 He answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.” 28 And he said to him, “You have given the right answer; do this, and you will live.”

29 But wanting to justify himself, he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” 30 Jesus replied, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell into the hands of robbers, who stripped him, beat him, and went away, leaving him half dead. 31 Now by chance a priest was going down that road; and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. 32 So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan while traveling came near him; and when he saw him, he was moved with pity. 34 He went to him and bandaged his wounds, having poured oil and wine on them. Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. 35 The next day he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said, ‘Take care of him; and when I come back, I will repay you whatever more you spend.’ 36 Which of these three, do you think, was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?” 37 He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”

One interpretation of this verse is the priest didn’t want to check on the man for fear of becoming ceremonially unclean, under the Mosaic Law. That why he passed on the other side of the road.

God Bless

 

[meltzerboy2]

I was joking when I said tax collectors don’t deserve mercy. Does anyone like tax collectors? The Good Samaritan tale is very heartwarming, but does that mean we should disregard the teachings of the Law because a few people who happened to be Pharisees didn’t practice what they preached? Christianity, as well as Judaism, would be in a lot of trouble if we judged the moral values found in religion solely by its practitioners.

One further point: the lawyer who tested Jesus is not asking a question that a learned Jew of the era would ask, namely, ‘what must I do to inherit eternal life?’ No educated Jew would be preoccupied with eternal life rather than making their earthly life better. Also, for the pious Jew, the purpose of practicing the Law is not to be saved. In fact, it is said in Judaism that the afterlife will not be the time to study, learn, and behave in a righteous way so that whatever knowledge and wisdom we acquire must be done in this life.

 

[MT1926]

I was joking when I said tax collectors don’t deserve mercy

That’s what the emoji’s are for.

Does anyone like tax collectors?

I do. We all have a job to do. I don’t mind paying taxes to my tax collectors. I kind of like having freedom and roads and schools and security, etc…

does that mean we should disregard the teachings of the Law because a few people who happened to be Pharisees didn’t practice what they preached?

I never said this, you are jumping to this conclusions.

Please point out in my response where I said we should disregard the teachings of the Mosaic Law.

Christianity, as well as Judaism, would be in a lot of trouble if we judged the moral values found in religion solely by its practitioners.

Totally agree. The Church is a hospital for sinners not a museum for saints.

No educated Jew would be preoccupied with eternal life rather than making their earthly life better.

I don’t want to jump to conclusions with what you say here, but when I read this it comes across as saying an educated Jew doesn’t really think about the next life only what they can get in this life???

That sure seems pretty self centered. Is that what you meant to type?

In fact, it is said in Judaism that the afterlife will not be the time to study, learn, and behave in a righteous way so that whatever knowledge and wisdom we acquire must be done in this life.

I really haven’t studied much Judaism, so I’ll take your word for it. But I gotta say, That sure sounds like an eternal bummer for children that die before an age of reason or for the mentally challenged.

God Bless

 

[Roseeurekacross]

This was in reply to all the blood sacrifices the Jewish people were making. Christ was the final blood sacrifice, Christ is the sacrificial lamb ,

 

[meltzerboy2]

With regard to educated Jews of the period who are more interested in making their present lives better, the interpretation of this depends on how the word “better” is read, and, according to the Law, a better life means cultivating one’s own talents and skills as well as improving the lives of others by making the world a better place. The next life is not, and never was, the focus of Judaism. That is why a question from a lawyer about eternal life is odd.

Those who die before the age of reason will have every expectation of entering the World to Come and experiencing the unimaginable beauty of being with G-d. But it is not a place for Torah study!

It sounded to me that you were not aware of the teachings of the Law with regard to helping the sick and poor. A poor choice of words on my part since you did not intentionally disregard what is expressed in the Law.

I assumed a common sentiment toward tax collectors, in ancient times as well as the modern age. Paying taxes is, for most of us, not the most pleasant experience. You apparently have different feelings about this.

 

[Telstar]

With regard to educated Jews of the period who are more interested in making their present lives better, the interpretation of this depends on how the word “better” is read, and, according to the Law, a better life means cultivating one’s own talents and skills as well as improving the lives of others by making the world a better place. The next life is not, and never was, the focus of Judaism. That is why a question from a lawyer about eternal life is odd.

I think the part you might have overlooked in that Gospel narrative was this:

“[25] And behold a certain lawyer stood up, tempting him, and saying, Master, what must I do to possess eternal life?”

The lawyer, possibly a Pharisee, was trying to get Jesus to say something that he could dispute. I don’t think he was asking the question for his own sake. In a courtroom today, I think he probably would have been overruled by any judge for “leading the witness”.

 

[po18guy]

Ecclesiastes:

Are we Catholics not instructed to make sacrifices during Lent? Are we not expected to make sacrifices that enhance the welfare of our family? Does not Christ’s command to pick up our cross and follow Him involve a sacrifice? Are these examples of sacrifice not contradicting Matthew 9:13 (i. e., ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’)?

When Jesus says I desire mercy not sacrifice, in context He’s talking about animal sacrifice which really did nothing with respect to sin.

As Paul said Provided we suffer counts greatly. That comes from the HS, which ultimately comes from Jesus

Indeed. The Pharisees zealously kept the law, but were merciless, loading heavy burdens on others’ backs, while not lending even a finger to help. Thus, mercy was greater than their animal sacrifices or even sin offerings.

 

[steve-b]

steve-b:

Ecclesiastes:

Are we Catholics not instructed to make sacrifices during Lent? Are we not expected to make sacrifices that enhance the welfare of our family? Does not Christ’s command to pick up our cross and follow Him involve a sacrifice? Are these examples of sacrifice not contradicting Matthew 9:13 (i. e., ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’)?

When Jesus says I desire mercy not sacrifice, in context He’s talking about animal sacrifice which really did nothing with respect to sin.

As Paul said Provided we suffer counts greatly. That comes from the HS, which ultimately comes from Jesus

Indeed. The Pharisees zealously kept the law, but were merciless, loading heavy burdens on others’ backs, while not lending even a finger to help. Thus, mercy was greater than their animal sacrifices or even sin offerings.

Not only that, Pharisees were hypocrites, blind guides, whitewashed tombs, as Jesus said. They didn’t do what they said others are to do.

 

[po18guy]

And the Lord pointed out that their monuments to the prophets stood as testimony that their ancestors had killed those same prophets.

Not a compliment.

 

[Ecclesiastes]

I was joking when I said tax collectors don’t deserve mercy. Does anyone like tax collectors? The Good Samaritan tale is very heartwarming, but does that mean we should disregard the teachings of the Law because a few people who happened to be Pharisees didn’t practice what they preached? Christianity, as well as Judaism, would be in a lot of trouble if we judged the moral values found in religion solely by its practitioners.

One further point: the lawyer who tested Jesus is not asking a question that a learned Jew of the era would ask, namely, ‘what must I do to inherit eternal life?’ No educated Jew would be preoccupied with eternal life rather than making their earthly life better. Also, for the pious Jew, the purpose of practicing the Law is not to be saved. In fact, it is said in Judaism that the afterlife will not be the time to study, learn, and behave in a righteous way so that whatever knowledge and wisdom we acquire must be done in this life.

I wonder to what degree Jews focus more of their time on this world is due to their relatively small size and therefore the need to focus much more on family to propagate their group identity? Would not their group identity suffer if they emphasized a solitary life which allows individuals more time to increase their own spirituality and contemplate the Hereafter but did not allow for procreation?

 

[steve-b]

And the Lord pointed out that their monuments to the prophets stood as testimony that their ancestors had killed those same prophets.

Not a compliment.

For sure, not a good moment for the Pharisees

 

[meltzerboy2]

For those Jews who are aware of the teachings of the religion and choose to practice them, a solitary life is, if not prohibited, strongly discouraged. Being single is not considered desirable in Judaism, not only due to the commandment to propagate, but also because it is viewed as incomplete with regard to a loving relationship with another person. Conjugal love is virtually a requirement, and enhances one’s love for G-d. There is the notion (although not within Orthodox Judaism) that the commandment to marry holds such weight that even gay marriage is preferable to living alone or leading a sexually promiscuous life. And there is another reason why focusing on this world is so important in Judaism, which is that our mission is to make the world a better place. Faith in action is really essential to ensure that the repairs to this broken world are realized. Finally, the Law does not provide much information about the World to Come, so we assume that G-d will take care of the hereafter and that our job is to take care of the business of living in the present and making it a good and meaningful life.

 

[jcrichton]

Sinners deserve mercy, but tax collectors are the one group toward which we should NOT have mercy.

…and yet, Jesus fully disagrees with you.

Maran atha!

Angel

 

[meltzerboy2]

I was joking here because most people do not appreciate tax collectors or tax season.

 

[jcrichton]

…yeah, I saw that second post way past my reply to you; sorry… I read and respond from top to bottom… so sometimes I don’t appreciate that there’s a slight of hand (levity) being introduced…

Maran atha!

Angel