Stop Sacrificing

This past week I have been reading through Hosea and ran across this verse. "For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings." (Hosea 6:6). This verse was in the context of God's rebuke for the nation of Israel concering their sins against Him. This isn't the only place that God makes this kind of statement. In Matthew,  Jesus rebukes the religious leaders of his day by quoting from Isaiah. He said, "You hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy of you, when he said: 'This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men'." (Mat 15:7-9).

The principle is clear. God values heart relationship over religious regulations. In both  passages we see that God is primarily concerned with heart issues. Mercy, knowledge of God (referring to an intimate relationship), and the condition of their heart are what God is concerned about. Their sacrifices, their words and even their worship are all secondary issues in God's eyes. So, it made me wonder where we have failed in this area. While it is easy to sit in judgment on the Israelites who followed after false gods and the Pharisees of Jesus' day who were driven by man-made rules I wonder if modern Christianity is really any better?