G*d spoke through the prophet Hosea saying: “I desire Mercy, not sacrifice”.

Jesus quoted that twice. Just in case you didn’t catch how important it is, just like the Pharisees.

The Pharisees don’t understand it. Jesus says as much. What is G*d telling us? Who are the Pharisees of today?

The Pharisees attack Jesus for eating with sinners and tax collectors. The Pharisees believe themselves to be better than them. Pride is the devil’s instrument. The Pharisitic mindset is the devil’s tool.

The Pharisees attack Jesus because his disciples gathered food to eat. Can you imagine? You’re hungry. You’re getting food. A flock of Pharisees, sorry “Christians” descend and tell you you can’t eat. It’s not right, it doesn’t follow our rules.

The Pharisees lack mercy. They only have rigid rules. They believe that following the rules is more important than being merciful, loving, kind. Satan loves rigid rules, doesn’t he? Nothing can make the devil’s day more than using rules to beat people down, to destroy their joy, their happiness, to force them into hunger.

What are Christians to do? Put people before rules. People are G*d’s creation, his representatives on earth. Imagine telling a person in the image of G*d that you can’t eat because you were born in the wrong place, or didn’t work hard enough. The devil loves that. That’s what the devil’s helpers, the Pharisees, say. People like John MacArthur and Shane Idleman say we should judge the value of others to determine if they can eat.

On that day the King will say: “whatever you did for the least of these brothers and sisters on Earth you did for me”. The King won’t say: “well done good and faithful servant, you pointed out lots of sins.” That’s the job of the accuser, the devil and his minions.

I grew up with that heresy, that distorted gospel. The gospel according to the Pharisee Al Mohler. You will know them by their fruits. The fruit of mercy is good. The fruit of accusation? The devil feasts on that fruit.

Christ showed mercy throughout his entire earthly ministry. The Pharisees hated him for it. They claimed to follow the religion when they were children of the devil.

Follow our Lord Jesus Christ. Don’t follow the Pharisees.