Whose “Mercy”? What “Sacrifice”? A Proposed Reading of Matthew’s Hosea 6:6 Quotations

On two occasions, Matthew places the words of Hos 6:6a, “I desire mercy, not sacrifice,” on the lips of Jesus (Matt 9:9–13; 12:1–8). This essay proposes a new reading of the Hos 6:6a quotations in those Matthean contexts. Rather than reading ἔλεος (“mercy”)— in the sense of either human compassion o...

Full description

Saved in:  
Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Ribbens, Benjamin J. 1983- (Author)
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
Check availability: HBZ Gateway
Journals Online & Print:
Drawer...
Fernleihe:Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste
Published: Eisenbrauns 2018
In: Bulletin for biblical research
Year: 2018, Volume: 28, Issue: 3, Pages: 381-404
Online Access: Volltext (lizenzpflichtig)
Description
Summary:On two occasions, Matthew places the words of Hos 6:6a, “I desire mercy, not sacrifice,” on the lips of Jesus (Matt 9:9–13; 12:1–8). This essay proposes a new reading of the Hos 6:6a quotations in those Matthean contexts. Rather than reading ἔλεος (“mercy”)— in the sense of either human compassion or covenant faithfulness—as what the Pharisees lack (and Jesus has), ἔλεος may denote the covenant faithfulness that the tax collectors and sinners (9:9–13) and disciples (12:1–8) have toward Jesus. Θυσία (“sacrifice”), then, would represent the sacrificial system, which was the other means, besides covenant faithfulness to Jesus, to receive forgiveness and divine reconciliation.
ISSN:2576-0998
Contains:Enthalten in: Bulletin for biblical research
Persistent identifiers:DOI: 10.5325/bullbiblrese.28.3.0381