When Jesus quoted Hosea 6:6 — “I desire mercy, and not sacrifice” — he wasn’t inventing new theology.

He was asking the Pharisees whether they had understood the scripture they claimed to follow.

The purpose of scripture isn’t to make us better adherents to a theological or religious system.

Instead, it’s to make us agents of God’s mercy.

Those who have received ḥesed (the word translated as ‘mercy’ in Hosea 6:6) must share that ḥesed with others.

That’s what sitting at the table with tax collectors and sinners was all about.

Go and learn what this means.