Proverbs 21:3
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To do justice and judgment is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.
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Pharisees cannot grasp this principle, so Jesus used it to close their mouths more than once (Matt 9:13; 12:7). Though they had read it, memorized it, counted its letters, strapped it to their foreheads, and kissed its ink marks on scrolls (Matt 23:5; John 5:39; Rom 2:17), they never came close to learning the spirit of this rule from the heart of God.
"Justice and judgment" are doing what is right toward God and men. Toward God, it is a pure heart without hypocrisy or sin (I Sam 15:22-23; Ps 51:16-17). Toward men, it is being fair, merciful, equitable, and kind (Ex 18:21-22; Deut 1:16-17; 16:18-19; II Sam 8:15; 15:4; Ps 82:1-4; Eccl 5:8; Is 59:4,14; Jer 22:15-16; Ezek 45:9; John 7:24). It is keeping the two great commandments, which are greater than any sacrifice (Mark 12:33).
"Sacrifice" is ceremonial religion, even if Jehovah gave the ceremonies. It is obeying the letter of God's worship while ignoring its spirit or personal mercy. It demands Sabbath obedience to man's harm, though the Sabbath was given to rest and help man (Ex 23:12). This outward religion is easier than doing "justice and judgment" with a pure heart.
And here is the wisdom: doing what is merciful, good, and right to others pleases God more than perfectly keeping His external worship and commandments. A pure heart and sincere love and duty to others is more important than details of formal worship. We reject the heresy that attending Mass will cover your soul regardless of how you live.
We do not minimize formal worship by this rule, as Solomon was the grandest example in all the Bible of sacrifice (I Kings 3:4; 8:64-66; II Chron 7:5). True worshippers will do both (Matt 23:23). But when we face a conflict, we choose the morally right thing to do by mercy and compassion; we never exalt ceremony or letter over mercy and spirit. We never make these choices by presumption or whim, but only when facing a contradiction.
Our proverb is not the only voice for this rule in the Old Testament. It is found in other places as well (Is 1:10-17; Mic 6:6-8). The one quoted by our Lord is from Hosea 6:6,
For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.
Let us illustrate the rule with Bible examples. Jesus blasted the Jews for thinking more highly of circumcision and the Sabbath than healing a man (John 7:21-24; 5:1-16). It is true "justice and judgment" to heal a man, even if it broke the Sabbath law! To leave the man impotent, even for one more day, to keep the Sabbath, was wicked "sacrifice." These unmerciful devils would cut a man (circumcision) on the Sabbath, but they would not allow Jesus to heal a man on the Sabbath after lying impotent on a bed for 38 years!
If you think such wicked and hateful men are gone, you are wrong. They still exist. They have little minds, and even smaller hearts. You would rather meet a bear robbed of her whelps than one of these self-righteous, arrogant fools. Their ugly hearts are revealed when repentant sinners are celebrated or mercy is sought for anyone but themselves. We can rejoice in the way in which our Lord despised, ridiculed, ignored, and defeated them.
When David was hungry, he ate shewbread that was lawful only for priests to eat (I Sam 21:1-6). And Jesus absolutely justified him for doing so (Matt 12:3-4). How did David have the confidence to eat the priests' bread? Surely he remembered what happened to Nadab and Abihu (Lev 10:1-2), Moses (Num 20:7-13), and Saul (I Sam 13:8-14). How did David know God accepted his breaking of the law for hunger? By this proverb!
When our Lord's disciples picked some corn and ate it on the Sabbath Day, the Pharisees condemned them for breaking the law (Matt 12:1-2). But Jesus reminded these religious legalists about David's case and the priests (Matt 12:3-5). Then He wisely applied this principle of mercy to totally exonerate His disciples, and He rebuked the Pharisees for being so ignorant of their own Scriptures (Matt 12:3,5,7).
Pharisees would easily exalt Corban - their faith-promise gift of assets to the temple - over taking care of their parents in need (Matt 15:3-6; Mark 7:9-13). They made "sacrifice" more important doing "justice and judgment" to their very own parents!
Jesus healed a woman on the Sabbath, who had been bowed together with a spirit of infirmity 18 years. The ruler of the synagogue rebuked Him before the people and said healing should take place on the other days of the week! Jesus called him a hypocrite, told everyone present he would help his ox on the Sabbath, and then justified breaking the Sabbath for the woman's sake (Luke 13:10-17). The result? His enemies were ashamed, and the people rejoiced at His glorious works of mercy!
When Naaman returned to Syria after being cleansed of leprosy, his duties included escorting the king to pagan worship. The custom required him to bow with his master before the pagan idol Rimmon. What advice did Elisha give to this conscientious believer in Jehovah, who would have to engage in pagan idolatry as part of his job (II Kings 5:18-19)? Go in peace! Don't worry about it! Pharisees would have turned blue and choked to death on such merciful wisdom, because they never learned our proverb.
How can we apply it? Divorce and remarriage is likely the hardest issue facing Christians today. If Scripture expressly allows only fornication and desertion as grounds for divorce and remarriage (Matt 5:32; 19:9; I Cor 7:12-16,27-28), then we have an opportunity to practice our principle. There will be cases short of adultery or desertion, but similar or worse in effect, where divorce is justified by this rule alone. Are you timid to apply this rule by faith? Not if you are like the man after God's own heart! Shake free from the unmerciful bondage of Pharisaism and find the liberty of Jesus Christ!
If you are weak in faith and need extra courage, our Blessed Lord gave further support to such applications of mercy, when He said in the very same context as David's example, "The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath" (Mark 2:23-28). And we may as readily conclude, marriage was made for man, not man for marriage. Why would we force a marriage to stay together, when the purpose for it had been irreparably destroyed? The only reason we would do so is to exalt "sacrifice" over "justice and judgment," which is the violation of our proverb and shows the Pharisee lurking in our hearts.
Can we apply it further? If a man's business, health, or vacation calls him away from assemblies, we accept this priority of mercy by our proverb, even though we emphasize attendance more than most (Heb 10:25). We do not condemn him for being less of a Christian; we encourage him for being a merciful wise man! And we do not object to this principle being applied personally to one's self (11:17).
We do not use this proverb to flagrantly break God's commandments. For we know what happened to the man who picked up sticks on the Sabbath (Num 15:30-36); we esteem all God's precepts to be right (Ps 119:128); and we know what Jesus taught about those breaking the least commandments of the law (Matt 5:19). But we are not timid to override ceremony and external laws to show love and personal mercy in painful situations.
Jesus taught mercy as never before seen in Israel. He taught love of enemies (Matt 5:43-48), joy over repenting sinners (Luke 15:1-32), and the superabundant blessing of mercy to those who show it (Luke 6:37-38). But the rule had been given in our proverb here.
Christian, do you want wisdom of pure gold? Learn this proverb, and don't forget it. You will have easy answers for situations that others think are impossibly hard. You will find mercy and liberty for your own soul and those of others. Thank you, Lord.
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