Please read the passage before the commentary.
The Sabbath Police were out in force. They overlooked, however, the fact that they themselves were working on the Sabbath. Why were the Pharisees out aroumd the fields on a Sabbarh?
Bravado is a flamboyant over-stated assertion of authority. It is often used by bullies and is a sign of the user’s sense of weakness or lack of power. Demanding sacrifice and not mercy is a form of bravado and bullying.
A truly powerful person does not need bullying or flaunting of personal power. God, for instance, who is all-powerful, shows his power, not by condemning people but by forgiving and saving them. People and societies that emphasize punishment over mercy show themselves to be very weak. Seeking revenge is the work of the insecure person, not the strong person.
Jesus said that if we understand the meaning of, “I desire mercy, not sacrifice,” we would not be condemning the innocent.
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