Mercy And Sacrifice

Euntes autem, discite quid est, misericordiam volo, et non sacrificium. Pharisaeis de falsa justitia tumidis, dat consilium correctionis. Faciebant saepe sacrificia in templo, ut justi apparerent coram populo, sed non exercebant opera misericordiae, ubi comprobatur vera justitia. Si enim vere justi essent, peccatoribus condescenderent, et de salute illorum, sicut de sua laborarent, quasi dicat: Vos aestimatis vos esse justos, sed euntes ad prophetas, discite, quid est vera justitia, discite quod ait Dominus per Prophetam. Ait enim: Misericordiam volo, et non sacrificium, tamen non despicit Deus sacrificium, sed sacrificium sine misericordia. Anselmus Laudunensis, Enarrationes In Matthaeum, Caput IX Source: Migne PL 162.1331a-b

Go, then, and learn what this means, 'I desire mercy and not sacrifice.'1 He gave the counsel of correction to the Pharisees who were puffed up with false righteousness. For they often sacrificed in the temple so that they might appear righteous before the people, but they did not apply themselves to the works of mercy, where true righteousness is proved. For if they were truly righteous, they would have concerned themselves with sinners and their salvation, just as much as they toiled for themselves, so it as if He said, 'You think yourself righteous men, but go to the prophets and learn what true righteousness is. Learn what the Lord said through the prophet. For he said, 'I desire mercy not sacrifice.' Not that the Lord scorned sacrifice, but sacrifice without mercy. Anselm of Laon, Commentary On The Gospel of Saint Matthew, Chapter 9 1 Mt 9.13, Hosea 6.6