Pearl & Prodigal

Episode 5 — Mercy, Not Sacrifice

Dec 02, 2021— 34 Minutes

Without God’s mercy and grace, we are without hope. The Law of Moses makes that clear through a careful reading of the sacrificial requirements, and it is seen through the records of the lives of God’s people who sought Him before the cross of Christ.

If you are familiar with the Gospels, you are most likely familiar with Jesus’ quotations of David’s Psalm 51 in Matthew 9:13 and again in Matthew 12:7 – “you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it” (Psalm 51:16 ESV). David isn’t just saying something poetic here, but absolutely true and knowable to the people who lived before the cross. It wasn’t something that should have even sounded controversial to the careful reader of the Law. There truly was no sacrificial offering or ritual to which David could turn to for peace in his hour of contrition. He had only one thing to rely on, and that was the thing he need most. It was available to him – the mercy of God.

Verse References

• Romans 3:9–18
• Leviticus 5:1
• Numbers 15:28–31
• Jeremiah 17:9
• Romans 3:19-20
• Romans 3:21-26
• Ephesians 2:8-9
• Psalm 51:16-17
• Hebrews 9:1-15