Matthew 12:7

“But if ye had known what this meaneth, etc.,] The passage of Scripture in (Hos 6:6) I will have mercy, and not sacrifice; of the sense of which, see Gill “<400913>Matthew 9:13” ye would not have condemned the guiltless. Our Lord taxes the Pharisees both with ignorance of the Scriptures, in which they pretended to be very knowing, and took upon them to be the interpreters of; and with inhumanity, for condemning innocent persons, the apostles, for rubbing a few ears of corn, for the refreshment of nature; which they would never have done, had they understood the word, and will of God; who prefers acts of humanity, compassion, and mercy, to the observance of rites and ceremonies; or had they…”

“But if ye had known what this meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice-- (Hos 6:6; Mic 6:6-8, &c.). See on Mat 9:13. ye would not have condemned the guiltless--that is, Had ye understood the great principle of all religion, which the Scripture everywhere recognizes--that ceremonial observances must give way before moral duties, and particularly the necessities of nature--ye would have refrained from these captious complaints against men who in this matter are blameless. But our Lord added a specific application of this great principle to the law of the sabbath, preserved only in Mark: "And he said unto them, the sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath" (Mar 2:27). A…”

“One greater than the temple - Here the Saviour refers to himself, and to his own dignity and power. “I have power over the laws; I can grant to my disciples a dispensation from those laws. An act which I command or permit them to do is therefore right.” This proves that he was divine. None but God can authorize people to do a thing contrary to the divine laws. He refers them again Matthew 12:7 to a passage he had before quoted (See the notes at Matthew 9:13), showing that God preferred acts of righteousness, rather than a precise observance of a ceremonial law. Mark adds Mark 2:27 “the Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath.” That is, the Sabbath was intended for the welfare…”

“I will have mercy and not sacrifice - That is, when they interfere with each other, I always prefer acts of mercy, before matters of positive institution: yea, before all ceremonial institutions whatever; because these being only means of religion, are suspended of course, if circumstances occur, wherein they clash with love, which is the end of it. Mat 9:13. Matthew 12:8”

“12:7 The Pharisees’ view of the Sabbath was unscriptural since it broke the deeper principle of mercy.”

“if: Mat 9:13, Mat 22:29; Act 13:27 I will: That is, I desire, or require mercy, or acts of humanity, rather than sacrifice. Isa 1:11-17; Hos 6:6; Mic 6:6-8 condemned: Job 32:3; Psa 94:21, Psa 109:31; Pro 17:15; Jam 5:6 Matthew 12:8”