"But goand learnwhatthis means:I DESIRECOMPASSION,AND NOT SACRIFICE,'for I did not cometo callthe righteous,but sinners."
To dorighteousnessand justiceIs desiredby the LORDmorethansacrifice.
For I delightin loyaltyratherthansacrifice,And in the knowledgeof Godratherthanburntofferings.
But He saidto them, "Have you not readwhatDaviddidwhenhe became hungry,he and his companions,
"Orhave you not readin the Law,that on the Sabbaththe priestsin the templebreakthe Sabbathand are innocent?
"But ifyou had knownwhatthis means,I DESIRECOMPASSION,AND NOT A SACRIFICE,'you would not have condemnedthe innocent.
And He answeredand said,"Have you not readthat He who created[them] from the beginningMADETHEM MALEAND FEMALE,
Jesussaidto them, "Did you neverreadin the Scriptures,THE STONEWHICHTHE BUILDERSREJECTED,THISBECAMETHE CHIEFCORNER[stone]; THISCAMEABOUT FROM THE LORD,AND IT IS MARVELOUSIN OUR EYES'?
"Repent,for the kingdomof heavenis at hand."
"Thereforebearfruitin keepingwith repentance;
From that timeJesusbeganto preachand say,"Repent,for the kingdomof heavenis at hand."
"But regardingthe factthat the deadrise again,have you not readin the bookof Moses,in the [passage] about[the burning] bush,howGodspoke to him, saying,I AM THE GODOF ABRAHAM,AND THE GODOF ISAAC,and the Godof Jacob'?
AND TO LOVEHIM WITH ALLTHE HEARTAND WITH ALLTHE UNDERSTANDINGAND WITH ALLTHE STRENGTH,AND TO LOVEONE'S NEIGHBORAS HIMSELF,is much morethan allburnt offeringsand sacrifices."
And hearing[this], Jesussaidto them, "[It is] not thosewho are healthywho needa physician,but thosewho are sick;I did not cometo callthe righteous,but sinners."
And He saidto him, "Whatis writtenin the Law?Howdoes it readto you?"
"For the Sonof Manhas cometo seekand to savethat which was lost."
and that repentancefor forgivenessof sinswould be proclaimedin His nameto allthe nations,beginningfrom Jerusalem.
And Jesusansweredand saidto them, "[It is] not thosewho are wellwho needa physician,but thosewho are sick.
"I have not cometo callthe righteousbut sinnersto repentance."
Jesusansweredthem, "Has it not beenwrittenin your Law,I SAID,YOU ARE GODS'?
When they heardthis,they quieted downand glorifiedGod,saying,"Well then,Godhas grantedto the Gentilesalsothe repentance[that leads] to life."
Peter[said] to them, "Repent,and eachof you be baptizedin the nameof JesusChristfor the forgivenessof your sins;and you will receivethe giftof the HolySpirit.
solemnly testifyingto bothJewsand Greeksof repentancetowardGodand faithin our LordJesusChrist.
"Thereforerepentand return,sothat your sinsmay be wiped away,in orderthat timesof refreshingmay comefrom the presenceof the Lord;
"He is the one whom Godexaltedto His right handas a Princeand a Savior,to grantrepentanceto Israel,and forgivenessof sins.
The Lordis not slowabout His promise,as somecountslowness,but is patienttowardyou, not wishingfor anyto perishbut for allto cometo repentance.
