Hosea 6:6 - God Desire Love More Than Sacrifice.

Hos.6:6; God Desire Love More Than Sacrifice.

Hosea 6:6 (KJV)  For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the 
knowledge of God more than burnt offerings. 

Hosea 6:6 (NCV)  I want faithful love more than I want animal 
sacrifices. I want people to know me more than I want burnt offerings. 

Mercy here can refer to right conduct toward one's fellowman or 
loyalty to the Lord or both--the sum of what God requires of his 
servants. Here it perhaps refers to both. The same Hebrew word is 
translated "love" in v. 4. [NIV SB] 

Sacrifice apart from faithfulness to the Lord's will is wholly 
unacceptable to him. [NIV SB] 

Hosea did not deny the validity of sacrifice offered in the 
right spirit, but he declared that mere sacrificial ritual meant 
nothing apart from a person's heart righteousness. [New Bible 
Companion] 

Religious rituals can help people understand God and nourish 
their relationship with him. That is why God instituted circumcision 
and the sacrificial system in the Old Testament and baptism and the 
Lord's Supper in the New Testament. But a religious ritual is helpful 
only if it is carried out with an attitude of love for and obedience 
to God. If a person's heart is far from God, ritual will become 
empty mockery. God didn't want the Israelites' rituals; he wanted 
their hearts. Why do you worship? What is the motive behind your 
"offerings" and "sacrifices"?  [Life Application SB] 

Our heart attitude toward God comes first. Only then can we 
properly obey and observe religious regulations and rituals. God wants to 
see the power and not just the form of religion in each of us.  It 
takes quality time with our Maker to have this power otherwise we just 
have the form. [Life Application SB re Mat.12:7] 

John 14:15 (KJV) If ye love me, keep my commandments.