Compassion > Sacrifice

But I say to you that something greater than the temple is here. But if you had known what this means, 'I desire compassion, and not a sacrifice,' you would not have condemned the innocent. (Matthew 12:6, 7 NASB)

Jesus is greater than any religious act or ministry or good work. The Lord is concerned more of doing what is loving and compassionate, than religious act itself. It actually is a great balancing tool of legalism: Are we making the religious act more sacred than it is to see the higher call at a certain situation or see what Jesus would actually do? If we are making the religious act greater than Jesus, then we have lost sight of what really matters. Compassion > Sacrifice. Jesus 'bent' rules because He is greater than the rules.

...Sometimes we could be so bound to what we can or should do or not do that we become too stiff and not adjustable to what is most important at each situation and moment. We are afraid to break the rules when God is most concern about our hearts than it is to sacrifice out of religiosity. If my heart is going over the top, acting out of the bounds of compassion, then I need to loosen up and remember that this is all about pointing it all back to Jesus!

...Lord, though this could be misunderstood b some, help me to always remember that you want me to desire compassion more than sacrifice. To desire You more than ministry or religion or doing good work. Help me to see things the way you do... I commit all things to you, in Jesus' name amen.