For I desire mercy, and not sacrifice; And the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.
"I desire goodness, and not sacrifice ..." Departing from the ancient manuscripts, and following more recent variations, the Revised Standard Version renders this place, "It is stedfast love and not sacrifice"; and, while this does no violence to the meaning of the prophet, it is nevertheless incorrect.  "I desire goodness, and not sacrifice" is, in sense, parallel to the words of Samuel: "Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice," etc.  (1 Samuel 15:22).  That, of course, is precisely the meaning of it here.  Many of the current generation of scholars are dedicated to removing the concept of obedience from God's Word; and this, no doubt, resulted in the choice of "I desire stedfast love, etc."; but it is often overlooked that love invariably includes obedience also.  See  John 14:15.