What does the Bible say about mercy in Matthew 9?

In Matthew 9, Jesus highlights the importance of mercy through His interactions with sinners and the Pharisees. He proclaims, 'I will have mercy, and not sacrifice,' indicating that God's desire is not for ritualistic sacrifices but for a sincere acknowledgment of our need for divine grace. Jesus rebukes the Pharisees, who believed themselves righteous and therefore saw no need for His mercy. Instead, He demonstrated compassion to those society deemed unworthy, emphasizing that true salvation comes by recognizing our inability to save ourselves and seeking His mercy.