Parallel Verses

An Understandable Version

Go and learn what this means: 'I desire mercy and not [only] sacrifice.' For I did not come to call righteous people [to be my followers] but sinners."

New American Standard Bible

But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire compassion, and not sacrifice,’ for I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

King James Version

But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

Holman Bible

Go and learn what this means: I desire mercy and not sacrifice. For I didn’t come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

International Standard Version

Go and learn what this means: "I want mercy and not sacrifice,' because I did not come to call righteous people, but sinners."

A Conservative Version

But after going, learn what this means, I desire mercy, and not sacrifice, for I came not to call the righteous, but sinners for repentance.

American Standard Version

But go ye and learn what this meaneth, I desire mercy, and not sacrifice, for I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.

Amplified

Go and learn what this [Scripture] means: ‘I desire compassion [for those in distress], and not [animal] sacrifice,’ for I did not come to call [to repentance] the [self-proclaimed] righteous [who see no need to change], but sinners [those who recognize their sin and actively seek forgiveness].”

Anderson New Testament

But go and learn what this means: I desire mercy, and not sacrifice. For I came not to call righteous men, but sinners to repentance.

Bible in Basic English

But go and take to heart the sense of these words, My desire is for mercy, not offerings: for I have come not to get the upright, but sinners.

Common New Testament

But go and learn what this means: 'I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.' For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners."

Daniel Mace New Testament

go then and learn the meaning of that expression, "I will have mercy and not sacrifice:" for I am not come to call saints, but sinners.

Darby Translation

But go and learn what that is I will have mercy and not sacrifice; for I have not come to call righteous men but sinners.

Godbey New Testament

But having gone, learned what this is, I wish mercy and not sacrifice: for I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

Goodspeed New Testament

You must go and learn what the saying means, 'It is mercy, not sacrifice, that I care for.' I did not come to invite the pious but the irreligious."

John Wesley New Testament

But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy and not sacrifice; for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

Julia Smith Translation

And having gone, learn what is this, I wish mercy, and not sacrifice: for I came not to call the just, but the sinful to repentance.

King James 2000

But go and learn what that means, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

Lexham Expanded Bible

But go [and] learn what it means, "I want mercy and not sacrifice." For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners."

Modern King James verseion

But go and learn what this is, I will have mercy and not sacrifice. For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

Modern Spelling Tyndale-Coverdale

Go and learn, what that meaneth: 'I have pleasure in mercy, and not in offering.' For I am not come to call the righteous, but the sinners to repentance."

Moffatt New Testament

Go and learn the meaning of this word, I care for mercy not for sacrifice. For I have not come to call just men but sinners."

Montgomery New Testament

"But go and learn what this means, "It is mercy I desire, and not sacrifice; for I am come not to call just men, but sinners."

NET Bible

Go and learn what this saying means: 'I want mercy and not sacrifice.' For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners."

New Heart English Bible

But you go and learn what this means: 'I desire mercy, and not sacrifice,' for I came not to call the righteous, but sinners."

Noyes New Testament

But go ye and learn what this meaneth: "I desire mercy, and not sacrifice." For I came not to call righteous men, but sinners.

Sawyer New Testament

Go and learn what this means: I wish for mercy and not a sacrifice; for I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.

The Emphasized Bible

But go ye, and learn what this meaneth, - Mercy, I desire, and not, sacrifice; For I came, not to call the righteous, but sinners.

Thomas Haweis New Testament

Go then, and learn what is said, "I require mercy and not sacrifice:" for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

Twentieth Century New Testament

Go and learn what this means--'I desire mercy, and not sacrifice'; for I did not come to call the religious, but the outcast."

Webster

But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

Weymouth New Testament

But go and learn what this means, 'It is mercy that I desire, not sacrifice'; for I did not come to appeal to the righteous, but to sinners."

Williams New Testament

Go, learn what this means, 'It is mercy and not sacrifice that I want.' It is not upright but sinful people that I have come to invite."

World English Bible

But you go and learn what this means: 'I desire mercy, and not sacrifice,' for I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance."

Worrell New Testament

But, going, learn what this means: 'I desire mercy, and not sacrifice;' for I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners."

Worsley New Testament

"I desire mercy rather than sacrifice:" for I came not to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.

Youngs Literal Translation

but having gone, learn ye what is, Kindness I will, and not sacrifice, for I did not come to call righteous men, but sinners, to reformation.'

Interlinear

English(KJV)
Strong's
Root Form
Definition
Usage
But
δέ 
De 
but, and, now, then, also, yet, yea, so, moreover, nevertheless, for, even, , not tr
Usage: 2184

go ye and
πορεύομαι 
Poreuomai 
go, depart, walk, go way,
Usage: 101

μανθάνω 
manthano 
Usage: 20

τίς 
Tis 
Usage: 344

ἐστί 
Esti 
is, are, was, be, have, not tr, , vr is
Usage: 585

I will have
θέλω ἐθέλω 
thelo 
will/would, will/would have, desire, desirous, list, to will,
Usage: 136

ἔλεος 
Eleos 
Usage: 25

and

and, also, even, both, then, so, likewise, not tr., , vr and
Usage: 0

not
οὐ 
Ou 
οὐ 
Ou 
not, no, cannot ,
not, no, cannot ,
Usage: 1032
Usage: 1032

θυσία 
Thusia 
Usage: 26

for
γάρ 
Gar 
for, , not tr
Usage: 825

I am
ἔρχομαι 
Erchomai 
come, go, , vr come
Usage: 424

ἔρχομαι 
Erchomai 
come, go, , vr come
Usage: 424

to call
καλέω 
Kaleo 
call, bid, be so named, named ,
Usage: 106

the righteous
δίκαιος 
Dikaios 
Usage: 57

but
ἀλλά 
Alla 
but, yea, yet, nevertheless, howbeit, nay, therefore, save, not tr,
Usage: 461

ἁμαρτωλός 
Hamartolos 
Usage: 31

to
εἰς 
Eis 
into, to, unto, for, in, on, toward, against,
Usage: 1267

Context Readings

Matthew Called To Follow Jesus

12 When Jesus heard this, He said, "People who are healthy do not need a doctor; but [only] sick people do. 13 Go and learn what this means: 'I desire mercy and not [only] sacrifice.' For I did not come to call righteous people [to be my followers] but sinners." 14 Some of John's disciples came to Jesus saying, "Why is it that we and the Pharisees fast frequently [i.e., going without food and/or drink for religious reasons], but your disciples do not fast [at all]?"


Cross References

Matthew 12:7

If you had [fully] understood what this means: 'I desire mercy and not [only] sacrifice,' you would not have condemned someone who was not guilty [of wrongdoing].

Mark 2:17

When Jesus heard [about] this, He said to them, "People who are healthy do not need a doctor, but [only] sick people do. I did not come to call those who do right, but sinners [instead]."

Matthew 3:2

"You must repent [i.e., change your hearts and lives], for the kingdom of heaven will soon be here."

Luke 5:32

I did not come to call those who are doing right to repent [i.e., to change their hearts and lives], but [only those who are] sinners."

Matthew 3:8

Demonstrate by your lives that you have [really] repented,

Matthew 4:17

From that time onward Jesus began to preach, saying, "You people [must] repent [i.e., change your hearts and lives], for the kingdom of heaven is near."

Matthew 11:20-21

Then Jesus began to rebuke the people of the towns where most of His powerful miracles were performed because they did not repent [when they saw Him perform them].

Matthew 12:3

Jesus replied, "Have you not read what King David did when he and his men were hungry? [I Sam. 21:6]

Matthew 12:5

Or, have you not read in the law of Moses that the priests in the Temple defiled the Sabbath day [i.e., by doing the 'work' of offering sacrifices] and were not held guilty [of wrongdoing]? [See Num. 28:9-10]

Matthew 18:10-13

Make sure you do not look down on any one of these little ones [i.e., humble followers of Christ]. For I tell you, their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven. {[{[Some ancient manuscripts include verse

Matthew 19:4

And He answered them, "Have you not read [Gen. 1:27; 5:2] that when God created [mankind as] male and female,

Matthew 21:28-32

But what do you think [about this]? A man had two sons; He went to the first one and said, 'Son, go to work in my vineyard today.'

Matthew 21:42

Jesus [then] said to the leading priests and elders of the Jewish people, "Did you not ever read in the Scriptures [Psa. 118:22-23], 'The building block rejected by the builders is the same one that was made the principal stone by which the entire building was aligned. This was planned by the Lord and is a marvelous thing to us'?

Matthew 22:31-32

But concerning the resurrection of the dead, have you not read what God spoke to you, saying, [Ex. 3:6]

Mark 12:26

But concerning those who are raised from the dead, have you never read in the book of Moses, in the incident about the bush, how God spoke to him, saying [Ex. 3:6], 'I am Abraham's God, and Isaac's God, and Jacob's God?'

Luke 10:26

And Jesus said to him, "What is written in the law of Moses? How do you read it?"

Luke 15:3-10

So, Jesus told them this parable, saying,

Luke 19:10

For the Son of man came to search for and save those who were lost."

Luke 24:47

And [the need for] a change of heart and life in order to receive the forgiveness of sins [from God] will be preached in Jesus' name [i.e., by His authority] to people of all nations, beginning from Jerusalem.

John 10:34

Jesus replied to them, "Is it not written in your law [Psa. 82:6], 'I said, you people are gods'?

Acts 2:38

And Peter replied, "Every one of you must repent [i.e., change your hearts and lives] and be immersed in the name of Jesus Christ [i.e., by His authority] so that your sins will be forgiven [by God] and then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit [to live in your hearts].

Acts 3:19

Therefore, you people [must] repent [i.e., change your hearts and lives] and turn [back] again [to God] so that your sins will be blotted out and so that you may enjoy times of [spiritual] refreshment from the presence of the Lord [i.e., through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit].

Acts 5:31

But God exalted Him at His right side to be a Prince and Savior and to give the people of Israel [an opportunity] to repent [i.e., change their hearts and lives] and [receive] forgiveness of [their] sins [through Him].

Acts 11:18

So, when the apostles and the brothers from Judea heard these things, they stopped arguing [See verse 2] and gave honor to God, saying, "[This means] that God has permitted the Gentiles also [as well as the Jews] to repent [i.e., change their hearts and lives] so they, too, could have [the promise of never ending] life."

Acts 17:30-31

Now God made allowance for the times when people were still uninformed [about His complete will], but now [in the Gospel age] He requires all people everywhere to repent [i.e., change their hearts and lives].

Acts 20:21

[You know how] I testified to both Jews and Greeks [i.e., Gentiles], that they must repent [i.e., change their attitudes and behavior] toward God, and have faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.

Acts 26:18-20

to open their eyes [to the truth] so they will turn from darkness to light and from the power [i.e., the influence] of Satan to God. [Then] they can receive the forgiveness of sins and the inheritance [of never ending life], along with [all] those who are set apart [for God] by trusting in Me.'

Romans 2:4-6

Or, do you despise the abundance of God's kindness and tolerance and patience [toward you], not realizing that His kindness is intended to cause you to repent? [i.e., to change your hearts and lives].

Romans 3:10-24

as it is written [Psa. 14:1ff; 53:1ff], "No one [always] does what is right; not even one person.

1 Corinthians 6:9-11

Or, do you not know that evil people will not possess God's kingdom? Do not be misled: neither will sexually immoral people, nor idolaters, nor those who are sexually unfaithful to their mates, nor homosexual perverts. [Note: The Greek uses two words here, denoting both the passive and active partners in male homosexual acts].

1 Timothy 1:13-16

[even] though I had previously spoken against Christ, and persecuted [Christians] and acted outrageously. However, I obtained mercy because I acted out of ignorance, not believing [in Christ].

2 Timothy 2:25-26

[He must] gently correct those people who oppose [him], in hope that God will give them [opportunity for] repentance, leading to a [full] knowledge of the truth,

2 Peter 3:9

The Lord is not slow about keeping His promise, like some people are, but is [simply] being patient with you, since He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but He wants everyone to repent [i.e., change their hearts and lives].

King James Version Public Domain

Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers.

International Standard Version Copyright © 1996-2008 by the ISV Foundation.

New American Standard Bible Copyright ©1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org

American Standard Version Public Domain

NET Bible copyright © 1996-2006 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. NetBible

Basic English, produced by Mr C. K. Ogden of the Orthological Institute - public domain