What God Wants

When one surveys the Bible, a recurring question emerges: What truly matters to God? From the Garden of Eden through the prophetic proclamations to the life and ministry of Jesus Christ, Scripture consistently emphasizes the significance of an authentic and obedient relationship with God over empty ritual or external display. Evangelical theology, with its strong focus on a personal encounter with God through faith in Jesus Christ, has repeatedly affirmed that heartfelt devotion and covenant fidelity stand at the forefront of the divine will. In Hosea 6:6 (ESV), the Prophet Hosea reports the words of God with remarkable clarity: “For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.” These words, delivered to the people of Israel in a time of spiritual disarray, resonate throughout the Church today, calling believers to examine the quality of their covenant loyalty (Hebrew hesed) and the depth of their knowledge of God (Hebrew da‘at Elohim).

The Epistle of James reminds believers that faith without works is dead (James 2:26, ESV). While James addresses a different context in the New Testament era, the principle of genuine love for God, which manifests itself in faithful obedience, remains consistent with the prophetic messages of the Old Testament. Hosea’s statement about God desiring “steadfast love” more than “sacrifice” therefore aligns with the broader scriptural teaching that external religious expression, though important, is meaningless if divorced from a living relationship with the Creator. Evangelical theology underscores that the heart of the Gospel is not merely intellectual assent or ritual observance but the transformation of the heart and will that leads to active obedience.

Hosea’s ministry occurred in a tumultuous era in Israel’s history, marked by political instability, idolatry, and social injustice. The Kingdom of Israel, often referred to in Hosea as “Ephraim,” and the Kingdom of Judah had fallen into patterns of religious syncretism, mixing the worship of Yahweh with the religious practices of surrounding nations. The prophet addresses this widespread corruption, revealing that even though sacrifices continued at the various altars, the people had drifted from authentic devotion. They had abandoned the faithful love God required and forgotten the essence of their covenant relationship. Although they brought their burnt offerings, their hearts were far from the divine will.

This blog post will explore Hosea 6:6 and its surrounding context, with particular attention to the concepts of hesed (steadfast love, covenant loyalty) and “knowledge of God.” It will also show how the New Testament reaffirms Hosea’s message, especially through the words of Jesus Christ, who quotes Hosea on at least two occasions (Matthew 9:13; 12:7, ESV). By examining the original language of Hosea 6:6 and situating it within the historical and theological world of the prophet, we will draw out the broader implications for believers today. Furthermore, we will see how this passage fits into the overall Evangelical understanding of what it means to walk in true worship that encompasses both inward devotion and outward obedience.

We begin with an exegetical analysis of Hosea 6:6. In doing so, we will look at key Hebrew terms and explore the nature of Israel’s religious life in the eighth century BC. We will then move to a wider theological discussion, tracing how Hosea’s declaration of God’s desire for loyal love and intimate knowledge reverberates throughout the Bible—culminating in Jesus Christ’s admonitions. Finally, we will conclude with reflections on what this pivotal passage means for the Church today, emphasizing the question “What matters to God?” can only be adequately answered through the lens of a faithful, obedient relationship with Him.

Historical and Literary Context

Hosea prophesied to the Northern Kingdom of Israel during a period rife with political and religious turmoil, likely in the mid-eighth century BC. The Book of Hosea narrates the prophet’s own marital experiences with Gomer as a symbolic portrayal of Israel’s unfaithfulness. Israel’s covenant unfaithfulness manifested through idolatry and alliances with foreign powers, all of which contradicted the covenant established at Sinai (Exodus 19–24, ESV). Within this context, Hosea declares God’s dissatisfaction with religious practices that had become hollow, detached from the relational fidelity the covenant demanded.

The immediate context of Hosea 6:6 is a lament from God over the insincerity of His people. In Hosea 6:4–5 (ESV), He compares their fleeting faithfulness to “a morning cloud” and “the early dew.” Such imagery highlights the transitory nature of Israel’s devotion: here one moment, then evaporating with the rising sun. Even though outward sacrifices continued, these expressions lacked genuine devotion. Thus God’s lament emerges: “For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings” (Hosea 6:6, ESV).

Key Hebrew Terms

Hesed (Steadfast Love)

The Hebrew word often translated “steadfast love” in the English Standard Version is hesed. Scholars have observed that hesed carries connotations of loyalty, covenant faithfulness, and loving-kindness. It is not simply an emotive or sentimental feeling but an active, persistent commitment grounded in covenant. This covenant is bilateral, though more profoundly based on God’s initiating grace. Israel is called to respond to God’s hesed by reflecting it back to Him and by extending it to fellow members of the covenant community.

In Hosea 6:6, the import of hesed is particularly striking because it sets the tone for what the Lord seeks in worship. The problem was not that the people lacked a sacrificial system—indeed, sacrifices were offered regularly (Hosea 5:6, ESV)—but that they lacked the underlying covenant loyalty that made those offerings meaningful. The impetus behind hesed is the unbreakable loyalty and moral commitment that flow from a genuine knowledge of, and relationship with, the Covenant God.

Da‘at Elohim (Knowledge of God)

The second phrase, “the knowledge of God,” in Hebrew is da‘at Elohim. The root verb yada (“to know”) often implies more than mere intellectual awareness. It connotes relational and experiential knowledge. In contexts such as Genesis 4:1 (ESV), where Adam “knew” his wife, the concept of yada goes far beyond mental understanding and speaks of an intimate relational bond. Similarly, in Hosea’s theological vision, to “know” God involves a deeply personal, covenant-based encounter with Him.

This emphasis on relational knowledge stands in contrast to a purely ritualistic or ceremonial approach to religion. Israel’s persistent sins stemmed not from a lack of sacrificial activity but from ignoring the interpersonal relationship that should undergird all worship. Hence, da‘at Elohim underlines that true religion is grounded in a living, personal, experiential bond with the Lord—an alignment of heart, mind, and will.

Structure and Parallelism

The statement in Hosea 6:6 arranges “steadfast love” parallel to “the knowledge of God” and, correspondingly, “sacrifice” parallel to “burnt offerings.” In Hebrew poetic style, parallelism is a significant rhetorical device that highlights key themes. By placing hesed in direct contrast to “sacrifice” and “knowledge of God” opposite “burnt offerings,” the prophet is not rejecting sacrifices outright. Instead, he is asserting a hierarchy of values: steadfast love and genuine knowledge of God must undergird and supersede all cultic rites. Sacrifices, detached from hesed and intimate knowledge, are hollow.

Correlation with Other Biblical Passages

Hosea’s declaration resonates with other Old Testament prophets. For example, Amos 5:21–24 (ESV) similarly condemns religious ceremonies divorced from justice and righteousness. Micah 6:6–8 (ESV) asks rhetorically if God is satisfied with thousands of rams or ten thousand rivers of oil, concluding that what the Lord truly requires is “to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God.” These passages collectively highlight the prophetic tradition’s critique of ritualism unaccompanied by genuine piety and ethical conduct.

Moreover, 1 Samuel 15:22 (ESV) states, “Has the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice.” This principle is reiterated in Psalm 51:16–17 (ESV), where David expresses that God will “not delight in sacrifice,” and that “a broken and contrite heart” is the true offering acceptable to Him. These passages and themes converge in Hosea 6:6, making it a cornerstone verse that embodies the Old Testament’s emphasis on authentic covenantal living.

Jesus’ Usage of Hosea 6:6

The New Testament Gospels record at least two occasions on which Jesus quotes Hosea 6:6. In Matthew 9:10–13 (ESV), He addresses the Pharisees who criticize Him for eating with tax collectors and sinners. Jesus responds: “Go and learn what this means, ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.’ For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.” Similarly, in Matthew 12:1–8 (ESV), Jesus invokes the same passage to challenge the Pharisees who condemned His disciples for plucking heads of grain on the Sabbath. By referencing Hosea 6:6, Jesus draws on the rich prophetic tradition that prioritizes mercy and covenant fidelity over external ritual, thus highlighting that knowledge of God and genuine obedience lie at the heart of true worship.

These New Testament references affirm that the principle expounded in Hosea 6:6 is not confined to the eighth century BC but forms a foundational, timeless element of the divine will. Jesus’ teachings, deeply rooted in the prophetic tradition, condemn superficial religion and call believers to a profound commitment to God. The divine desire in Hosea—for steadfast love and knowledge of God—achieves its fullest expression in Christ, who embodies the new covenant and demonstrates the true purpose of worship.

Theological Discussion

Covenant Fidelity as the Essence of Worship

From an evangelical perspective, the message of Hosea 6:6 underscores the heart of covenant theology that forms the backbone of the relationship between God and His people. In Exodus 19:5–6 (ESV), God establishes Israel as His “treasured possession,” a “kingdom of priests and a holy nation.” This covenant, later reaffirmed in Deuteronomy, calls Israel to exclusive loyalty, moral obedience, and heartfelt devotion. Ritual sacrifice, while divinely mandated, was intended as an outward expression of inward fidelity.

Evangelical theology considers all of Scripture, from Genesis to Revelation, as a unified narrative that points to the redemption found in Jesus Christ. Thus, the impetus behind Old Testament sacrifices finds fulfillment in the atoning work of Christ (Hebrews 9:11–14, ESV). Yet the principle remains: God has always cared more about the worshiper’s heart posture than the externalities of worship. A person might engage in repeated ceremonies while harboring a rebellious, indifferent heart, which is precisely the scenario that Hosea condemns. Therefore, for evangelicals, obedience and love flow naturally from genuine faith, for “faith apart from works is dead” (James 2:26, ESV), echoing Hosea’s insistence on hesed and da‘at Elohim.

The Priority of Knowing God

Biblical scholars have long emphasized that to “know God” is to stand in proper covenant relation with Him. The Hebrew notion of knowledge, yada, transcends intellectual awareness and speaks to holistic engagement—heart, mind, soul, and strength. This concept is evident in the Shema of Deuteronomy 6:4–5 (ESV): “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.” Love and knowledge interlace here in the covenant context, preparing the way for Jesus’ own summary of the Law: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind” (Matthew 22:37, ESV).

Evangelicalism, with its consistent stress on a personal relationship with Christ, reaffirms that a purely theoretical theology, no matter how intricate, falls short if it does not cultivate a living relationship with God. When Hosea calls for the “knowledge of God,” he implies that the entire being must be aligned with the character of God. This includes moral obedience, ethical conduct, and the transformation of the inner self. The knowledge of God is not an abstract concept for philosophical speculation but an invitation to communion with the living Lord who reveals Himself through His Word and redemptive actions.

The Place of Ritual and Sacrifice

Hosea’s statement “For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice” has led some interpreters to argue that the Old Testament prophets repudiated the sacrificial system altogether. However, a more careful reading indicates that the prophets—and Hosea in particular—did not reject the institutions given by God through Moses. Rather, they decried the empty performance of these rituals when divorced from ethical and spiritual faithfulness. Sacrifices were integral to Israel’s worship, but they were never meant to substitute for an obedient life.

The Book of Hebrews in the New Testament clarifies that the sacrificial system was a “shadow” of the good things to come (Hebrews 10:1, ESV). With the advent of Christ, the ultimate sacrifice was offered once for all (Hebrews 10:10, ESV). Still, the responsibility to cultivate hesed and “knowledge of God” remains. Evangelical theology, therefore, affirms that while the Old Testament sacrificial system has found its fulfillment in Jesus’ work on the cross, the underlying requirement of loyal love and active obedience to God’s commands persists. Modern believers, through spiritual disciplines such as prayer, reading of the Bible, attendance at Church gatherings, partaking in the Lord’s Supper, and corporate worship, are called to let these practices express a profound love and commitment to God, rather than becoming ends in themselves.

Heart Religion and Transformation

A central emphasis of the Protestant Reformation was sola fide—salvation by faith alone—yet Reformers like Martin Luther and John Calvin did not interpret this to mean that good works or obedience are optional. Rather, they underscored that genuine faith inevitably produces obedience and godly love (Calvin 1960, 3.2.12). Hosea’s emphasis on hesed parallels the Reformation theme that a living faith is always transformative, engaging the whole person. True religion is a matter of the heart, but that heartfelt devotion necessarily bears fruit in righteous behavior.

In many evangelical traditions, this is precisely why personal conversion and sanctification are pivotal. One repents, believes, and enters the new covenant through faith in Christ, but then pursues holiness as an expression of that faith. Practical outworkings of hesed might include acts of justice, mercy, and a conscientious avoidance of idolatrous attachments. In Hosea’s context, idolatry manifested in the worship of Baal and in trusting political alliances rather than God. In the contemporary Church context, idolatry can take more subtle forms—devotion to wealth, comfort, reputation, or personal autonomy. The principle remains the same: God longs for the heart’s loyalty, not the meaningless repetition of religious forms.

Implications for Contemporary Worship

When believers gather on Sunday mornings for corporate worship, sing hymns or contemporary praise songs, partake in the sacraments, or serve in various ministries, these activities should ideally be filled with the Holy Spirit’s presence and motivated by love for God. Hosea 6:6 provides a sobering reminder that Church activities, no matter how vibrant or numerous, can degenerate into mere ritual if unaccompanied by hesed and a genuine knowledge of God. Pastors, worship leaders, and congregants alike must frequently ask: “Are my outward acts of piety springing from a heart that truly loves and obeys the Lord?”

The answer is not to abandon corporate worship or spiritual disciplines but to engage in them with renewed sincerity, ensuring that devotion to God permeates every aspect of life. The same principle applies to personal Bible reading, prayer, and service. These are not items on a religious checklist; they are avenues of grace, ways through which believers nurture intimacy with God and obey His commands. Paul’s exhortation in Romans 12:1 (ESV) to “present your bodies as a living sacrifice” captures the essence of what Hosea longs for: a holistic dedication that transcends ritual observance.

Jesus as the Fulfillment of Hosea 6:6

Within theology, Jesus Christ embodies and fulfills the prophetic passages. Through His perfect obedience to the Father, Jesus exemplified hesed. At the Last Supper, He redefined the Passover meal in terms of His own sacrifice (Matthew 26:26–29, ESV). He also exposed the emptiness of Pharisaic legalism, calling for a deeper righteousness that springs from the transformed heart (Matthew 5:20, ESV). When Jesus quotes Hosea 6:6 in controversies with the Pharisees, He highlights their blind obsession with ritual purity at the expense of mercy and genuine obedience.

Furthermore, the “knowledge of God” becomes incarnate in Jesus Christ. As the Apostle John declares, “No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, He has made Him known” (John 1:18, ESV). Hence, knowing God in the New Testament sense involves encountering the person of Jesus and entering into a life-giving relationship with Him. In John 17:3 (ESV), Jesus defines eternal life as knowing “the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.” This intimacy is not separated from the demand for obedience, for He also states, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments” (John 14:15, ESV). Hosea’s theme of knowledge and steadfast love is therefore woven seamlessly into the fabric of New Testament revelation.

Ethical Dimensions of Covenant Love

The Old Testament prophets, Jesus, and the Apostles consistently tie knowledge of God to ethical living. The vertical dimension (love for God) must manifest in the horizontal dimension (love for neighbor). This is why the greatest commandment to love God is immediately followed by the commandment to “love your neighbor as yourself” (Mark 12:31, ESV). The Epistle of 1 John likewise insists that one who claims to know God yet does not love his brother or sister is deceiving himself (1 John 4:20, ESV).

Hosea’s Israel was rife with social injustices, including exploitation of the poor and a lack of communal faithfulness. The call to hesed thus had tangible social implications, compelling the people to demonstrate God’s covenant love in their economic, legal, and communal relationships. Evangelical theology has long recognized that genuine spiritual renewal and social ethics go hand in hand, though the balance of emphasis has varied across different historical and denominational contexts. In a contemporary setting, Hosea’s call to “steadfast love” and “knowledge of God” reminds believers that personal piety cannot be divorced from commitment to justice, mercy, and righteousness in all spheres of life.

Potential Objections and Alternate Interpretations

Some interpreters might propose that Hosea’s focus on hesed and knowledge of God negates the necessity of institutional worship or ecclesial structure. However, such a reading ignores the historical context in which Hosea spoke and the broader witness of Scripture. Hosea never advocated an abolition of sacrificial worship but rather a reformation of the heart. Similarly, Jesus and the Apostles participated in communal gatherings and upheld the public reading of Scripture and the observance of sacraments. The question is not whether corporate worship is valid but whether it is performed in the manner God desires: grounded in loyalty and cultivated by a deep relational knowledge.

Others may suggest that Hosea’s emphasis on mercy implies that moral standards can be relaxed. Yet the broader context of Hosea vehemently condemns sinful practices that violate the covenant. True mercy and steadfast love never endorse or condone sin. Rather, they lead to repentance and transformation, consistent with the prophetic tradition that calls Israel to return to the Lord (Hosea 14:1–2, ESV).

From an academic standpoint, critical scholarship debates whether Hosea’s statements concerning sacrifice reflect late editorial layers or earlier traditions. However,  theological import remains: the God of Israel demands moral and relational fidelity above perfunctory ritual. Such fidelity remains a timeless principle relevant to every generation of believers.

Conclusion

Hosea 6:6 stands as a clarion call to every believer who has ever wondered, “What matters most to God?” The prophet, speaking in a time of rampant idolatry and hollow ritualism, delivers a message that transcends centuries and cultures: God desires hesed—covenant loyalty and steadfast love—and da‘at Elohim—the knowledge of God. These parallel statements underscore that rituals, sacrifices, and external forms of worship are meaningful only to the extent that they are the genuine fruit of a heart devoted to God. They are never substitutes for a living, obedient faith that actively responds to God’s covenant invitation.

Hosea’s prophetic word seamlessly aligns with the broader Biblical testimony, which insists that true religion comprises both the inner devotion of the heart and the outward obedience of the life. Jesus Christ, in quoting Hosea 6:6 to challenge the Pharisees, further solidifies the eternal principle that God values a heart that loves and knows Him over any mere external compliance. Through Christ, the sacrificial system of the Old Testament finds its fulfillment, and the way is opened for believers to enter a new covenant where the law is written on their hearts (Jeremiah 31:33, ESV). Yet the requirements of covenant faithfulness remain: the life of a Christian is to be marked by active love for God and neighbor, rooted in a profound knowledge of the One who first loved us.

This invites a reflective response from the Church. In a modern world where religious activity can become routine, Hosea offers a piercing reminder that faith must not deteriorate into a form of externalism. The prophet compels us to examine our practices—Bible reading, prayer, worship services, charitable works—to ensure they arise from hearts truly captivated by God’s gracious character and commands. Even in our theological pursuits, we must remember that academic or intellectual study divorced from personal obedience and love for God falls short of the da‘at Elohim to which the prophet calls us.

Believers today face the same temptations as ancient Israel: the lure of hollow ritual, the allure of cultural idols, and the draw of pursuing worldly security over reliance on divine provision. Yet Hosea 6:6 dismantles any pretense that a superficial faith could ever satisfy the One who has entered covenant with His people. The richness of the Hebrew term hesed reminds us that God’s steadfast love for us is unwavering, inviting a reciprocal, loyal love in return. The knowledge of God is not an esoteric pursuit but an ongoing relationship nurtured by prayer, immersed in Scripture, and shaped by obedience.

When one asks, “What matters most to God?” the answer must be more than a set of intellectual propositions. The correct response emerges from a life dedicated to reflecting the covenant fidelity that God Himself has displayed. It is a life that sees in Jesus Christ the fullness of the divine mercy foreseen by Hosea. It embraces the Holy Spirit’s power to transform religious observance from a mere ritual into a vibrant act of worship that glorifies God and edifies others.

Ultimately, Hosea 6:6 is not a repudiation of sacrifice but a prophetic critique of worship devoid of heartfelt loyalty and genuine knowledge. In our own contexts, the principle remains vital: corporate worship, spiritual disciplines, and church traditions all serve a crucial function, but they must be infused with hesed and da‘at Elohim. In other words, everything believers do should flow from and point back to a loving, obedient, relational knowledge of the God who has redeemed them.

Let us make Hosea 6:6 a guiding principle for our lives and for the Church. Let us guard against spiritual complacency, seeking instead to deepen our experiential knowledge of God through Scripture, prayer, and daily fellowship with the Holy Spirit. Let our corporate worship and personal devotions be marked by the vibrant, covenantal love that Hosea describes. And let us, like Jesus, extend mercy rather than mere legalistic compliance, demonstrating to the world around us that the God of the Bible is a God of loving-kindness, justice, holiness, and truth.

If someone were to pose the question, “What matters most to God?” we would do well to recall the prophet’s words: “For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings” (Hosea 6:6, ESV). May the Church embody this steadfast love in word and deed, and may our knowledge of God be far more than intellectual. May it be a transforming, covenantal encounter with the living Lord that reshapes every dimension of our existence. For it is in that faithful, obedient, and intimate relationship that we find the true heart of what pleases God and fulfills His eternal purpose for humanity.