But as soon as this your son who ate up your means of living with harlots arrived, you slaughtered the fattened young bull for him.’”—Luke 15:28-30.

If he was truly a devoted son, why did he fail to reflect his father’s mind? When given opportunity to show mercy to his brother, why was there no room for compassion in his heart? —Compare Psalm 50:20-22.

Their hearts were loveless. Why, they regarded common folk like the dirt beneath their feet, even contemptuously referring to them as “accursed people.” (John 7:49) Really, how could God be impressed with the works of such leaders when their hearts were far removed from him?—Matthew 15:7, 8.

10. (a) Why were the words, “I want mercy, and not sacrifice” appropriate counsel? (b) How serious a matter is a lack of mercy?

¹⁰ Jesus told the Pharisees to “go . . . and learn what this means, ‘I want mercy, and not sacrifice.’” (Matthew 9:13; Hosea 6:6) Their priorities were confused, for without mercy all their sacrifices would be worthless. This is indeed a serious matter, for the Bible states that the “merciless” are counted among those viewed by God as “deserving of death.” (Romans 1:31, 32) Not surprisingly, therefore, Jesus said that as a class the religious leaders were destined for everlasting destruction. Evidently, their mercilessness contributed largely to their meriting this judgment. (Matthew 23:33)