"More Than" Not "Rather Than"

Leaven

Hosea 6:6

Revised Standard Version

⁶ For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God, rather than burnt offerings.

It is important to note that the original Hebrew word used in this verse for "knowledge" refers to more than acquiring factual information about God. Like the original Greek word often used for "know" in the New Testament, it is experiential knowledge, reflecting intimate relationship with God. Based on this verse's phrasing, one might conclude that God only desires relational offerings. However, I don't believe that a broader reading of the bible supports that conclusion. Instead, I believe this scripture (given the broader biblical context) is seeking to signal God's priorities rather than communicating a choice of relational gifts and a rejection of material gifts. I've noticed that numerous biblical translations of this passage exhibit a concern for this nuance as well and choose to use the phrase "more than" instead of "rather than." Use of the phrase "more than" subtly suggests that there is breadth in God's purposes (which includes both our material and relational gifts). I am not questioning the accuracy of translation. I am not a translator. I am simply trying to understand the message behind the text. Thinking in terms of "more than" helps me with my understanding.

But both types of gifts are important. So, let's not be confused, material gifts matter. In the Old Testament book of Malachi, God voices His concern for the proper expression of material offerings. In chapter 1, He states that He is unwilling to accept material gifts that do not meet His standards. Malachi 1:8 &10 (NIV) read:

8.".., Try offering them to your governor! Would he be pleased with you? Would he accept you? says the Lord Almighty.., 10. Oh, that one of you would shut the temple doors, so that you would not light useless fires on my altar! I am not please with you." says the Lord Almighty, "and I will accept no offering from your hands."

Then (in chapter 3) He equates our withholding of acceptable gifts to robbery. Malachi 3:8 (NIV) reads:

"Will a mere mortal rob God? Yet you rob me. But you ask, "How are we robbing you?" In tithes and offerings."

In these passages God speaks to both attitudes of the heart and the material substance of the gifts. God makes clear that our use of material gifts can express honor or the lack of it and that He is greatly displeased when our gifts lack honor. Verse 11 reads:

"My name will be great among the nations, from where the sun rises to where it sets. In every place incense and pure offerings will be brought to me, because my name will be great among the nations," says the Lord Almighty.

In addition, God uses the material substance of our giving as a tool to bless other people. In Malachi 3:10 He asks for tithes and offerings "that there may be food in my house". The food would feed ministry workers (the Levites) and those in need. Israel gave to God and then He released those gifts to benefit others. So, God directs the focus of the discussion to His personal relationship with Israel. He calls in Malachi 3:7: "Return to Me and I will return to you." The giving of tithes and offering are presented as a path in the journey of their relationship. Their material gifts were meant to draw Israel closer to God and then closer to each other through their service of human needs.

In the New Testament, Jesus continues to communicate the importance of both our relational gifts and material gifts but emphasizes the relational gifts as more important.

Matthew 5:23-24

New International Version

²³ “Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, ²⁴ leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift.

Matthew 23:23

New International Version

²³ “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices—mint, dill and cumin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former.

In response to broken human relationships, in Matthew 5:24 Jesus instructs us "first go and be reconciled .., then come and offer your gift." Jesus treats both the material gift and the personal relationships as important but establishes a clear priority. Then in Matthew 23:23 He revisits this concept. Jesus criticized those who adhered to the liturgy of tithing in minute detail while neglecting the relational issues with their peers of justice and mercy and the relational issue with Him of faithfulness, "the more important matters of the law."

God has always been interested in our gift of relationship "more than" our physical gifts, but that priority should not be thought of as "rather than." In calling us to give more than our material offering, He is actually calling us to give both.

Opportunity For Growth & Change

Read the book of Malachi again. Take special note of the importance God places on the actual material gifts, in addition to attitudes and behaviors. Renew your commitment to giving material gifts that honor God. Then affirm your commitment to developing attitudes and behaviors in giving that honor Him as well. Finally, commit to offer "more", relational gifts that grow the love for and knowledge of God that He is seeking in Hosea 6:6