Targum Hosea 6:6: “There is more pleasure before me in those who
practice mercy than in the altar.”
ʾAbot de Rabbi Nathan 4: (Regarding the saying of R. Simeon the
righteous I [ca. 300 BCE] in m. ʾAbot 1.2: “On three things the world stands,
on the Torah, the sacrificial service, and demonstrations of love,” it says:)
“On demonstrations of love” in what way? Behold, it says, “In love I am well
pleased, and not in sacrifice” (Hos 6:6). The world was created from the
beginning only by love: “I say, ‘Love builds up the world’ ” (Ps 89:3,
according to the Midrash). At one time Rabban Yohanan b. Zakkai († ca. 80 CE)
went out of Jerusalem and R. Joshua walked behind him (followed him as his
disciple), and he saw the sanctuary destroyed, the place where atonement was
procured for the sins of Israel. He said to him, “My son, do not be displeased!
We have an atonement like it; and what is it? These are the demonstrations of
love; see Hos 6:6 (as above).” ‖ Babylonian Talmud Sukkah 49B: R. Eleazar (ca.
270) said, “He who practices charity is greater than all sacrifices; see ‘That
one practices charity (so the Midrash) and justice is dearer to Yahweh than
sacrifice’ (Prov 21:3).”—In Midr. Prov. 21:3 (45A), R. Eleazar b. Simeon (ca.
180) says, “He who practices charity and justice, Scripture reckons it to him
as if he offered burnt offerings and sacrifices (see Prov 21:3).” ‖ Deuteronomy
Rabbah 5 (201D): “That one practices charity and justice is dearer to Yahweh
than sacrifice” (Prov 21:3). It does not say “as dear as sacrifice” כזבח, but “more than sacrifice” מזּבח. In what way? Sacrifices were offered only
while the temple stood; but charity and justice are in practice while the
temple existed and at the time when it does not. Another explanation:
Sacrifices atone only for the one who sinned accidentally; but charity and
justice atone both for the one who sinned accidentally and for the one who
sinned presumptuously. Another explanation: Sacrifices are in practice only
with the inferiors (persons); charity and justice both with the superiors
(angels) and with the inferiors. Another explanation: Sacrifices are in
practice only in this world; charity and justice both in this world and in the
future world. ‖ Babylonian Talmud Berakot 55A: R. Yohanan († 279) and R.
Eleazar (ca. 270) both said, “As long as the temple existed, the altar provided
atonement for Israel, but now the table of human beings provides atonement for
it (i.e., feeding the poor).” (Hermann L. Strack and Paul
Billerbeck, A Commentary on the New Testament from the Talmud and Midrash,
ed. Jacob N. Cerone, 4 vols. [trans. Andrew Bowden and Joseph Longarino;
Bellingham, Wash.: Lexham Press, 2022], 1:560)
