Contradiction with 1 Samuel 15:22
This verse emphasizes obedience to God’s commands over sacrifice, which can oppose the idea in Matthew 12:7 where mercy is preferred over sacrifice.
1 Samuel 15:22: And Samuel said, Hath 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, [and] to hearken than the fat of rams.
Contradiction with Hebrews 10:8
This verse acknowledges that God takes no pleasure in burnt offerings and sacrifices, aligning more than contradicting but can contrast the traditional emphasis on sacrifices.
Hebrews 10:8: Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and [offering] for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure [therein]; which are offered by the law;
Contradiction with Proverbs 21:3
It states that to do justice and judgment is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice, which could be seen as a different moral priority from mercy.
Proverbs 21:3: To do justice and judgment [is] more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.
Paradox #1
Some people might see a contradiction between this verse and the strict rules of sacrifices in the Old Testament. The verse suggests that showing mercy is more important than following ritual laws. This seems to challenge the idea that following religious rules is the most important thing, which some Old Testament laws emphasize.
Paradox #2
The moral conflict in this verse could be seen in the tension between strictly following religious rules and showing compassion or mercy. It suggests that sometimes focusing too much on rules can lead people to miss the more important moral value of compassion. This might seem inconsistent for those who believe rules should always be followed precisely.