That line also comes straight from Scripture. It first appears in Hosea 6:6, and later Jesus Christ repeats it in Matthew 9:13 and Matthew 12:7.

The message is pretty direct but deep:

God values compassion, kindness, and genuine relationship more than empty religious rituals.

“Mercy” → love, forgiveness, empathy, helping others

“Sacrifice” → outward religious acts, traditions, offerings

When Jesus used it, He was correcting people who were very strict about religious rules but lacked compassion. He was basically saying: You can follow every rule and still miss the heart of God if you don’t show mercy.