Book of Hosea Chapter 6 Vs. 6

 Israel and Judah Are Unrepentant

For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings. Hos. 6:6

I desired mercy,... I desire acts of mercy on your part rather than sacrifices. If your religion makes you exalted and self-righteous and you consider yourself to be defiled by associating with sinners, your sacrifices are in vain.

For real love have I desired, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt-offerings.

the knowledge of... Hearty, affectionate knowledge of God, which fills the mind with reverence of his majesty, fear of his goodness, love of his holiness, trust in his promise, and submission to his will; knowledge of God’s law, the rule of our obedience, of his favor, the reward of our obedience.

than burnt offerings...And knowledge of his omniscience, discerning and judging it, with those excellent effects, proper fruits hereof; are more than all sacrifice, as though they were burnt-sacrifices, which of all other were entirely given to God. But truth is, who knows God correctly, and doth keep his heart for God, gives God more than he that brings whole burnt-offerings; for these are but ceremonies and signs, empty and insipid to God, without the heart.

In short, these people acted all so contrary to this temper of their God, gave him so much of that he valued not, and so little of that he did most value, that he could not be too severe against them, nor is it any wonder he was so displeased with their sacrifices.

God desired to be merciful to them. He saw their inability to live their way into heaven. He provided the perfect sacrifice in Jesus Christ, to take away the sin of the world. Jesus became each individual's substitute on the cross. He paid the price in full for our sins. The sacrifice that God wants from the believers in Christ is praise.

Heb. 13:15 "By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of [our] lips giving thanks to his name."

The reason for such severe discipline is reiterated: God’s people had failed to understand His true desire. He longed for devotion (ḥeseḏ, mercy) and loyalty (acknowledgment of God; cf. Hos. 2:20; 4:1, 4:6) expressed through allegiance to the covenant demands. Unless offered in the context of obedience, sacrifices were meaningless and even offensive (cf. 1Sam. 15:22; Isa. 1:11-20; Amos 5:21-24; Mic. 6:6-8).