Go and Learn

One of the commands of Christ is found in Matthew 9:13 and repeated in Matthew 12:7. The command is for those seeking to understand Christ, to must go and learn what Jesus desires and what He does not desire.

Matthew 9:13 NASB
“Now go and learn what this means: ‘I DESIRE COMPASSION, RATHER THAN SACRIFICE,’ for I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

Matthew 12:7 NASB
“But if you had known what this means: ‘I DESIRE COMPASSION, RATHER THAN SACRIFICE,’ you would not have condemned the innocent.

According to the NET bible footnote Jesus appears to be quoting Hosea 6:6,

Hosea 6:6 NASB
For I desire loyalty rather than sacrifice,
And the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.
​

If we compare the expressions used to express God's desired action on the part of His audience, we have compassion or mercy in the Greek and loyalty or steadfast fast love in the Hebrew. This is consistently contrasted with our outward actions (works) such as presenting burnt offerings as sacrifices to God.

By the numbers:
1) We are to go to do something, and not sit satisfied with what we think we know!

2) We are to learn, which means to diligently study such that we can rightly divide God's instruction.

3) Compassion or mercy reflects a heartfelt action on our part based on our "self sacrificial" love of the lost.

4) Loyalty translates "hesed" which is a steadfast love, unwavering and loyal.

So it is part of God's desire that our actions are driven by our steadfast devotion to God. If we have a "hesed" kind of love, we will keep His commandments, if we do not, we might wander and choose a desire of the flesh or an worldly attraction.

A nice word would be apostasy. But scripture also uses a word with more bite, adultery.