How should we treat "law breakers"? Matthew 11-13

Matthew 12:7 (NASV)

But if you had known what this means, ‘ I desire compassion, and not A sacrifice, ’ you would not have condemned the innocent.

The context for this verse is important in the understanding of the verse.   The self-pious religious leaders of the day had observed Christ's disciples walking through the grain fields and gleaning the grain.  They were hungry and this was a way that people of the day would actually find food.   There was nothing wrong with "what" they were doing.  But, the Pharisees where offended about "when" the disciples were doing this.   They were gleaning for food on Saturday, the Sabbath day.   Since the Law said you can't do any work on the Sabbath Day it was "technically" against the "Law" to do that.   However, Christ reminds them, using an example, that even the reverend King David allowed his men to do an even more incredulous act; eating the bread in the Ark of the Covenant, the Showbread.    Jesus' point is that if God allowed David to do this, the disciples were fine with what they were doing.   But, He goes on to explain more clearly, since the Pharisees seldom understood His stories, analogies and Scripturally examples.  He states the above verse as an explanation as to the reason the disciples are okay.   God is not as worried about our "Sacrifice of Worship based upon the Perfect Observance of the Law" if that "observance of the Law" does not also include "mercy" or "compassion."   In Micah 6:8 we have the same statement.  God prefers mercy and justice more than sacrifice.   God told Saul the same thing through His servant Samuel.   In this verse Jesus is actually quoting Hosea 6:6.   God wants us to have the right heart of worship before we do the acts of worship.   To tell a hungry person they can't eat because they have to follow the law is not merciful or compassionate.   God prefers love, mercy, compassion and obedience more than legalistic worship.   How we treat others is important to God.  It isn't one verses the other, however.   We ought to keep the law as we practice mercy and practice mercy as we keep the law.    God wants us to treat others with kindness and mercy.