John Calvin Commentary Mark 12:33

"and to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbor as himself, is much more than all whole burnt-offerings and sacrifices." — Mark 12:33 (ASV)

Is better than all burnt-offerings and sacrifices. But it appears incongruous that sacrifices, which are a part of divine worship and belong to the first table of the Law, should be considered less important than love for others.

The reply is that although the worship of God is greatly preferable, and is more valuable than all the duties of a holy life, yet its outward exercises ought not to be valued so highly as to overshadow brotherly kindness.

For we know that brotherly kindness, in and of itself, is pleasing to God, though sacrifices are not regarded by him with delight or approval, except with a view to another purpose.

Besides, it is naked and empty sacrifices that are spoken of here, for our Lord contrasts a hypocritical appearance of piety with true and sincere uprightness. The same doctrine is found very frequently in the prophets, that hypocrites may know that sacrifices are of no value unless spiritual truth is joined to them, and that God is not appeased by animal sacrifices when brotherly kindness is neglected.