'''....Go and learn what this means, 'I desire mercy and not sacrifice'... What event preceded the statement made by Jesus above?

The statement "Go and learn what this means, 'I desire mercy and not sacrifice'" was made by Jesus in response to the Pharisees' criticism of his disciples for picking grain on the Sabbath. Therefore, the event that preceded this statement was the picking of grain by Jesus' disciples on the Sabbath. The Pharisees saw this as a violation of Jewish law, but Jesus defended his disciples by pointing out that they were hungry and in need of food. Jesus then went on to teach the Pharisees that mercy is more important than religious ritual, and that God desires people to show compassion to others. It does not imply that the event was the healing of the lepers, eating with tax collectors, call of the twelve apostles, or deliverance of the demoniac.