Matthew 12:12
How much more valuable is a man than a sheep! Therefore it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath."
How much more valuable is a man than a sheep!
This phrase from Matthew 12:12 in the Berean Standard Bible (BSB) is a profound statement made by Jesus, emphasizing the intrinsic value of human life over animals, specifically sheep, in this context.

How much more valuable
The Greek word used here for "valuable" is "διαφέρει" (diapherei), which implies a distinction or superiority in worth. In the context of Jesus' teaching, this phrase underscores the immeasurable worth of human beings in the eyes of God. It is a rhetorical question that invites the listener to reflect on the divine image in which humans are created, as stated in Genesis 1:27. This phrase challenges the audience to consider the priorities of God's kingdom, where human life and well-being are paramount.

is a man
The term "man" here is translated from the Greek "ἄνθρωπος" (anthrōpos), which refers to humanity in general, encompassing both men and women. This reflects the biblical teaching that all humans, regardless of gender, are created in the image of God and possess inherent dignity and worth. Historically, this assertion would have been radical in a culture where certain groups were marginalized. Jesus' statement elevates the status of every person, affirming their value above all creation.

than a sheep!
Sheep, in the ancient Near Eastern context, were valuable assets, integral to the agrarian economy. They provided wool, meat, and were often used in sacrificial offerings. The comparison here is not to diminish the value of sheep but to highlight the greater value of human life. In the Jewish tradition, as seen in the Old Testament, animals were indeed important, but they were never placed above human beings. Jesus uses this analogy to illustrate the principle that if it is permissible to care for sheep on the Sabbath, how much more should we care for people, emphasizing compassion and mercy over legalistic interpretations of the law.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Jesus Christ
The central figure in this passage, Jesus is teaching about the true purpose of the Sabbath and the value of human life.

2. Pharisees
Religious leaders who often challenged Jesus, particularly regarding the observance of the Sabbath.

3. The Man with the Withered Hand
The individual whom Jesus heals in the synagogue, illustrating His teaching on the Sabbath.

4. The Synagogue
The place where this event occurs, serving as a setting for Jesus' teaching and healing.

5. The Sabbath
A day of rest and worship in Jewish tradition, which Jesus reinterprets in light of doing good and valuing human life.
Teaching Points
The Value of Human Life
Jesus emphasizes the intrinsic worth of every person, surpassing even the value of animals. This calls us to prioritize human dignity and well-being in our actions.

The Purpose of the Sabbath
The Sabbath is not merely a day of rest but a time to reflect God's love through acts of goodness and mercy. Our observance should focus on life-giving activities.

Legalism vs. Compassion
Jesus challenges the legalistic interpretation of the law by the Pharisees, teaching that compassion and mercy should guide our understanding and application of God's commandments.

Doing Good as a Priority
Acts of kindness and healing are always appropriate, even on the Sabbath. We are called to seek opportunities to do good, regardless of the day or circumstance.

Reflecting God's Character
By doing good on the Sabbath, we reflect God's character, who is compassionate and merciful. Our actions should mirror His love and care for humanity.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does Jesus' teaching in Matthew 12:12 challenge the Pharisees' understanding of the Sabbath, and what can we learn from this about balancing religious observance with compassion?

2. In what ways can we apply the principle of valuing human life above legalistic traditions in our daily lives?

3. How does the healing of the man with the withered hand illustrate the broader message of Jesus' ministry? Consider connections to other healing accounts in the Gospels.

4. Reflect on a time when you had to choose between following a rule and showing compassion. How does Matthew 12:12 inform your understanding of such situations?

5. How can we ensure that our observance of the Sabbath (or a day of rest) aligns with Jesus' teaching to do good and prioritize human well-being? Consider practical steps and attitudes.
Connections to Other Scriptures
Genesis 1:26-27
This passage highlights the creation of man in God's image, underscoring the inherent value of human life.

Mark 2:27
Jesus teaches that the Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath, reinforcing the idea that human need and well-being take precedence.

Luke 13:15-16
Jesus heals a woman on the Sabbath, further illustrating His teaching that doing good is lawful on the Sabbath.

Exodus 20:8-11
The original commandment regarding the Sabbath, providing context for the Jewish understanding of the day.

Isaiah 58:13-14
A prophetic call to honor the Sabbath in a way that aligns with God's purposes, which includes acts of mercy and justice.
A Sense of Self-Worth not ConceitC. H. Parkhurst.Matthew 12:12
Better than a SheepW. Harris.Matthew 12:12
Capacity for Evil Indicative of WorthC. H. Parkhurst.Matthew 12:12
Man Greater than MatterC. H. Parkhurst.Matthew 12:12
Self-Worth Aids Our Realization of GodC. H. Parkhurst.Matthew 12:12
The Dignity Inherent in Man's NatureC. H. Parkhurst.Matthew 12:12
The Dignity of Man as Compared with the AnimalAmerican Homiletic ReviewMatthew 12:12
The SabbathMarcus Dods Matthew 12:1-13
The Efficacy of Righteous WrathP.C. Barker Matthew 12:9-14
The Mission of ChristJ.A. Macdonald Matthew 12:9-21
People
Beelzebub, David, Isaiah, Jesus, Jonah, Jonas, Ninevites, Solomon
Places
Galilee, Nineveh
Topics
Better, However, Lawful, Reason, Sabbath, Sabbaths, Sheep, Superior, Valuable, Value, Wherefore
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Matthew 12:12

     1194   glory, divine and human
     5974   value

Matthew 12:1-14

     5381   law, letter and spirit

Matthew 12:8-12

     5379   law, Christ's attitude

Matthew 12:9-14

     7430   Sabbath, in NT

Matthew 12:11-12

     2081   Christ, wisdom

Library
An Attempt to Account for Jesus
'But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, This man doth not cast out demons, but by Beelzebub, the prince of the demons.'--MATT. xii. 24. Mark's Gospel tells us that this astonishing explanation of Christ and His work was due to the ingenious malice of an ecclesiastical deputation, sent down from Jerusalem to prevent the simple folk in Galilee from being led away by this new Teacher. They must have been very hard put to it to explain undeniable but unwelcome facts, when they hazarded such a preposterous
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

'Make the Tree Good'
'... Make the tree good, and his fruit good....' --MATT. xii. 33. In this Gospel we find that our Lord twice uses this image of a tree and its fruit. In the Sermon on the Mount He applies it as a test to false teachers, who hide, beneath the wool of the sheep's clothing, the fangs and paws of ravening wolves. He says, 'By their deeds ye shall know them; for as is the tree so is its fruit.' That is a rough and ready test, which applies rather to the teacher than to his doctrine, but it applies, to
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

'A Greater than Jonas'
'A greater than Jonas is here.'--MATT. xii. 41. There never was any man in his right mind, still more of influence on his fellows, who made such claims as to himself in such unmistakable language as Jesus Christ does. To say such things of oneself as come from His lips is a sign of a weak, foolish nature. It is fatal to all influence, to all beauty of character. It is not only that He claims official attributes as a fanatical or dishonest pretender to inspiration may do. He does that, but He does
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

'A Greater than Solomon'
'A greater than Solomon is here.'--MATT. xii. 42. It is condescension in Him to compare Himself with any; yet if any might have been selected, it is that great name. To the Jews Solomon is an ideal figure, who appealed so strongly to popular imagination as to become the centre of endless legends; whose dominion was the very apex of national glory, in recounting whose splendours the historical books seem to be scarce able to restrain their triumph and pride. I. The Man. The story gives us a richly
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

The Pharisees' Sabbath and Christ's
'At that time Jesus went on the Sabbath day through the corn; and His disciples were an hungred, and began to pluck the ears of corn, and to eat. 2. But when the Pharisees saw it they said unto Him, Behold, Thy disciples do that which is not lawful to do upon the Sabbath day. 3. But he said unto them, Have ye not read what David did, when he was an hungred, and they that were with him; 4. How he entered into the house of God, and did eat the shewbread, which was not lawful for him to eat, neither
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

On the Words of the Gospel, Matt. xii. 32, "Whosoever Shall Speak a Word against the Holy Spirit, it Shall not be Forgiven Him, Neither In
1. There has been a great question raised touching the late lesson of the Gospel, to the solution of which I am unequal by any power of mine own; but "our sufficiency is of God," [2335] to whatever degree we are capable of receiving His aid. First then consider the magnitude of the question; that when ye see the weight of it laid upon my shoulders, ye may pray in aid of my labours, and in the assistance which is vouchsafed to me, may find edification for your own souls. When "one possessed with a
Saint Augustine—sermons on selected lessons of the new testament

On the Words of the Gospel, Matt. xii. 33, "Either Make the Tree Good, and Its Fruit Good," Etc.
1. The Lord Jesus hath admonished us, that we be good trees, and that so we may be able to bear good fruits. For He saith, "Either make the tree good, and his fruit good, or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt, for the tree is known by his fruit." [2484] When He says, "Make the tree good, and his fruit good;" this of course is not an admonition, but a wholesome precept, to which obedience is necessary. But when He saith, "Make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt;" this is not a
Saint Augustine—sermons on selected lessons of the new testament

Sweet Comfort for Feeble Saints
I. First, we have before us a view of MORTAL FRAILTY And first, the encouragement offered in our text applies to weak ones. What in the world is weaker than the bruised reed, or the smoking flax? A reed that groweth in the fen or marsh, let but the wild duck light upon it, and it snaps; let but the foot of man brush against it and it is bruised and broken; every wind that comes howling across the river makes it shake to and fro, and well nigh tears it up by the roots. You can conceive of nothing
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 1: 1855

How to Read the Bible
I. That is the subject of our present discourse, or, at least the first point of it, that IN ORDER TO THE TRUE READING OF THE SCRIPTURES THERE MUST BE AN UNDERSTANDING OF THEM. I scarcely need to preface these remarks by saying that we must read the Scriptures. You know how necessary it is that we should be fed upon the truth of Holy Scripture. Need I suggest the question as to whether you do read your Bibles or not? I am afraid that this is a magazine reading age a newspaper reading age a periodical
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 25: 1879

Strength in the Weak.
"He is Faithful that Promised." "A bruised reed shall He not break, and smoking flax shall He not quench."--MATT. xii. 20. Strength in the Weak. Will Jesus accept such a heart as mine?--this erring, treacherous, traitor heart? The past! how many forgotten vows--broken covenants--prayerless days! How often have I made new resolutions, and as often has the reed succumbed to the first blast of temptation, and the burning flax been well-nigh quenched by guilty omissions and guiltier commissions! Oh!
John Ross Macduff—The Faithful Promiser

Identity of Christ's Character.
THE argument expressed by this title I apply principally to the comparison of the first three Gospels with that of Saint John. It is known to every reader of Scripture that the passages of Christ's history preserved by Saint John are, except his passion and resurrection, for the most part different from those which are delivered by the other evangelists. And I think the ancient account of this difference to be the true one, viz., that Saint John wrote after the rest, and to supply what he thought
William Paley—Evidences of Christianity

What are Evidences of Backsliding in Heart.
1. Manifest formality in religious exercises. A stereotyped, formal way of saying and doing things, that is clearly the result of habit, rather than the outgushing of the religious life. This formality will be emotionless and cold as an iceberg, and will evince a total want of earnestness in the performance of religious duty. In prayer and in religious exercises the backslider in heart will pray or praise, or confess, or give thanks with his lips, so that all can hear him, perhaps, but in such a
Charles G. Finney—The Backslider in Heart

Lesser and Fuller Forms.
Moreover, we have endeavoured to use the fullest form, including the words of those Gospels which have the lesser forms of sentences, except where the sentence ends in a period, in which case have given the least form, so that the larger form of the other Gospels might be made apparent; as, for instance, this sentence, taken from Matt. xii. 47; Mark iii. 32; Luke viii. 20: ^c 20 And it was told him, ^a Behold, thy mother and thy brethren bseek for thee. ^c stand without desiring to see thee. ^a seeking
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

Jesus Defends Disciples who Pluck Grain on the Sabbath.
(Probably While on the Way from Jerusalem to Galilee.) ^A Matt. XII. 1-8; ^B Mark II. 23-28; ^C Luke VI. 1-5. ^b 23 And ^c 1 Now it came to pass ^a 1 At that season ^b that he ^a Jesus went { ^b was going} on the { ^c a} ^b sabbath day through the grainfields; ^a and his disciples were hungry and began ^b as they went, to pluck the ears. ^a and to eat, ^c and his disciples plucked the ears, and did eat, rubbing them in their hands. [This lesson fits in chronological order with the last, if the Bethesda
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

Jesus Heals Multitudes Beside the Sea of Galilee.
^A Matt. XII. 15-21; ^B Mark III. 7-12. ^a 15 And Jesus perceiving it withdrew ^b with his disciples ^a from thence: ^b to the sea [This was the first withdrawal of Jesus for the avowed purpose of self-preservation. After this we find Jesus constantly retiring to avoid the plots of his enemies. The Sea of Galilee, with its boats and its shores touching different jurisdictions, formed a convenient and fairly safe retreat]: ^a and many followed him; ^b and a great multitude from Galilee followed; and
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

Blasphemous Accusations of the Jews.
(Galilee.) ^A Matt. XII. 22-37; ^B Mark III. 19-30; ^C Luke XI. 14-23. ^b 19 And he cometh into a house. [Whose house is not stated.] 20 And the multitude cometh together again [as on a previous occasion--Mark ii. 1], so that they could not so much as eat bread. [They could not sit down to a regular meal. A wonderful picture of the intense importunity of people and the corresponding eagerness of Jesus, who was as willing to do as they were to have done.] 21 And when his friends heard it, they went
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

Sign Seekers, and the Enthusiast Reproved.
(Galilee on the Same Day as the Last Section.) ^A Matt. XII. 38-45; ^C Luke XI. 24-36. ^c 29 And when the multitudes were gathering together unto him, ^a 38 Then certain of the scribes and Pharisees answered him, saying, Teacher, we would see a sign from thee. [Having been severely rebuked by Jesus, it is likely that the scribes and Pharisees asked for a sign that they might appear to the multitude more fair-minded and open to conviction than Jesus had represented them to be. Jesus had just wrought
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

Christ's Teaching as to his Mother and Brethren.
(Galilee, Same Day as the Last Lesson.) ^A Matt. XII. 46-50; ^B Mark III. 31-35; ^C Luke VIII. 19-21. ^a 46 While he yet speaking to the multitudes, behold, his mother and his brethren stood without seeking to speak to him. [Jesus was in a house, probably at Capernaum--Mark iii. 19; Matt. xiii. 1.] ^c 19 and there came { ^b come} ^c to him his mother and ^b his brethren; ^c and they could not come at him for the crowd. ^a and, standing without, they sent unto him, calling him. 32 And the multitude
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

Jesus Defends Healing a Withered Hand on the Sabbath.
(Probably Galilee.) ^A Matt. XII. 9-14; ^B Mark III. 1-6; ^C Luke VI. 6-11. ^a 9 And he departed thence. [The word here points to a journey as in Matt. xi. 1 and xv. 29, which are the only places where Matthew uses this expression. Greswell may be right in thinking that it indicates the return back to Galilee from the Passover, since a cognate expression used by John expresses such a journey from Galilee to Judæa. See John vii. 3 ], ^c 6 And it came to pass on another sabbath [another sabbath
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

The Acceptance of the Christian Conception of Life Will Emancipate Men from the Miseries of Our Pagan Life.
The External Life of Christian Peoples Remains Pagan Though they are Penetrated by Christian Consciousness--The Way Out of this Contradiction is by the Acceptance of the Christian Theory of Life--Only Through Christianity is Every Man Free, and Emancipated of All Human Authority--This Emancipation can be Effected by no Change in External Conditions of Life, but Only by a Change in the Conception of Life--The Christian Ideal of Life Requires Renunciation of all Violence, and in Emancipating the Man
Leo Tolstoy—The Kingdom of God is within you

The Two Sabbath-Controversies - the Plucking of the Ears of Corn by the Disciples, and the Healing of the Man with the Withered Hand
IN grouping together the three miracles of healing described in the last chapter, we do not wish to convey that it is certain they had taken place in precisely that order. Nor do we feel sure, that they preceded what is about to be related. In the absence of exact data, the succession of events and their location must be matter of combination. From their position in the Evangelic narratives, and the manner in which all concerned speak and act, we inferred, that they took place at that particular
Alfred Edersheim—The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah

The First Peræan Discourses - to the Pharisees Concerning the Two Kingdoms - their Contest - what Qualifies a Disciple for the Kingdom of God, And
It was well that Jesus should, for the present, have parted from Jerusalem with words like these. They would cling about His hearers like the odour of incense that had ascended. Even the schism' that had come among them [4194] concerning His Person made it possible not only to continue His Teaching, but to return to the City once more ere His final entrance. For, His Peræan Ministry, which extended from after the Feast of Tabernacles to the week preceding the last Passover, was, so to speak,
Alfred Edersheim—The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah

Opposition to Jesus.
During the first period of his career, it does not appear that Jesus met with any serious opposition. His preaching, thanks to the extreme liberty which was enjoyed in Galilee, and to the number of teachers who arose on all hands, made no noise beyond a restricted circle. But when Jesus entered upon a path brilliant with wonders and public successes, the storm began to gather. More than once he was obliged to conceal himself and fly.[1] Antipas, however, did not interfere with him, although Jesus
Ernest Renan—The Life of Jesus

The Cardinal was Seated, -- He Rose as Moretti Appeared. ...
The Cardinal was seated,--he rose as Moretti appeared. "I beg your Eminence to spare yourself!" said Moretti suavely, with a deep salutation, "And to pardon me for thus coming unannounced into the presence of one so highly esteemed by the Holy Father as Cardinal Bonpre!" The Cardinal gave a gesture of courteous deprecation; and Monsignor Moretti, lifting his, till then, partially lowered eyelids, flashed an angry regard upon the Abbe Vergniaud, who resting his back against the book-case behind him,
Marie Corelli—The Master-Christian

Links
Matthew 12:12 NIV
Matthew 12:12 NLT
Matthew 12:12 ESV
Matthew 12:12 NASB
Matthew 12:12 KJV

Matthew 12:12 Commentaries

Bible Hub
Matthew 12:11
Top of Page
Top of Page