BETTER THAN A SHEEP

       "How much then is a man better than a sheep?" (Matthew 12:12)

Jesus had just finished confronting the Pharisees with the worthlessness of their religion. They had charged that His disciples had broken the law of the Sabbath by plucking and eating some heads of grain on the Sabbath day. Jesus had told them He was "greater than the Temple" and the "Lord of the Sabbath." Immediately, he left them and entered into a synagogue on the Sabbath day, confirming that He Himself did honor the Sabbath day. In that very synagogue there was a man with a "withered hand"–a hand that was shriveled and useless. As soon as Jesus entered the synagogue, His enemies took note of Him, and sought to bring dishonor on Him. The Spirit says, "they asked him, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath days? that they might accuse him" (v 10). He was the ONLY person to whom such a question could be asked. Certainly no one else was doing any healing on the Sabbath day, or on any other day. Jesus exposed the corruption of their hearts by asking a question of His own. "What man shall there be among you, that shall have one sheep, and if it fall into a pit on the sabbath day, will he not lay hold on it, and lift it out?" (v 11). The Jews held that such things were lawful, and thus Jesus appealed to their own use of Scripture. The Law stipulated that if a fellow countryman's donkey or ox was fallen down, the person seeing it should help him "get on his feet" (Ex 23:4-5; Deut 22:4). It did not give slightest hint that such consideration should not be given on the Sabbath day. Then our Lord added, "Of how much more value then is a man than a sheep? Therefore it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath." NKJV
The man with the withered hand was like "another man's" possession–a man belonging to the Lord, who needed to be raised up. He was deserving of more attention than a fallen or distressed sheep. Animal rights did not supercede the rights of one made in the image of God! If men were to be considerate of brute beasts, how much more of man, who is the "offspring of God" (Acts 17:28-29). When a man or woman is disadvantaged, it is even more serious than when an animal falls into a pit. In a Sovereign act of compassion, Jesus healed the man with the withered hand. He did it because He saw the worth of a person who bore God's image. You yourself have no doubt been the recipient of Divine mercy and consideration. Never forget the mindfulness and mercy of our great God. Be like Him in being merciful.