Matthew 12:11

And he said unto them, 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? AND HE SAID UNTO THEM, 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?...

11._What man shall there be among you who shall have a sheep? _Christ again points out what is the true way of keeping the Sabbath; and, at the same time, reproves them for slander, in bringing as a charge against him what was a universal custom. For if any man’s _sheep had fallen into a ditch, _no person would have hindered it from being taken out: but in proportion as _a man is of more value than a sheep, _so much the more are we at liberty to assist him. It is plain, therefore, that if any man should relieve the necessity of brethren, he did not, in any degree, violate the rest which the Lord has enjoined. Mark and Luke take no notice of this comparison, but only state that Christ inquired, _Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do evil? _ He who takes away the life of a man is held to be a criminal; and there is little difference between manslaughter and the conduct of him who...

9-13 Christ shows that works of mercy are lawful and proper to be done on the Lord's day. There are more ways of doing well upon sabbath days, than by the duties of worship: attending the sick, relieving the poor, helping those who need speedy relief, teaching the young to care for their souls; these are doing good: and these must be done from love and charity, with humility and self-denial, and shall be accepted, Genesis 4:7. This, like other cures which Christ wrought, had a spiritual meaning. By nature our hands are withered, and we are unable of ourselves to do any thing that is good. Christ only, by the power of his grace, cures us; he heals the withered hand by putting life into the dead soul, works in us both to will and to do: for, with the command, there is a promise of grace given by the word....

Verse Matthew 12:11. _IF IT FALL INTO A PIT ON THE SABBATH-DAY_, c.] It was a canon among the Jews: "We must take a tender care of the goods of an Israelite." Hence: - "If a beast fall into a ditch, or into a pool of water, let (the owner) bring him food in that place if he can but, if he cannot, let him bring clothes and litter, and bear up the beast; whence, if he can come up, let him come up, c." "If a beast or its foal fall into a ditch on a holy day, R. Lazar saith, Let him lift up the former to kill him, and let him kill him but let him give fodder to the other, lest he die in that place. R. Joshua saith, Let him lift up the former with the intention of killing him, although he kill him not; let him lift up the other also, although it be not in his mind to kill him." To these canons our Lord seems here very properly to appeal, in vindicat

The account contained in these verses is recorded also in Mark 3:1, and Luke 6:6. Matthew 12:10 THE VERY HAIRS OF YOUR HEAD ARE ALL NUMBERED - That is, each one has exercised the care and attention of God. He has fixed the number; and, though of small importance, yet he does not think it beneath him to determine how few or how many they shall be. He will therefore take care of you. Matthew 12:12 HOW MUCH, THEN, IS A MAN BETTER THAN A SHEEP? - Of more consequence or value....

EXPOSITION MATTHEW 12:1 The opposition that our Lord met with (1) from his enemies (Matthew 12:1); (2) from his relations (Matthew 12:46-40); ,and the manner in which he dealt with it. MATTHEW 12:1 (1) _Opposition from his enemies._ (A) Conscious and wilful opposition (Matthew 12:1). (α) As regards the sabbath ...

AND HE SAID UNTO THEM,.... Well knowing their intentions, and also their usages and customs, which he was able to produce and object to them; in which, through covetousness, they showed more regard to their beasts, than they did humanity to their fellow creatures: 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? Christ appeals to them in a case which was usually done among them, and which, without delay, no man would scruple to do; though their present rule of direction, in such a case, is this f: "if a beast fall into a ditch, or a pool of water, if food can be given it, where it is, they feed it till the going out of the sabbath; but if not, bolsters and pillows may be brought, and put under it, and if it can come out: it may come out:'' and which is elsewhere g a little different...

9. THE REJECTION CONSUMMATED AND THE BROKEN RELATIONSHIP. CHAPTER 12 1. The Hungry Disciples and the Accusing Pharisees. (Matthew 12:1 .) 2. The Man with the Withered Hand Healed.(Matthew 12:10 .) 3. The Hatred of the Pharisees.(Matthew 12:14 .) 4. The King in Rejection. (Matthew 12:15 .) 5. The Demon Possessed Man Healed. (Matthew 12:22 .) 6. The Blasphemy of the Pharisees and the King's Answer. (Matthew 12:24 .) 7. The Sign of Jo

THE SABBATH HEALING WHICH DETERMINED PHARISAIC HOSTILITY (Mark 3:1 *, Luke 6:6). Mt. makes the Pharisees utter their question, and Jesus to reply, in words found in another connexion in Lk. (Luke 14:5). Matthew 12:12_ a_ is peculiar to Matthew 12:12_ b_ elevates and broadens the Pharisees-' question in Matthew 12:10. We may note that the Rabbis allowed that every case where life is in jeopardy supersedes the Sabbath, and that under certain conditions animals might be rescued

AND HE SAID, WHAT MAN... SHALL HAVE ONE SHEEP? ETC. Such an act of mercy to. beast was allowed and usual then, but the Rabbins afterward, perhaps on account of this reply, forbade anything more than "to lay planks" so that the animal could come out of itself. The Talmud teaches: "An animal which had fallen into. well on the Sabbath is to be provided with food in that place, but if this is not possible,. bolster and cushion are to be laid, there whereby it can mount up; for torturing. beast is forbidden in the law."--_ Schaff._...