Matthew 12:11 Meaning and Explanation
“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?”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →Jesus asks whether any of them would refuse to rescue a sheep fallen into a pit on the sabbath.
What Does Matthew 12:11 Mean?
Jesus answers their question with one of his own, drawn from everyday life. If a man's single sheep fell into a pit on the sabbath, would he not reach down and lift it out at once? Even the strictest among them would not leave a trapped animal to suffer or die.
The argument is plain and disarming. They allow mercy for a sheep; surely mercy is owed all the more to a person made in God's image. Christ exposes the inconsistency of a piety that would rescue livestock yet begrudge healing to a man. The love that moves a shepherd to save one sheep is a faint echo of the love that moves the Good Shepherd to seek and save the lost.
Frequently Asked Questions About Matthew 12:11
What does Matthew 12:11 mean?
Jesus asks whether any of them would refuse to rescue a sheep fallen into a pit on the sabbath.