Matthew 12:11Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

He encourages them through this example to abandon their boldness and to refrain from accusing Him again of wrongdoing. Observe how Christ consistently defends His actions regarding the Sabbath with dignity and propriety. When He performed the healing of the blind man, He did not offer a defense even though He was accused at that time; the very act of the miracle sufficiently indicated His authority as the Lord of the law. However, when faced with accusations for healing the paralyzed man carrying a mat, He justifies Himself both in His divine nature and as a man.

Demonstrates that they violate the Sabbath for their own benefit to avoid losing a sheep, yet for the sake of condemning humanity, they refuse to allow it.

He addresses the issue put forth by the inquirers by charging them with greed. He states, If you are quick to rescue a sheep or any creature that has fallen into a pit on the Sabbath, driven not by concern for the animal but by your own selfish desires, then how much more should I be entitled to save a person who is of far greater value than a sheep?

Notice how He illustrates through this example that their affection lies more with possessions than with humanity: they show compassion towards animals while lacking mercy for people. Also, take note of how, in various contexts, He provides different justifications for violating the Sabbath, demonstrating a wise intention to fulfill the law rather than confuse the Jewish people.

What does the Gospel teach us regarding the rigid observance of the Sabbath or the Lord’s Day? Consider this: if one among you has a sheep that falls into a pit on the Sabbath, would he not take hold of it and lift it out? How much more valuable is a person than a sheep? Thus, the Sabbath was made for humanity, not humanity for the Sabbath. Therefore, the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath (Mark 2:27-28). From these insights, we can derive two principles. First, acts of necessary intervention are permitted on the Lord’s Day. Second, deeds of compassion and humanity are appropriate for the Lord’s Day. However, we must conclude that both the Gospel and the ancient law prohibit on the Lord's Day those activities that do not involve essential need or a sense of moral purpose and benevolence.

He addressed them, saying, Which of you, having a single sheep that is precious to him, would not rescue it from a pit on the Sabbath? Would he not lift it out? If you see no wrongdoing in saving a sheep on the Sabbath, then how can it be wrong to show compassion to a person in need?

During the following two Sabbaths, the significance of the Sabbath and the sanctity of its rest became more clearly articulated and thoroughly explained, as previous discussions had been overshadowed by ongoing disputes with the Pharisees. On one occasion, as the Lord's disciples traveled from Jerusalem and passed through a grain field, they, feeling hungry, plucked some heads of grain, rubbed them in their hands, and ate. On another occasion, the Lord healed a man with a withered hand in the synagogue, doing so solely with a command, without any intermediary action. This latter event occurred in Galilee.

On a different Sabbath, Jesus was teaching in a synagogue where a man with a withered right hand was present. The scribes and Pharisees closely observed Him, intent on determining if He would breach the Sabbath by healing the afflicted man. They did not merely observe silently, but as Matthew notes, they posed a challenge to Him. The Lord called the man with the withered hand to the forefront and addressed the Pharisees, asking, “Which of you, having one sheep, if it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will not lift it out?” He continued, “Is it lawful to do good on the Sabbath, or to do evil? To save a life, or to destroy it?” After surveying His adversaries, He looked at them with anger, feeling sorrow for the hardness of their hearts.

Understanding the intentions behind the Pharisees' inquiry and being aware of their inner thoughts, Jesus, aiming to clarify that performing good deeds on the Sabbath is not sinful, instructs the man with the withered hand to rise in the center of the synagogue for all to see. He then counters the Pharisees with a probing question: "What is lawful to do on the Sabbath, to do good or to do evil, to save life or destroy it?" They remain silent, unable to formulate a response in line with their teachings, seemingly indicating their lack of comprehension.

To further illustrate the unfounded nature of the Pharisees' hostility toward those they alleged violated the Sabbath, the Savior seized an opportunity that arose in the synagogue of a nearby town on that very day. There, a man, identified as a bricklayer, had suffered an accidental injury that left his hand withered. He earnestly sought Christ’s healing touch, yearning to escape the painful necessity of soliciting for alms. His presence and intent were known to all in attendance, prompting the scribes and Pharisees to occupy the prominent seats, their malevolent gazes fixed on Christ as they awaited His actions to use against Him later.

The Lord provides a compelling counterargument to the unjust tradition set by the elders, which prohibits even acts of kindness on the Sabbath. If a man's single sheep, which holds greater value for him than for someone with many, falls into a pit and is at risk of being lost, will he not strive to rescue it? Certainly, he will, motivated by his compassion for the creature and his concern for his possession. The welfare of a person is far greater than that of a sheep. If one can show kindness on the Sabbath towards an innocent animal, they should exhibit even greater compassion and mercy towards humanity—the reflection of God, for whom the Savior came to secure salvation and the promise of eternal life.

A negative response to this inquiry could have led to allegations against Jesus Christ of lacking mercy, while a positive response might have resulted in accusations of violating the Sabbath. Thus, without directly addressing His challengers, the Lord spoke to the man with the withered hand, saying, "Arise and stand in the midst," effectively bringing him forward to touch the hearts of those present, hoping they would abandon their hostility (St John Chrysostom). Then He posed a pivotal question: What is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save or to destroy a soul? His adversaries, ensnared by their own trap, fell silent.