You are More Valuable than Sheep

Sunday, December 28th, 2025

10:09 am

Good morning! Today I am in Matthew 12:9-14, Mark 3:1-6, and Luke 6:6-11. Luke tells us that Jesus is in a synagogue teaching on a Sabbath day, and in the crowd was a man with a deformed hand, as well as the teachers of religious law and the Pharisees. The teachers and the Pharisees were watching Jesus closely, to see if He would heal the man. Matthew tells us that the Pharisees asked Jesus if the law permitted a person to work by healing on the Sabbath. Mark tells us that Jesus told the man with the deformed man to come stand in front of everyone, and He asked the Pharisees this question. And Luke tells us that Jesus knew the Pharisees thoughts. Matthew goes on to tell us that He answered the Pharisees by asking them if they had a sheep that fell into a well on a Sabbath day, would they not work to get it out. He tells them of course they would. And tells them , "How much more valuable is a person than a sheep! Yes the law permits a person to do good on the Sabbath. (Matthew 12:12)" Mark and Luke tells us that Jesus asks the Pharisees if the law permitted good deeds on the Sabbath, or if it was a day for doing evil? Is it a day to save life or destroy it? But they would not answer Him. Mark tells us that Jesus was angry and saddened by their hard hearts. Then He told the man to hold out his hand, and it was restored, just like his other hand. At this the religious leaders and the Pharisees were angry, and left to plot how to kill Jesus.

The religious leaders and Pharisees were more concerned about keeping their rules and regulations than about helping people. Jesus was angry and saddened by this because these respected leaders were supposed to be leading people to God, instead they were more concerned about their rules, their statues, and their appearance. Jesus was showing the people the true hearts of these leaders. Jesus challenges our hearts as well. Jesus' teachings show us where our hearts truly are. With that He gives us a choice. To either allow Him to change our hearts, molding them to His ways, or hardening our hearts to not change.

Are you like the Pharisees, blinded by your own thoughts and perspectives that you are not willing to accept what Jesus is trying to do in and around your life?

Jesus' teaching shows us how important every person is. We are more valuable to Jesus than sheep, so much so that He will do whatever He can to save us, including giving His life. No matter what we think or what man made rules tell us, when we see someone that needs help, He wants us to step out of our comfort zones, and help them. No matter what it looks like to the world around us. God does not want us to conform to this world, but to be transformed by His Word. The more we spend time with God, the more He will show us how we can help those around us. When you see someone in need, and you feel the urge to help them, that is God working in you, and He wants you to do what you can. That is how we help build God's Kingdom here on earth.