Matthew 12:11

He replied, “If one of you has a sheep and it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will he not take hold of it and lift it out?

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Jesus responds to the religious leaders who are questioning whether healing is lawful on the Sabbath. He poses a hypothetical scenario to address their accusation regarding the man with the withered hand.

The words — The Greek phrase εἶπεν αὐτοῖς (eipen autois) literally means "he said to them," establishing the direct address to the interrogators. The rhetorical question hinges on ἔσται (estai), translated as "will there be," which frames the sheep-in-a-pit scenario as a standard expectation.

The thread — The same Sabbath rescue scenario appears in Luke 14:5 and Luke 13:15, where Jesus questions the Pharisees about pulling an ox or donkey from a pit. Deuteronomy 22:4 establishes the underlying principle of not ignoring an animal fallen on the road.

Why it lands — The text demands recognition that practical mercy overrides rigid ritual restriction. It requires the reader to accept that doing good on the Sabbath is lawful when human need is at stake.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Greek words

King James Version

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?

Cross-references

Deuteronomy 22:4 If you see your brother’s donkey or ox fallen on the road, you must not ignore it; you must help him lift it up.
Luke 14:5 And He asked them, “Which of you whose son or ox falls into a pit on the Sabbath day will not immediately pull him out?”
Luke 13:15 “You hypocrites!” the Lord replied. “Does not each of you on the Sabbath untie his ox or donkey from the stall and lead it to water?
Exodus 23:4 If you encounter your enemy’s stray ox or donkey, you must return it to him.