He said to them, “If any of you has a sheep and it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will you not take hold of it and lift it out? How much more valuable is a person than a sheep! Therefore it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.”
Matthew 12:11-12 NIV
This passage invites us to reflect on how valuable we are to God, even when others overlook us. When Jesus walked into the synagogue in Matthew 12:9–12, He entered a room filled with tension. A man with a shrivelled hand stood before Him while the Pharisees watched every move He made. They asked whether it was lawful to heal on the Sabbath, not because they cared about the law, but because they wanted to accuse Him. Jesus responded with a simple example. He reminded them that if a sheep fell into a pit on the Sabbath, they would lift it out without hesitation. Then He asked, “How much more valuable is a person than a sheep?”
That question exposes something striking. The Pharisees looked at the man and saw only a face in the crowd. Their hearts remained cold and detached because legalism shaped their thinking. Jesus, however, saw him with deep personal concern. When He said, “If any of you has a sheep…”, He spoke as Someone who cares and protects. His words hinted at ownership. He viewed the man as His—valued, known, and held with love. Jesus highlighted how incredibly valuable human life is to God.
This moment reveals the character of God. He does not treat us as strangers. He sees us as His own people—cherished, guarded, and precious to Him. If people will rescue their animals out of instinctive kindness, how much more will God show mercy to those who belong to Him? Throughout Scripture, God commands compassion. Even in the Old Testament, He instructed His people to help animals in danger, whether the animals belonged to them or not. He always cared about kindness, justice, and the protection of life.
In that synagogue, Jesus reminded everyone that the Sabbath never restricted goodness. Doing good fulfilled the heart of God. His teaching shows a Father who pursues His people, watches over them, and lifts them when they fall. God reaches into the pits we face—whether those pits come from hardship, confusion, or even our own mistakes. And when we fall into sin, His grace still reaches toward us. Christ died for us while we were yet sinners (Romans 5:8), proving that His compassion runs deeper than our failures.
Knowing that we belong to God should reshape the way we live. It must change how we see ourselves and how we treat others. Instead of thinking like the Pharisees, we must learn to think like Jesus. We must carry His compassion and mirror His heart. Belonging to Him is a profound privilege. It invites us to walk with confidence, humility, and steady assurance, because the One who calls us His own also cares for us without fail.
Living It Out
Take time to remember how valuable you are to God, and let that confidence shape your walk today. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you see yourself as He sees you—cherished, valued, and safe in His hands. Pray for grace to show His compassion to others. Let God’s heart shape your confidence and your kindness as you walk with Him.