Matthew 12:12 is the twelfth verse in the twelfth chapter of the Gospel of Matthew in the New Testament. Content In the original Greek according to Westcott-Hort, this verse is: Πόσῳ οὖν διαφέρει ἄνθρωπος προβάτου. Ὥστε ἔξεστι τοῖς σάββασι καλῶς ποιεῖν. In the King James Version of the Bible the text reads: How much then is a man better than a sheep? Wherefore it is lawful to do well on the sabbath days. The New International Version translates the passage as: How much more valuable is a man than a sheep! Therefore it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath." Analysis Jesus' point here is that if it is lawful to free a sheep on the Sabbath, why not a person? In particular, because lifting out a sheep would need much more labour than a person. Yet here Christ was about to heal the sick man with one word, which could not be construed as a servile work. So Mark adds that He looked round about upon them with anger, being grieved at the hardness of their hearts. Commentary from the Church Fathers Jerome: " Thus He answers their question in such a way as to convict the questioners of covetousness. If ye on the sabbath, saith He, would hasten to lift out a sheep or any other animal that might have fallen into a pit, not for the sake of the animal, but to preserve your own property, how much more ought I to deliver a man who is so much better than a sheep?" Glossa Ordinaria: " Thus He answers their question with a suitable example, so as to show that they profane the sabbath by works of covetousness who were charging Him with profaning it by works of charity; evil interpreters of the Law, who say that on the sabbath we ought to rest from good deeds, when it is only evil deeds from which we ought to rest. As it is said, Ye shall do no servile work therein, (Lev. 23:3) that is, no sin. Thus in the everlasting rest, we shall rest only from evil, and not from good." Augustine: " After this comparison concerning the sheep, He concludes that it is lawful to do good on the sabbath day, saying, Therefore it is lawful to do good on the sabbath." Chrysostom: " Observe how He shows many reasons for this breaking of the