“Hypocrite!  Do not each of you on the Sabbath loose his ox or donkey from the stall and lead it away to water it?” (Luke 13:15).

“Which of you, having a donkey or an ox that has fallen into a pit, will not immediately pull him out on the Sabbath day?” (Luke 14:5).

Oxen and donkeys were valued in that day.  They were work animals (Deuteronomy 22:10; 1 Kings 19:19; Isaiah 30:24; Job 1:13-15).  The ox was clean to eat (Deuteronomy 14:3-5; 1 Kings 19:21).  The donkey was ridden for transportation (2 Samuel 16:1-2; Zechariah 9:9; Matthew 21:1-11).

Those who valued their animals cared for them.  In this, they did as they should.  “A righteous man regards the life of his animal, but the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel” (Proverbs 12:10).

They provided for the daily needs, and extended mercy to their animals even on the Sabbath day.  Ordinary work was not to be done on the Sabbath (Exodus 20:8-11; 34:21; Numbers 15:32-35).  However, basic needs could be met (e.g. Exodus 12:16).  Mercy was prioritized (Hosea 6:6 cf. Matthew 12:1-8; Luke 14:1-6).  They understood this when it came to their own animals.

However, they were not consistent.  Some would not allow the same care and mercy to be provided to human beings.  Why?  In large part, it was because they were following and binding the traditions of men (cf. Matthew 15:1-9, 12:1-8).  In addition, it was because they were looking for fault in Jesus (cf. Matthew 12:9-14; Luke 6:6-7; 14:1-2).  Their hatred of him had blinded them from seeing the good that he was doing. Some were hypocrites in their criticism of Jesus (Luk 13:15). Why? Because it was his opposition to Jesus which seems to have motivated him. They understood the law when it came to caring for animals, but not when Jesus cared for people.

Applications for us: (1) We should judge whether a thing is right or wrong by the Bible (Acts 17:11; 1 Thessalonians 5:21).  Human tradition should not be the ultimate standard.  (2) We should not let hatred and bias against or for someone to blind us to the truth.  (3) While we should care about animals, we should not care more about animals than we do people.  Man was created in the image of God (Genesis 1:27 cf. 9:26-27).  Dennis Prager writes, “Over many decades, I have asked high school and college students if they would save their dog (or other beloved pet) or a stranger first if both were drowning.  At least a third have responded that they would save their dog… Another third or more were uncertain… But we who adhere to the Bible’s values would feel obligated to save the stranger first… human beings, not animals, are created in God’s image, and therefore human life is more precious” (The Rational Bible: Deuteronomy, p. 77-78, also p. 217).  We should value people as God does.