Are Humans and Animals Equal in God's Eyes?
by Rod Jackson
Some people believe that plants and animals have the same value as humans do. Yet Jesus said
"you [people] are more valuable than many sparrows." Matthew 10:31b
So in God's eyes people are more important than sparrows.
"How much more valuable then is a man than a sheep!" Matthew 12:12a
Here Jesus says that people are more important than sheep.
We know that Jesus cast out demons. That is, He cast them out of people. However in one instance He cast them out of a person and into a herd of pigs!
"The demons began to entreat Him [Jesus], saying, `If You are going to cast us out, send us into the herd of swine.' And He said to them, `Go!' And they came out and went into the swine, and the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the sea and perished in the waters." Matthew 8:31 & 32
"God is not concerned about oxen, is He?" 1 Corinthians 9:9b
The apostle Paul is stating that God is more concerned for people than oxen.
One prophecy about Jesus says
"A bruised reed He [Jesus] will not break And a dimly burning wick He will not extinguish; He will faithfully bring forth justice." Isaiah 42:3
Some people might think that this means that Jesus thinks plants are as important as people. However this verse is symbolically talking about people, not literal reeds (bruised reed = hurting person).
"Seeing a lone fig tree by the road, He [Jesus] came to it and found nothing on it except leaves only; and He said to it, `No longer shall there ever be any fruit from you.' And at once the fig tree withered." Matthew 21:19
So Jesus would not hurt a bruised reed [ie. a person] but He cursed a fig tree so that it literally died there and then. Thus we have seen that the bible teaches that people are more important than either plants or animals. This is because it is only humans that are made in the image of God, Himself (cf. Genesis 1:27)!