Jesus sees our Pain Part 2 (Luke 13:10-17)
Verse 10 I think Jesus loved to heal and teach on the Sabbath to show that the Sabbath belonged to Him.
Verse 11 Because this was a Sabbath and they were at the synagogue there would have been a large crowd.
- This time there is this woman who is crippled and bent over. Luke points out that this was the result of a spirit.
Verse 12 Jesus notices or sees her and calls her forward.
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- All the religious leaders there would have seen her as well., they probably knew her well.
- But they offer her no hope: No offer of prayer, No offer of financial assistance. Nothing
- Jesus’ effort to help the woman is also significant given that this was a culture that publicly shunned women, especially those that were less than perfect physically.
- There is no mention in this story of the person’s faith it is just Jesus’ authority and compassion that heal.
- Jesus also calls her forward to do this healing in front of everyone, he doesn’t try to hide and do this secretly.
- He wants to confront the religious leaders for their lack of sympathy and attention to her needs.
- He also wants to confront the demonic forces and show who is in control.
- Here in this verse the phrase “set free” really speaks of being freed from prison or being released from Debt.
- In the original language it has the sense of being continual. Her new freedom will last.
Verse 13 Here Jesus initiates and lays his hands on her.
- The verb structure “she straightened up” is a passive verb which means the action was done to the subject and the subject had nothing to do with action other than being a recipient.
- “The instantaneous healing also stands in contrast to the eighteen years of infirmity.”
- Because of this and many other passages, we still use the laying on of hands today.
Verse 14 It is interesting that the synagogue leader addresses the crowd and even blames the crowd but does not speak directly to Jesus. By addressing the crowd, they are trying to steer people away from Jesus.
- Rabbis often debated as to whether or not medical attention could be given on the Sabbath and it was generally agreed that medical treatment could only be given if it was a life and death situation.
- Since this was clearly not a life and death situation this seems to arouse the anger of the synagogue leader.
Verse 15 The leader appeared to speak to the crowd and not Jesus, while Jesus’ response seems to be at everyone and not just the leader.
- “The Mishnah allows cattle to be lead on the Sabbath as long as they do not carry a load and they can be tied up lest they wander.”
Verse 16 Jesus now makes the connection between the woman and Abraham.
- “This verse is a rabbinic from lesser to greater style of argument. If an animal can be helped on the Sabbath, how much more a human being.
- The contrast is heightened by a Greek wordplay, since the verb for “set free” is the same word used for untying an animal in verse 15.” You can untie an animal but you can’t untie this woman from her bondage?
- Jesus calling her out as a daughter of Abraham is also part of the restoration process.