Bible Text: Luke 13:10-17 | Preacher: T.VDW | Series: The Kingdom

Now he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath. And behold, there was a woman who had had a disabling spirit for eighteen years. She was bent over and could not fully straighten herself. When Jesus saw her, he called her over and said to her, “Woman, you are freed from your disability.” And he laid his hands on her, and immediately she was made straight, and she glorified God. But the ruler of the synagogue, indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, said to the people, “There are six days in which work ought to be done. Come on those days and be healed, and not on the Sabbath day.” Then the Lord answered him, “You hypocrites! Does not each of you on the Sabbath untie his ox or his donkey from the manger and lead it away to water it? And ought not this woman, a daughter of Abraham whom Satan bound for eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath day?” As he said these things, all his adversaries were put to shame, and all the people rejoiced at all the glorious things that were done by him. (Luke 13:10-17)
In our text, Jesus shows us a wonderful example of how He alone can bring harmony and purity between God and man. Jesus intentionally heals on the Sabbath to make a very important point, that He is Lord of the Sabbath.

Just as Jesus initiates the healing with this women who had been sick for 18 years, Jesus takes the initiative to call lost sinners and to heal broken hearts for His glory, on His day.

“That sad, bowed figure, with eyes fixed on the ground, and unable to look into His face, which yet had crawled to the synagogue, may teach us lessons of patience and of devout submission. She might have found good excuses for staying at home, but she, no doubt, found solace in worship; and she would not have so swiftly ‘glorified God’ for her cure, if she had not often sought Him in her infirmity. They who wait on Him often find more than they expect in His house.” – Alexander MacLaren.

Those who refuse to worship Jesus as Lord of all, will be exposed and shamed as the hypocrites they are, just as Jesus exposed the ruler of the synagogue (v17).

Matthew Henry commenting on the healing of the women says; “This cure represents the work of Christs grace upon the soul. And when crooked souls are made straight, they will show it by glorifying God.”