Knowing The Word in Luke 13:10-17, A Woman with a Disabling Spirit

Jesus continues to have disputes with his opponents over the right use of the Sabbath. This is the last time Jesus is recorded being in a synagogue. A woman enters whose spine was fused in a rigid mass. There is no indication she knew or believed in Jesus before the healing, but she does indicate the source of her healing by praising God. The rabbis cared for animals and explained loopholes in the law for how they can be taken care of on the Sabbath. Jesus makes the comparison that they care more about animals than people. Jesus states the woman’s condition was a result of Satan. He does not call her evil. He has come to overthrow Satan and is doing it. He also is trying to get them to think of exactly what the Sabbath means. God rested on the Sabbath because all his creation work was finished and was good. Yet sin has corrupted God’s creation and there is work to be done, and Jesus is doing that work to restore God’s creation, and these people are blind to it. The woman, however, sees it and praises God, which is what we are called to do on the Sabbath. And here is the ruler doing the exact opposite. Public opinion was on Jesus’ side and the kingdom he brings is having an impact!

10 Now he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath. 11 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. 12 When Jesus saw her, he called her over and said to her, “Woman, you are freed from your disability.” 13 And he laid his hands on her, and immediately she was made straight, and she glorified God. 14 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.” 15 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? 16 And ought not this woman, a daughter of Abraham whom Satan bound for eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath day?” 17 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.

Prayer:

Jesus, our Lord and Shepherd,

you had compassion on the weak and disables

the two blind beggars

the crippled at Bethesda,

the deaf, the dumb,

the mentally ill,

and those troubled by evil spirits.

By the anointing of your Spirit

bring comfort, peace and healing

to—in his distress.

May he have patience to accept what cannot be changed

and faith to receive the healing which you offered him

in body, mind, and spirit.

Equip us with discernment and love

to encourage him to respond to you,

to the honor and glory of the heavenly Father.

John Gunstone