1 – A crippled captive woman v11
She endured a lot of suffering for over 18 years. She may have been shunned by other Israelites. Jesus calls her a daughter of Abraham. Her severe bent body has to do with demonic activity. Mans plight of sin is reflected here in this woman’s affliction. Damaged by the fall, man cannot look up and see God. V11 she was “bent over and could in no way raise [herself] up” – a reflection of salvation. We are not able to fix our sin problem. This is the doctrine of total depravity.
2 – The call and cure of the crippled woman. V12 –
In Luke 4 Jesus read Isaiah 61:1,2 and declares it has been fulfilled. Here Jesus teaches Himself as savior.
3 – The cruel crooked hypocrites V14
Here we see the anger and scolding of a religious leader. He represents all false religion. They elevate ritual over mercy. They love self, but hate neighbor. Here we see an astonishing display of furious malice. To respond to a beautiful healing of Jesus with such hatred and cruelty. Let us not be so legalist that we forget love.
4 – The correction V15
Jesus calls them hypocrites in Luke 11:44,12:1 – the multitudes follow false religion. Jesus corrects him and any who would be tempted to follow him. Jesus chose the sabbath to do the work of God. He is Lord of the sabbath, the interpreter, inventor and above it and it was for Gods glory. The false teachers teach the sabbath as a work. “Do this” and you will be saved. They didn’t keep it themselves. V15 The Lord then answered him and said, “Hypocrite! Does not each one of you on the Sabbath loose his ox or donkey from the stall, and lead [it] away to water it? – if it was allowed to care for an animal isn’t it allowed to care for a person? What these leaders would do for their animals they wouldn’t do for this daughter of Abraham. She is precious as a daughter of the covenant. She belongs to God. He is not just talking about the flesh He is pointing out she has the same faith as Abraham. He is pointing out that they don’t have that faith.
God may never heal you physically but He will heal your soul and save you.
5 – condemnation and celebration V17
The crowd is shaming them for the moment and giving glory to God. We are to look upon Him in faith and He will save us. Even if it takes 18 years. He is God in the flesh. He became man to identify with our weaknesses and infirmities. To take it to the cross. He defeated death on the cross. He has the power to immediately deliver you from the power of sin. Put away false religion. It binds us. Jesus and the Gospel sets us free!!
Luke 13:10-17 (NKJV) 10 Now He was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath. 11 And behold, there was a woman who had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bent over and could in no way raise [herself] up. 12 But when Jesus saw her, He called [her] to [Him] and said to her, “Woman, you are loosed from your infirmity.” 13 And He laid [His] hands on her, and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God. 14 But the ruler of the synagogue answered with indignation, because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath; and he said to the crowd, “There are six days on which men ought to work; therefore come and be healed on them, and not on the Sabbath day.” 15 The Lord then answered him and said, “Hypocrite! Does not each one of you on the Sabbath loose his ox or donkey from the stall, and lead [it] away to water it? 16 “So ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has bound–think of it–for eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath?” 17 And when He said these things, all His adversaries were put to shame; and all the multitude rejoiced for all the glorious things that were done by Him.