§170. Jesus Heals a Cripple on the Sabbath: Hypocrisy of False Religion(Luke 13:10–17)

Introduction

1. Purpose: The kingdom of heaven is at work in spite of the rejection of the Jewish people.

2. Lord came with peace; but conflict is inevitable and deliberate

3. Lord exposes false religion: They try to please God through their religious works. Essence of Jesus teaching was to expose false religion and show what true religion is

4. Lord also exposes the hypocrisy of the Jewish leadership which stems out of their hatred towards Jesus

5. Paradox: they thought the woman is under the bondage of Satan; but in reality, the ruler was in greater bondage of Satan

Exposition

10.	Now He was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath.

1. Synagogues: It is meeting place for instrction and worship. There is no sacrifices which happens only at the temple. It started after the Babylonian captivity

2. Teaching: It was the custom of Jesus to teach in the synagogue. Lord shows the importance of correct teaching in our spiritual life. This is the last recorded visit of Jesus to a synagogue

3. Sabbath Lord honored Sabbath. It is time of rest with God and his people. Rest means, cessation from the daily works for meeting our needs and spending time with Lord and his people

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.

1. Spirit of infirmit: Possible demonic action. Why Satan picked her? How he accomplished that in her life? We don't know the reason. We don't need to speculate. It is for the glory of God. God has the power to make even that into a blessing ultimately

2. Bent over: Typical of Luke, it is a medical term. It means that there is bend in the spine of this woman which a real deformity. What we can infer is that there is some connection between the demonic activity and the infirmity this woman had. However, never come to the conclusion that all infirmities are due to demonic action or all demonic action will have physical manifestation

3. Eighteen years ...no way raise herself up: the duration and intensity of the sickness gave enhanced the glory of God.

4. Note: Jews always associate such sickness are due to God's punishment of that person's sin. Hence, they are considered as bad people and do not accept them socially.

5. Application: In spite of infirmity and humiliation in the society, she came to worship, she came to honor God. She did not come for healing, she did not come hoping to get something. This is holy worship: Give to the Lord glory and honor especially when life not favorable to us

12.	But when Jesus saw her, He called her to Him and said to her, “Woman, you are loosed from your infirmity.”

1. Jesus saw her: mostly she would have been sitting at some corner, not to be seen by Jewish elite

2. Jesus called her: She became the center of attraction and focus point. Satan wants to hide; but Jesus wants to expose him and deliver us from his schemes

3. Woman, you are loosed from your infirmity: The words of Jesus was simple and the result was immediate, which is characteristic of miracles of Jesus. The word 'loosed' confirms some kind of demonic connection to the sickness, but not demon possession

4. Application: Jesus took the initiative. The woman did not requested for healing. Honor God, just like this woman was honoring God through Sabbath and he will honor you

13.	And He laid His hands on her, and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God.

1. Laid his hand: It is an indication of acceptance of this woman, perhaps rejected by the Jews

2. Immediately: This typical of the miracles of Jesus and is not gradual

3. Glorified God: Glorifying God means acknowledge Him as the source of all blessings. In addition, recognize that all blessings are bestowed in accordance with His sovereign purposes.

4. Note: We know nothing about her faith. She may or may not have faith, and she may or may not have become a believer, but one thing is certain: the Lord is sovereign over all situations.

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.”

1. Ruler of the synagogu: He is the one who oversee the synagogue. He is interested in the religious establishment. He is not concerned about the people. False religion can be brutal

2. Indignation: Intense displeasure. This is not a godly reaction when one person who was suffering for 18 years was healed

3. Said to the crow: He told this to the crowd probably to distance them from the Lord by portraying him as a false teacher

4. Not on Sabbath day: the basis is Exo 20:10. but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the LORD your God. In it you shall do no work: you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates.

5. Note 1: My response to the ruler: The why didn't you do that for the last 18 years. That is exactly is legalism and false religion. It is not able to help the person in any way, but place great burden in following it. Lord hates this

6. Note 2: By the way, is there anywhere written in the OT Law and the Jewish system that one should not heal on Sabbath. In fact, Jewish Mishnah permit animals to be taken for drinking water. so where is the work and where is the Sabbath violation?

7. Note 3: Do miracles produce faith? No; it strengthens the faith which God already produced

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?

1. Hypocrite: This is plural in Greek indicating that Jesus was addressing it to the Jewish leadership. They are hypocrites because they have double standard. They relax Sabbath rule for less creature and made it stricter for higher creature. Jesus exposed their foolishness

2. Application: Do we have hypocrisy? Examine yourself. One example comes to my mind. Sunday morning little headache. A 'valid' reason to miss church. Monday morning sever headache. Take a medicine and go to office/college. Is this not hypocrisy? Coming for Bible bible study: just walk empty handed. Going for an entrance coaching: carry text book, note book, pen, pencil etc. When we are diligent in secular matter affecting our life and negligent in spiritual matter affecting the Lord and his people, we are hypocrites. Examine your life, confess and get it right; if not you will be ashamed

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?”

1. Daughter of Abraham: Human have higher value than animals. All the more she is a daughter of Abraham, that is from the chosen generation

2. Think of it: Lord asking his audience to think, analyses, use the brain and come to proper confusion. The tragedy of God's people today is that they don't think! They are like any other religious people or nominal christian

3. Loosed from this bond on the Sabbath: It is appropriate that God should demonstrate his victory over Satan on the Sabbath day? This would be a double blow to Satan and God's people should actually rejoice in this miracle

4. Note 1: Why Satan picked her? How he accomplished that in her life? We don't know and don't try to speculate. But one thing is clear: Lord used it for His glory and a great opportunity to expose false religion

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.

1. Ashamed: their hypocrisy was exposed. The true color is revealed. This will be end result when we show hypocrisy in our life

2. Multitudes rejoiced: They were surprised and happy to see a miracle. This doe not mean that they became believers

Application

1. Jesus' perspective on true religion: This healing is symbolic of the salvation that Jesus gives. The religious system can do nothing, except to condemn and make your life miserable. Gospel can save. Lord offers free gift of salvation. Therefore, receive the free gift of salvation and experience the true religion.

2. Woman's commitment: We don't know anything about her faith. We don't know her name. We don't know from where she come. It doesn't matter. But one thing that matters is that she honored God even in the midst of all her difficult circumstances. And, she received blessing and honor from the Lord. Likewise, imitate the commitment of this woman in your practical christian life.

3. Hypocrisy of the ruler: It exposes his utter inability to heal her and his incompetence show his concern. If he would have prayed fervently for her or take any practical step to help her, he would have rejoiced in this miracle. His indignation is a manifestation of his spiritual bankruptcy. Hence, get rid of your spiritual hypocrisy and escape getting ashamed by the Lord.

About this document ...

Compiled by tfrdn7@gmail.com on 2026-09-13 20:50 for the glory of the Lord