Another Sabbath Healing
TRANSLATION
(10) Now he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath day, (11) and a woman who had been crippled by a disabling spirit for eighteen years was there. 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 set free from your disability.” (13) When he placed his hands on her, she immediately straightened up and 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 when work is to be done. Come and be healed on those days, but not on the Sabbath.” (15) But the Lord responded, “You hypocrites! Does not each one of you on the Sabbath untie his ox or donkey from the stall and lead it away to drink water? (16) Should not this woman, a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has kept bound these eighteen years be set free from her restraints on the Sabbath day?” (17) And when he said these things, his opponents were shamed. But the people rejoiced for all the wonderful things that he was doing.
OBSERVATIONS
Again, Jesus healed someone oppressed by Satan on the Sabbath, generating controversy in a synagogue. Four repeated terms point us to the thrust of this passage: “synagogue(s)” (vss. 10 & 14), “Sabbath” (five times in vss. 10, 14, 15, & 16), “disabling” and “disability” (vss. 11 & 12), and “woman” (three times in vss. 11, 12, & 16). In essence, Jesus’ choice to heal the woman who was afflicted with a “disabling spirit” on the Sabbath day while teaching in a synagogue prompted the ruler of the synagogue to berate him for supposedly violating the fourth commandment. Jesus’ vigorous defense of this act of mercy put his adversaries to shame and caused the onlookers to rejoice.
OUTLINE
I. Jesus chose to heal a disabled woman on the Sabbath day in a synagogue. (10-13)
II. In response to the criticism of the synagogue leader, Jesus convincingly defended his actions. (14-16)
III. Jesus’ critics were shamed while everyone else rejoiced. (17)
IDEA STATEMENT
By compassionately healing a disabled woman in a synagogue on the Sabbath day Jesus shamed his critics and caused the others present to rejoice.
APPLICATION
The ugliness of legalism was once again on display when Jesus healed the disabled woman in the synagogue. The synagogue ruler seemed much more concerned about Sabbath rules and regulations than relieving the suffering of one of the members of his flock. When Jesus amazed everyone by healing the woman of her years-long disability, the leader’s protest that the Sabbath had been violated demonstrated his failure to understand the heart of God. This was the attitude Jesus would later rebuke by describing legalists as “blind guides (who) strain out a gnat and swallow a camel” (Mt. 23:24).
Jesus’ compassion for those in need was captured by his words in Matthew 11, “Come to me all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Mt. 11:28). Jesus offers rest to all who are burdened by disability both physical (seen in the woman’s affliction) and spiritual (seen in those under the cruel yoke of legalism), no matter what day of the week it happens to be. All who come to him will find his yoke to be easy and his burden light because he heals our infirmities and carries our weaknesses. What a great Savior we serve!