10 And he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the sabbath. 11 And, behold, there was a woman which had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bowed together, and could in no wise lift up herself. 12 And when Jesus saw her, he called her to him, and said unto her, Woman, thou art loosed from thine infirmity. 13 And he laid his hands on her: and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God. 14 And the ruler of the synagogue answered with indignation, because that Jesus had healed on the sabbath day, and said unto the people, There are six days in which men ought to work: in them therefore come and be healed, and not on the sabbath day.
15 The Lord then answered him, and said, Thou hypocrite, doth not each one of you on the sabbath loose his ox or his ass from the stall, and lead him away to watering? 16 And ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan hath bound, lo, these eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the sabbath day? 17 And when he had said these things, all his adversaries were ashamed: and all the people rejoiced for all the glorious things that were done by him. (Luke 13:10-17 KJV)
A Woman with a Disabling Spirit
Here is the miraculous cure of a woman who had been under a spirit of infirmity for a long time. Our Lord Jesus spent his Sabbaths in the synagogues (Luke 13:10). We should make it a point to do the same when we can, rather than thinking we can spend the Sabbath just as well at home reading a good book. Religious assemblies are a divine institution we must support, even if they are small. When he was in the synagogue on the Sabbath, he was teaching—an ongoing action. Teaching was his natural work. To confirm the doctrine he preached and show that it was trustworthy and worthy of acceptance, he performed a miracle of mercy.
The object of charity was a woman in the synagogue who had a spirit of infirmity for eighteen years (Luke 13:11). She had an affliction caused by an evil spirit, permitted by God, that left her bent over and unable to stand straight. After so many years, her condition seemed hopeless. Yet despite this painful and deforming condition, she still came to the synagogue on the Sabbath. Note: even physical ailments, unless extremely severe, should not keep us from public worship, for God can help us beyond what we expect.
Jesus saw her and called her over (Luke 13:12). She hadn’t asked for healing or expected it, but before she called, he answered. She came for spiritual benefit, and Christ gave her healing for her body as well. Those who put their souls first will find their bodily needs taken care of too. Christ, in his gospel, calls those suffering from spiritual infirmity to come to him, and when he calls, he will certainly help.
He laid his hands on her and said, “Woman, you are loosed from your infirmity.” Though she had suffered for a long time, she was immediately released. Let no one despair because their condition has lasted long; God can bring relief in his time. Even though she was under the power of a spirit of infirmity, Christ’s power is greater than Satan’s. Though she could not lift herself, Christ could lift her. She was immediately made straight, fulfilling the scripture (Psalm 146:8): “The Lord raises those who are bowed down.” This cure illustrates Christ’s work on people’s souls.
In the conversion of sinners, unsanctified hearts are under a spirit of infirmity. Their soul faculties are distorted and bent toward earthly things. They cannot lift themselves toward God or heaven. In this natural state, they do not seek Christ, but he calls them, touches them with his power and grace, and speaks healing words that straighten the soul, turning its affections heavenward. While man cannot straighten what God has made crooked (Ecclesiastes 7:13), God’s grace can straighten what sin has made crooked.
In comforting believers, many of God’s children suffer long under a spirit of bondage. Fear and grief cast them down, and they go mourning all day (Psalm 38:6). But Christ, through the Spirit of adoption, eventually lifts them up and frees them.
Immediately after her healing, the woman glorified God. She gave him the praise for her cure, as all praise belongs to him. When crooked souls are straightened, they show it by glorifying God.
The ruler of the synagogue, however, was offended, as if Jesus had done something wrong by healing on the Sabbath (Luke 13:14). The miracle should have convinced him, and its being done on the Sabbath should not have outweighed that. But no light is strong enough to overcome bigotry and hostility to Christ. Instead of confronting Jesus directly, he addressed the crowd, indirectly criticizing Jesus: “There are six days in which men ought to work; come then to be healed, and not on the Sabbath.”
He treated Christ’s miracle as if it were nothing special, no more than what a charlatan might do on any day. He distorted the law by claiming that healing—just a touch or a word—was forbidden Sabbath work. But this was clearly God’s work, and God is not bound by Sabbath laws. The Hebrew word for “godly” also means “merciful” (chesed), implying that mercy is part of piety (1 Timothy 5:4), and therefore especially suitable for the Sabbath.
Jesus answered him (Luke 13:15): “You hypocrite.” Christ, who knows the heart, may rightly call out hypocrisy, even if we can only judge by outward appearances. Jesus knew this man’s real hostility to the gospel and that his so-called zeal for the Sabbath was just a cover. He said people should come on the other six days to be healed, but in truth, he didn’t want them healed at all. Still, Jesus reasoned with him.
He pointed to accepted Jewish practices: everyone lets their cattle out of the stall and leads them to water on the Sabbath. It would be cruel not to—because a merciful person cares for his own animals. Letting animals rest on the Sabbath would be worse than working them if they had to fast and go without water all day (Jonah 3:7).
Then Jesus applied it to this case (Luke 13:16): “Shouldn’t this woman, a daughter of Abraham, be loosed from her suffering on the Sabbath?” He had three arguments.
First, she was a daughter of Abraham—a fellow Israelite. If they could show compassion to animals, surely they could to one of their own. She was entitled to the blessings of the Messiah.
Second, Satan had bound her, so healing her was not only an act of mercy to her but also a victory over the devil.
Third, she had been suffering for eighteen years. Surely that was long enough, and healing should not be delayed another day just for the sake of a legalistic Sabbath view.
This produced different reactions among those who heard him. He made it clear that healing her on the Sabbath was not just lawful but fitting. He did it publicly in the synagogue so all could witness it.
His adversaries were put to shame (Luke 13:17). They had no reply and were upset to be silenced, but not with godly sorrow. Note: sooner or later, all opponents of Christ and his gospel will be put to shame.
Meanwhile, the people, who had better judgment than their leaders, rejoiced at all the glorious things Jesus did. His enemies’ shame became his friends’ joy. What Christ did was truly glorious, even if not everyone saw it then—and we should rejoice in all that brings him honor. Whatever honors Christ brings joy to Christians.