The Berean

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"These [in Berea] were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so." - Acts 17:11
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Luke 13:10-17

(10) One Sabbath Jesus was teaching in a synagogue. (11) A woman there had an evil spirit that had kept her sick for eighteen years; she was bent over and could not straighten up at all. (12) When Jesus saw her, he called out to her, "Woman, you are free from your sickness!" (13) He placed his hands on her, and at once she straightened herself up and praised God. (14) The official of the synagogue was angry that Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, so he spoke up and said to the people, "There are six days in which we should work; so come during those days and be healed, but not on the Sabbath!" (15) The Lord answered him, "You hypocrites! Any one of you would untie your ox or your donkey from the stall and take it out to give it water on the Sabbath. (16) Now here is this descendant of Abraham whom Satan has kept in bonds for eighteen years; should she not be released on the Sabbath?" (17) His answer made his enemies ashamed of themselves, while the people rejoiced over all the wonderful things that he did.

Good News Bible copyright © 1995 by American Bible Society.

In Luke 13:10-17, Christ heals another chronically ill person on the Sabbath. This time, though, He did not wait for anyone to ask Him questions. The episode plainly discloses the redeeming and liberating intention of God's Sabbath. When Jesus says, "You are loosed," the ruler of the synagogue reacts immediately because to him the Sabbath meant rules to obey rather than people to love.

Jesus replies in verses 15-16 by emphasizing the Sabbath principle:

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? 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?"

Christ makes a play on words here. He uses the same verb, "loose," to describe the ox and donkey as He does the woman being "loosed" from Satan through healing.

Jesus acts against the tradition of the Pharisees, but no where challenges the binding obligation of keeping the Sabbath. Rather, His example shows that we should make merciful evaluations to help others cast off their heavy burdens. He argues for living the true values.

— John W. Ritenbaugh

To learn more, see:
The Fourth Commandment (Part Two): Christ's Attitude Toward the Sabbath



 

Topics:

Doing Good

Judaism

Legalism

Liberation from Bondage

Liberty

Mercy

Sabbath

Sabbath as Blessing

Sabbath, Liberating Intent of

Tradition of Pharisees

Traditions of Men




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