Setting Captives Free: Luke 13:14-17
“14) But the synagogue official, indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, began saying to the crowd in response, “There are six days in which work should be done; so come during them and get healed, and not on the Sabbath day.” 15) But the Lord answered him and said, “You hypocrites, does not each of you on the Sabbath untie his ox or his donkey from the stall and lead him away to water him? 16) And this woman, a daughter of Abraham as she is, whom Satan has bound for eighteen long years, should she not have been released from this bond on the Sabbath day?” 17) As He said this, all His opponents were being humiliated; and the entire crowd was rejoicing over all the glorious things being done by Him.” Luke 13:14-17
The healing of this woman on the Sabbath brought the scorn of the synagogue official. He accused Jesus of working on the Sabbath. He suggested there were six days to do the work of healing, but the Sabbath was for rest. Let’s make a few observations.
First, this was a very rare event. The synagogue official wasn’t exactly conducting healing services during the balance of the week. This was the first healing ever performed in that synagogue. How do I know that fact? The woman had been attending for 18 years with no help. What was unique on this Sabbath was that Jesus showed up.
Second, the synagogue official assumed that work was involved in God healing someone. How hard is it for the God who created the universe to perform a healing? Does it qualify as work or is it merely the byproduct of His presence?
Third, Jesus noted that healing this woman fell within the permissible Sabbath task of untying a donkey or horse from a hitching post and leading it to water.
I’ve watched the Amish untie horses from hitching posts. The tying consists merely of a few wraps of the reins. The horse is more tied in its own mind than in reality. It has no idea that it is basically free.
Many people are hopelessly tied to bondage only in their own mind. Jesus has set them free. If they embrace the truth they could quickly be freed.
Finally, a person has more value than an animal. If it’s ok to untie an animal on the Sabbath and lead it to water, how much more permissible to set a human captive free and lead them to the well of life?
This story is rich with meaning. If you are in bondage, Jesus wants to set you free. That is implied in the meaning of the word “untie.” It’s what Jesus does for people. He frees them from their afflictions and bondage. .
Daily Bible Commentary By Terry Baxter: Cofounder of GoServ Global
Sent from my iPhone
“14) But the synagogue official, indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, began saying to the crowd in response, “There are six days in which work should be done; so come during them and get healed, and not on the Sabbath day.” 15) But the Lord answered him and said, “You hypocrites, does not each of you on the Sabbath untie his ox or his donkey from the stall and lead him away to water him? 16) And this woman, a daughter of Abraham as she is, whom Satan has bound for eighteen long years, should she not have been released from this bond on the Sabbath day?” 17) As He said this, all His opponents were being humiliated; and the entire crowd was rejoicing over all the glorious things being done by Him.” Luke 13:14-17
The healing of this woman on the Sabbath brought the scorn of the synagogue official. He accused Jesus of working on the Sabbath. He suggested there were six days to do the work of healing, but the Sabbath was for rest. Let’s make a few observations.
First, this was a very rare event. The synagogue official wasn’t exactly conducting healing services during the balance of the week. This was the first healing ever performed in that synagogue. How do I know that fact? The woman had been attending for 18 years with no help. What was unique on this Sabbath was that Jesus showed up.
Second, the synagogue official assumed that work was involved in God healing someone. How hard is it for the God who created the universe to perform a healing? Does it qualify as work or is it merely the byproduct of His presence?
Third, Jesus noted that healing this woman fell within the permissible Sabbath task of untying a donkey or horse from a hitching post and leading it to water.
I’ve watched the Amish untie horses from hitching posts. The tying consists merely of a few wraps of the reins. The horse is more tied in its own mind than in reality. It has no idea that it is basically free.
Many people are hopelessly tied to bondage only in their own mind. Jesus has set them free. If they embrace the truth they could quickly be freed.
Finally, a person has more value than an animal. If it’s ok to untie an animal on the Sabbath and lead it to water, how much more permissible to set a human captive free and lead them to the well of life?
This story is rich with meaning. If you are in bondage, Jesus wants to set you free. That is implied in the meaning of the word “untie.” It’s what Jesus does for people. He frees them from their afflictions and bondage. .
Daily Bible Commentary By Terry Baxter: Cofounder of GoServ Global
Sent from my iPhone
