A woman which had a spirit of infirmity - Relative to this subject three things may be considered: -

I. The woman's infirmity.

II. Her cure. And

III. The conduct of the ruler of the synagogue on the occasion.

I. The woman's infirmity.

1. What was its origin? Sin. Had this never entered into the world, there had not been either pain, distortion, or death.

2. Who was the agent in it? Satan; Luke 13:16. God has often permitted demons to act on and in the bodies of men and women; and it is not improbable that the principal part of unaccountable and inexplicable disorders still come from the same source.

3. What was the nature of this infirmity? She was bowed together, bent down to the earth, a situation equally painful and humiliating; the violence of which she could not support, and the shame of which she could not conceal.

4. What was the duration of this infirmity? Eighteen years. A long time to be under the constant and peculiar influence of the devil.

What was the effect of this infirmity? The woman was so bowed together that she could in no case stand straight, or look toward heaven.

II. The woman's cure.

1. Jesus saw her, Luke 13:12. Notwithstanding her infirmity was great, painful, and shameful, she took care to attend the synagogue. While she hoped for help from God, she saw it was her duty to wait in the appointed way, in order to receive it. Jesus saw her distress, and the desire she had both to worship her Maker and to get her health restored, and his eye affected his heart.

2. He called her to him. Her heart and her distress spoke loudly, though her lips were silent; and, as she was thus calling for help, Jesus calls her to himself that she may receive help.

3. Jesus laid his hands on her. The hand of his holiness terrifies, and the hand of his power expels, the demon. Ordinances, however excellent, will be of no avail to a sinner, unless he apprehend Christ in them.

continued...

all his.

Luke 14:6 And they could not answer him again to these things.

Luke 20:40 And after that they dared not ask him any question at all.

Psalm 40:14 Let them be ashamed and confounded together that seek after my soul to destroy it...

Psalm 109:29 Let my adversaries be clothed with shame, and let them cover themselves with their own confusion, as with a mantle.

Psalm 132:18 His enemies will I clothe with shame: but on himself shall his crown flourish.

Isaiah 45:24 Surely, shall one say, in the LORD have I righteousness and strength: even to him shall men come...

2 Timothy 3:9 But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest to all men, as theirs also was.

1 Peter 3:16 Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers...

and all.

Luke 19:37-40,48 And when he was come near, even now at the descent of the mount of Olives...

Exodus 15:11 Who is like to you, O LORD, among the gods? who is like you, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders?

Psalm 111:3 His work is honorable and glorious: and his righteousness endures for ever.

Isaiah 4:2 In that day shall the branch of the LORD be beautiful and glorious...

John 12:17,18 The people therefore that was with him when he called Lazarus out of his grave, and raised him from the dead, bore record...

Acts 3:9-11 And all the people saw him walking and praising God...

Acts 4:21 So when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding nothing how they might punish them, because of the people...

Christ's Message to Herod
'And he said unto them, Go ye, and tell that fox, Behold, I cast out devils, and I do cures to-day and to-morrow, and the third day I shall be perfected. 33. Nevertheless I must walk to-day, and to-morrow, and the day following: for it cannot be that a prophet perish out of Jerusalem.'--LUKE xiii. 32, 33. Even a lamb might be suspicious if wolves were to show themselves tenderly careful of its safety. Pharisees taking Christ's life under their protection were enough to suggest a trick. These men …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions Of Holy Scripture

The Strait Gate. Warned against Herod.
(Peræa.) ^C Luke XIII. 22-35. ^c 22 And he went on his way through cities and villages, teaching, and journeying on unto Jerusalem. [This verse probably refers back to verse 10, and indicates that Jesus resumed his journey after the brief rest on the Sabbath day when he healed the woman with the curvature of the spine.] 23 And one said unto him, Lord, are they few that are saved? [It is likely that this question was asked by a Jew, and that the two parables illustrating the smallness of the …
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

At the Feast of the Dedication of the Temple.
ABOUT two months had passed since Jesus had left Jerusalem after the Feast of Tabernacles. Although we must not commit ourselves to such calculations, we may here mention the computation which identifies the first day of the Feast of Tabernacles of that year [4376] with Thursday the 23rd September; the last, the Great Day of the Feast,' with Wednesday the 29th; the Octave of the Feast with the 30th September; and the Sabbath when the man born blind was healed with the 2nd of October. [4377] In that …
Alfred Edersheim—The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah