◄ Luke 13:14 ►
But the synagogue leader was indignant that Jesus had healed on the Sabbath. "There are six days for work," he told the crowd. "So come and be healed on those days and not on the Sabbath."
Study Bible
But the synagogue leader was indignant that Jesus had healed on the Sabbath.

The synagogue leader's indignation reflects the strict interpretation of Sabbath laws prevalent among Jewish religious leaders of the time. The Sabbath, a day of rest instituted by God in the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:8-11), was central to Jewish identity and religious practice. The Pharisees and other leaders had developed extensive regulations to ensure its observance, often focusing on prohibiting work. Jesus' healing on the Sabbath challenged these interpretations, emphasizing the spirit of the law over the letter. This incident highlights the tension between Jesus and the religious authorities, who often prioritized ritual over compassion.

Luk 6:7-11 Looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, …
Mrk 3:2 In order to accuse Jesus, they were watching…
Jhn 5:16-18 Now because Jesus was doing these things on the Sabbath…

“There are six days for work,” he told the crowd.

The leader's statement underscores the traditional Jewish understanding of the workweek, based on the creation narrative in Genesis 1, where God created the world in six days and rested on the seventh. This perspective was deeply ingrained in Jewish culture, with the six days designated for labor and the seventh for rest and worship. The leader's emphasis on these six days reflects a rigid adherence to the law, which Jesus frequently challenged by prioritizing human need and mercy over strict legalism (see Matthew 12:1-14).

Exo 20:9-10 Six days you shall labor and do all your work,…
Exo 23:12 For six days you are to do your work, but on the seventh day…
Deu 5:13-14 Six days you shall labor and do all your work,…

“So come and be healed on those days and not on the Sabbath.”

This directive reveals the leader's misunderstanding of the purpose of the Sabbath. While he viewed it as a day to avoid any form of work, Jesus taught that the Sabbath was made for man's benefit (Mark 2:27). The leader's insistence on healing only on other days shows a lack of compassion and an inability to recognize the Sabbath as a time for restoration and blessing. Jesus' actions and teachings often highlighted the importance of mercy and love over rigid adherence to rules, as seen in His healing of the man with a withered hand on another Sabbath (Luke 6:6-11). This phrase also reflects the broader conflict between Jesus' ministry and the established religious order, which often resisted His message of grace and transformation.

Luk 14:3-5 So Jesus asked the experts in the law and the Pharisees,…
Mat 12:11-12 He replied, “If one of you has a sheep and it falls…
Mrk 3:4 And He asked them, “Which is lawful on the Sabbath:…

Persons / Places / Events
1. Synagogue Leader
A religious authority figure responsible for maintaining order and adherence to Jewish law within the synagogue. His indignation reflects a strict interpretation of Sabbath laws.

2. Jesus
Central figure in the New Testament, whose healing on the Sabbath challenges traditional interpretations of the law, emphasizing compassion over legalism.

3. The Sabbath
A day of rest and worship in Jewish tradition, observed from Friday evening to Saturday evening. It is rooted in the creation account and the Ten Commandments.

4. The Healing
An act performed by Jesus, demonstrating His authority over physical ailments and His prioritization of mercy and compassion over strict legal adherence.

5. The Crowd
The people present in the synagogue, witnessing the healing and the subsequent confrontation between Jesus and the synagogue leader.
Teaching Points
Understanding the Sabbath
The Sabbath is a gift from God meant for rest and spiritual renewal, not a legalistic burden. Jesus' actions remind us to prioritize compassion and human need.

Legalism vs. Compassion
The synagogue leader's response highlights the danger of legalism. As Christians, we are called to balance adherence to God's laws with the overarching command to love and show mercy.

Authority of Jesus
Jesus demonstrates His authority over religious traditions, inviting us to trust in His wisdom and guidance over human interpretations.

Healing and Restoration
Jesus' healing on the Sabbath underscores His mission to bring restoration and wholeness, encouraging us to seek and participate in His healing work in our lives and communities.

Challenging Traditions
Jesus challenges us to examine our traditions and practices, ensuring they align with God's heart and purposes rather than human expectations.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does the synagogue leader's reaction to Jesus' healing reflect a misunderstanding of the Sabbath's purpose?

2. In what ways can we ensure that our observance of religious practices prioritizes compassion and mercy?

3. How does Jesus' authority over the Sabbath challenge our understanding of religious traditions today?

4. What are some modern-day examples of legalism that we might encounter, and how can we respond in a Christ-like manner?

5. How can we actively participate in Jesus' mission of healing and restoration in our communities, especially on days set aside for rest and worship?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Exodus 20:8-11
The commandment to keep the Sabbath holy, which the synagogue leader references to justify his indignation.

Matthew 12:1-14
Another instance where Jesus addresses the Pharisees' concerns about Sabbath observance, emphasizing mercy over sacrifice.

Isaiah 58:13-14
A prophetic call to honor the Sabbath in a way that aligns with God's desires, focusing on delight and freedom rather than burdensome restrictions.

Mark 2:27
Jesus' teaching that "The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath," highlighting the intended purpose of the Sabbath as a gift rather than a burden.
Sermons
The Grace and Progress of God's KingdomR.M. Edgar Luke 13:1-21
A Daughter of AbrahamG. Dawson, M. A.Luke 13:10-17
An Infirm Woman Cured on the SabbathJ. Thomson, D. D.Luke 13:10-17
Freedom Realized Through BelievingLuke 13:10-17
The Crooked Woman Made StraightExpository OutlinesLuke 13:10-17
The Highest EmancipationHenry R. Burton.Luke 13:10-17
The Infirm Woman in the SynagogueW. Walters.Luke 13:10-17
The Lifting Up of the Bowed DownC. H. Spurgeon.Luke 13:10-17
Two PulpitsC. S. Robinson, D. D.Luke 13:10-17
Suggestions from the SynagogueW. Clarkson Luke 13:14-16
People
Hen, Herod, Isaac, Jacob, Jesus, Pilate
Places
Jerusalem, Road to Jerusalem, Siloam
Topics
Angry, Answering, Behoveth, Chief, Crowd, Cured, Displeased, During, Healed, Indignant, Indignation, Moved, Multitude, Official, Ought, Response, Ruler, Sabbath, Sabbath-day, Saying, Six, Synagogue, Warden, Week, Working, Yourselves
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Luke 13:14

     1653   numbers, 6-10
     2545   Christ, opposition to
     5509   rulers
     7551   Pharisees, beliefs

Luke 13:10-16

     5078   Abraham, significance

Luke 13:10-17

     5379   law, Christ's attitude
     8442   good works

Luke 13:11-16

     4125   Satan, agents of

Luke 13:14-15

     8282   intolerance

Library
A Changed Life
TEXT: "And, behold, there was a woman which had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bowed together, and could in no wise lift herself up. And when Jesus saw her, he called her to him, and said unto her, Woman, thou art loosed from thine infirmity: And he laid his hands on her; and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God."--Luke 13:11-13. These verses present to us one of the most interesting stories imaginable--of interest to us first because it is one of our Lord's miracles, …
J. Wilbur Chapman—And Judas Iscariot

True Sabbath Observance
'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 …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions Of Holy Scripture

The Strait Gate
'And He went through the cities and villages, teaching, and journeying toward Jerusalem. 23. Then said one unto Him, Lord, are there few that be saved? And He said unto them, 24. Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not he able. 25. When once the Master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and He shall answer and say unto you, I know …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions Of Holy Scripture

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

On the Words of the Gospel, Luke xiii. 21 and 23, Where the Kingdom of God is Said to be "Like unto Leaven, which a Woman
1. "The three measures of meal" [3461] of which the Lord spake, is the human race. Recollect the deluge; three only remained, from whom the rest were to be re-peopled. Noe had three sons, by them was repaired the human race. That holy "woman who hid the leaven," is Wisdom. Lo, the whole world crieth out in the Church of God, "I know that the Lord is great." [3462] Yet doubtless there are but few who are saved. Ye remember a question which was lately set before us out of the Gospel, "Lord," it was …
Saint Augustine—sermons on selected lessons of the new testament

On the Words of the Gospel, Luke xiii. 6, Where we are Told of the Fig-Tree, which Bare no Fruit for Three Years; and of The
1. Touching "the fig-tree" which had its three years' trial, and bare no fruit, and "the woman which was in an infirmity eighteen years," hearken to what the Lord may grant me to say. The fig-tree is the human race. And the three years are the three times; one before the Law, the second under the Law, the third under grace. Now there is nothing unsuitable in understanding by "the fig-tree" the human race. For when the first man sinned, he covered his nakedness with fig-leaves; [3442] covered those …
Saint Augustine—sermons on selected lessons of the new testament

Upon Our Lord's SermonOn the Mount
Discourse 11 "Enter ye in at the strait gate: For wide is the gate, and broad is the way, which leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in threat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it." Mat. 7:13, 14. 1. Our Lord, having warned us of the dangers which easily beset us at our first entrance upon real religion, the hinderances which naturally arise from within, from the wickedness of our own hearts; now proceeds to apprize …
John Wesley—Sermons on Several Occasions

The Mustard Seed: a Sermon for the Sabbath-School Teacher
At this time of the year, Sabbath-school teachers come together especially to pray for a blessing on their work, and pastors are invited to say a word to cheer them in their self-denying service. This request I would cheerfully fulfill, and therefore my discourse will not be a full explanation of the parable, but an adaptation of it to the cheering of those who are engaged in the admirable work of teaching the young the fear of the Lord. Never service more important; to overlook it would be a grave …
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 35: 1889

Accidents, not Punishments
Now, men and brethren, such things as these have always happened in all ages of the world. Think not that this is a new thing; do not dream, as some do, that this is the produce of an overwrought civilization, or of that modern and most wonderful discovery of steam. If the steam engine had never been known, and if the railway had never been constructed, there would have been sudden deaths and terrible accidents, not withstanding. In taking up the old records in which our ancestors wrote down their …
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 7: 1861

Liii. Repentance Enjoined. Parable of the Barren Fig-Tree.
^C Luke XIII. 1-9. ^c 1 Now there were some present at that very season [At the time when he preached about the signs of the times, etc. This phrase, however, is rather indefinite--Matt. xii. 1; xiv. 1] who told him of the Galilaeans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. 2 And he answered and said unto them, Think ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they have suffered these things? 3 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all in like …
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

Sabbath Healing. Mustard Seed and Leaven.
(Probably Peræa.) ^C Luke XIII. 10-21. ^c 10 And he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the sabbath day. [Our Lord's habit of teaching in the synagogue, which had been for some time interrupted by his retirement, had probably been revived during the mission of the seventy.] 11 And behold, a woman that had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years; and she was bowed together, and could in no wise lift herself up. [The use of the word "spirit" in this verse indicates that the curvature of the …
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

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

Christ's Discourses in Peræa - Close of the Peræan Ministry
From the Parables we now turn to such Discourses of the Lord as belong to this period of His Ministry. Their consideration may be the more brief, that throughout we find points of correspondence with previous or later portions of His teaching. Thus, the first of these Discourses, of which we have an outline, [4708] recalls some passages in the Sermon on the Mount,' [4709] as well as what our Lord had said on the occasion of healing the servant of the centurion. [4710] But, to take the first of these …
Alfred Edersheim—The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah

The Historical Situation
1. When Tacitus, the Roman historian, records the attempt of Nero to charge the Christians with the burning of Rome, he has patience for no more than the cursory remark that the sect originated with a Jew who had been put to death in Judea during the reign of Tiberius. This province was small and despised, and Tacitus could account for the influence of the sect which sprang thence only by the fact that all that was infamous and abominable flowed into Rome. The Roman's scornful judgment failed to …
Rush Rhees—The Life of Jesus of Nazareth

The Early Ministry in Judea
113. We owe to the fourth gospel our knowledge of the fact that Jesus began his general ministry in Jerusalem. The silence of the other records concerning this beginning cannot discredit the testimony of John. For these other records themselves indicate in various ways that Jesus had repeatedly sought to win Jerusalem before his final visit at the end of his life (compare Luke xiii. 34; Matt. xxiii. 37). Moreover, the fourth gospel is confirmed by the probability, rising almost to necessity, that …
Rush Rhees—The Life of Jesus of Nazareth

The Barren Fig-Tree.
"There were present at that season some that told him of the Galileans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galileans were sinners above all the Galileans, because they suffered such things? I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem? I tell you, Nay: but, except …
William Arnot—The Parables of Our Lord

Completeness and Universality of his Character.
THE next feature we would notice is the completeness or pleromatic fullness of the moral and religious character of Christ. While all other men represent, at best, but broken fragments of the idea of goodness and holiness, he exhausts the list of virtues and graces which may be named. His soul is a moral paradise full of charming flowers, shining in every variety of color under the blue dome of the skies, drinking in the refreshing dews of heaven and the warming beams of the sun, sending its sweet …
Philip Schaff—The Person of Christ

The Christian Convert Warned Of, and Animated against those Discouragements which He must Expect to Meet when Entering on a Religious Course.
1. Christ has instructed his disciples to expect opposition and difficulties in the way to heaven.--2. Therefore a more particular view of them is taken, as arising from the remainder of indwelling sin.--3. From the world, and especially from former sinful companions.--4. From the temptations and suggest ions of Satan.--5, 6. The Christian is animated and encouraged, by various considerations, to oppose them; particularly by the presence of God; the aids of Christ; the example of others, who, though …
Philip Doddridge—The Rise and Progress of Religion in the Soul

The Sluggard.
The sluggard. The wishes that the sluggard frames, Prov 6:10; 24:30; 22:13; 20:4 Of course must fruitless prove; With folded arms he stands and dreams, But has no heart to move. His field from others may be known, The fence is broken through; The ground with weeds is overgrown, And no good crop in view. No hardship, he, or toil, can bear, No difficulty meet; He wastes his hours at home, for fear Of lions in the street. What wonder then if sloth and sleep, Distress and famine bring! Can he in …
John Newton—Olney Hymns

St. Athanasius,
PART I (AD 325-337) Alexander, the bishop of Alexandria by whom Arius had been excommunicated, died soon after returning home from the Council of Nicaea; and Athanasius, who was then about thirty years of age, was chosen in his stead, and governed the Alexandrian Church for six-and-forty years. Every one knows the name of St. Athanasius, from the creed which is called after it. That creed, indeed, was not made by St. Athanasius himself; but, as the Prayer-book says, it is "commonly called" his, because …
J. C. Roberston—Sketches of Church History, from AD 33 to the Reformation

Wesley's Remarkable vitality
1752. Sunday, March 15 (London).--While I was preaching at West Street in the afternoon, there was one of the most violent storms I ever remember. In the midst of the sermon a great part of a house opposite to the chapel was blown down. We heard a huge noise but knew not the cause; so much the more did God speak to our hearts, and great was the rejoicing of many in confidence of His protection. Between four and five I took horse, with my wife and daughter. The tiles were rattling from the houses …
John Wesley—The Journal of John Wesley

The Hopeless Condition of the Left-Behind Ones.
What will happen when Christendom awakens to the solemn fact that the real Church, the Church of God, has been removed from this earth and taken to be with the Lord? Again we say, it is not difficult for our imagination to supply the answer. But we are not left to the exercise of our imagination; the Holy Scriptures contain a plain and full reply to our inquiry. The Word of God intimates that following the Rapture of the saints many of the left-behind ones will earnestly seek the salvation of their …
Arthur W. Pink—The Redeemer's Return

First Attempts on Jerusalem.
Jesus, almost every year, went to Jerusalem for the feast of the passover. The details of these journeys are little known, for the synoptics do not speak of them,[1] and the notes of the fourth Gospel are very confused on this point.[2] It was, it appears, in the year 31, and certainly after the death of John, that the most important of the visits of Jesus to Jerusalem took place. Many of the disciples followed him. Although Jesus attached from that time little value to the pilgrimage, he conformed …
Ernest Renan—The Life of Jesus

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