Luke 13:10-21 (ESV)

¹⁰ Now he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath. ¹¹ And behold, there was a woman who had had a disabling spirit for eighteen years. She was bent over and could not fully straighten herself. ¹² When Jesus saw her, he called her over and said to her, “Woman, you are freed from your disability.” ¹³ And he laid his hands on her, and immediately she was made straight, and she glorified God. ¹⁴ But the ruler of the synagogue, indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, said to the people, “There are six days in which work ought to be done. Come on those days and be healed, and not on the Sabbath day.” ¹⁵ Then the Lord answered him, “You hypocrites! Does not each of you on the Sabbath untie his ox or his donkey from the manger and lead it away to water it? ¹⁶ And ought not this woman, a daughter of Abraham whom Satan bound for eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath day?” ¹⁷ As he said these things, all his adversaries were put to shame, and all the people rejoiced at all the glorious things that were done by him. ¹⁸ He said therefore, “What is the kingdom of God like? And to what shall I compare it? ¹⁹ It is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his garden, and it grew and became a tree, and the birds of the air made nests in its branches.” ²⁰ And again he said, “To what shall I compare the kingdom of God? ²¹ It is like leaven that a woman took and hid in three measures of flour, until it was all leavened.”

Jesus taught in the synagogue on the Sabbath again. This is actually the last time Luke records him teaching in the synagogue. Jesus saw a woman who was bent over and couldn’t stand up straight. He called her to himself and healed her so that she could stand upright. She immediately began to praise God for her healing. This woman became a picture of the Jewish nation. Its people were spiritually bent and couldn’t stand up straight, but sadly, they didn’t see their need to be straightened up and healed. Instead of giving glory to God along with the woman, the ruler of the synagogue was furious. He asked why Jesus chose to heal on the Sabbath, reminding him he could have healed on any of the six other days . Why did he have to do it on that day? Jesus responded to the attack by showing the ruler what a hypocrite he was. The ruler, along with the other Jewish leaders, had no problem helping their animals on the Sabbath. They would untie oxen or donkeys and lead them to food and then to water without breaking the Sabbath. Was not this woman more important than an animal? How frustrated Jesus must have been as they showed compassion to animals but not to humans. The strange thing is that many still today give more care and attention to animals than they do to people.

Jesus continued to provide evidence to the Jewish people around him. In verse 17, we see his adversaries put to shame by his logic and reasoning, along with his supernatural power. But not all rejected him. Some around him rejoiced at what God was doing. Jesus polarized people into two distinct groups. One side rejected him and his call to repentance, and the other side followed him and gave glory to God for what he did. It’s the same today. There are really only two responses available when it comes to making a decision about Jesus: rejection or repentance. When we choose to repent and follow the Lord, he makes us straight too. We will be able to stand spiritually free from the influences that cripple and bow us. If you are a follower of Jesus today, ask him to free you from whatever is keeping you bent low. He is able to deliver us. And when he does, don’t forget to praise and glorify God for all he has done.