We read Luke 13 in today's Spoken Word Bible Reading Plan. I have always loved this part found in verses 10-14:
10 Now Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath. 11 And there was a woman there who for eighteen years had had an infirmity caused by a spirit (a demon of sickness). She was bent completely forward and utterly unable to straighten herself up or to look upward. 12 And when Jesus saw her, He called [her to Him] and said to her, Woman, you are released from your infirmity! 13 Then He laid [His] hands on her, and instantly she was made straight, and she recognized and thanked and praised God. 14 But the leader of the synagogue, indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, said to the crowd, There are six days on which work ought to be done; so come on those days and be cured, and not on the Sabbath day.
Notice that JESUS was teaching on the Sabbath. He was teaching the Word. The people who were there were there to hear Him teach! As JESUS was teaching, He noticed this woman who SHOULD have been healed! She had been in this condition for 18 years!When JESUS saw her, He knew immediately that she had an evil spirit of infirmity. None of the religious leaders present had discerned this for 18 years! They COULD have! The response of the leader of the synagogue revealed a heart condition! A heart that was NOT in tune with the Spirit of Almighty God! He scolded the crowd for coming for healing on the Sabbath, when healing had never been available any other time other than when JESUS was present! Not for 18 years! I would hope that after THIS response from JESUS that this leader repented and became teachable! We do not know! Verses 15-17:
15 But the Lord replied to him, saying, You playactors (hypocrites)! Does not each one of you on the Sabbath loose his ox or his donkey from the stall and lead it out to water it? 16 And ought not this woman, a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has kept bound for eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath day? 17 Even as He said this, all His opponents were put to shame, and all the people were rejoicing over all the glorious things that were being done by Him.
Those religious leaders were all put to shame because they SHOULD have helped this woman LONG before this moment! They were 'put to shame'! The opinions of those who do not know the Word of God, and their Covenant with HIM, should have no bearing on any decision that you make! Continue in the Word of God. Dare to believe what the Word says and dare to receive ALL that God has provided for you! AMEN! This will bring glory to JESUS' Name! Here is Hillsong Kids with "Ask, Seek, Knock":
Shalom in Him!
