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NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Luk_13:10-17
10And He was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath. 11And there was a woman who for eighteen years had had a sickness caused by a spirit; and she was bent double, and could not straighten up at all. 12When Jesus saw her, He called her over and said to her, "Woman, you are freed from your sickness." 13And He laid His hands on her; and immediately she was made erect again and began glorifying God. 14But 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." 15But 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?" 17As He said this, all His opponents were being humiliated; and the entire crowd was rejoicing over all the glorious things being done by Him.
Luk_13:10 Many of Jesus' teachings and miracles were done in synagogues on the Sabbath for two unrelated reasons:
1. Jesus fulfilled all Jewish requirements. Sabbath worship was surely one of these (cf. Gen_2:2-3; Exo_20:8-11).
2. He acted on the Sabbath to instigate dialog with the religious leaders who cherished their rules and traditions over people.
Luk_13:11 "a woman" Luke uniquely records Jesus' ministry to women. This was shocking to Jewish sensibilities! See Special Topic: Women in the Bible at Luk_2:36.
▣ "a sickness caused by a spirit" Obviously this was a case of demon possession. The NT makes a distinction between someone being demonized and someone being diseased, although demons often do cause disease. See Special Topic at Luk_4:33.
▣ "bent double" This is a Greek medical term for "a bent spine." Luke was a Gentile physician (cf. Col_4:14) or at least a highly educated man.
Luk_13:12 "When Jesus saw her" Jesus does this (1) out of compassion for this lady and/or (2) to engage the religious leaders in theological dialog. She does not expect or ask Him to act on her behalf.
▣ "Woman, you are freed from your sickness" This is a perfect passive indicative. Jesus usually never lays hands on people for exorcism. Apparently at His word the demon fled, but Jesus laid hands on her to increase her faith and to enable her to stand erect (cf. Luk_13:13).
Luk_13:13 "and He laid His hands on her" See hyperlink in the Bible at Luk_4:40.
Luk_13:14 "But the synagogue official, indignant" This man asserts that there are six other days of the week on which this could have legally occurred (according to rabbinical Oral Traditions' interpretation of Exo_20:9 and Deu_5:13), but this lady had been attending synagogue services weekly for eighteen years in her pitiful condition and had not been helped by Jewish rules, Jewish healers (scribes), or synagogue worship! See hyperlink at Luk_6:1.
Luk_13:15-16 Jesus exposed this man and all who think like him (plural, hypocrites). The rabbis had great compassion in their oral traditions for the human treatment of animals on the Sabbath (cf. Luk_14:5), but were restrictive in their treatment of humans. Jesus illustrates the fallacy of the rabbinical system's legalism without compassion for people. We must be careful of our rules. They often become more important then people. People are priority with God. Only people are eternal. God made creation for fellowship with people! Our rules often say more about us than about God!
Luk_13:15 "hypocrites" See Special Topic at Luk_6:42.
Luk_13:16 This verse obviously links the demonic and Satan (see Special Topic at Luk_4:2). He is the chief demon (cf. Luk_11:15; Luk_11:18). This woman was bound in a worse way than any oxen (cf. Luk_13:15). Luk_13:16 expects a "yes" answer.
Luk_13:17 "all His opponents were being humiliated" This shows the presence of many religious leaders in the synagogue. This one "ruler of the synagogue" spoke on behalf of many who were present.
The word "ashamed" (imperfect passive indicative) is used only here in the Gospels, but is used nine times by Paul (i.e., Romans, I and 2 Corinthians). Luke must have heard it often in Paul's sermons. It was used often in the Septuagint (esp. Isa_45:16). Luke knew this Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible well. He was influenced by its terminology and idioms.
▣ "the entire crowd was rejoicing over all the glorious things done by Him" What a contrast: religious leaders embarrassed, but the common people (people of the land) rejoicing over Jesus' words and deeds (cf. Luk_9:43; Luk_13:17; Luk_18:43; Luk_19:37)! Again, the hearts of the hearers determines the response (e.g., the parable of the soils, cf. Luk_8:4-15).