Hard Hearts & Mighty Hands

Sermon 59 in Series

Luke 13:10-17

[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.

DEEP SHEET: Sermon Study Questions
1.  How does this passage connect to the one before? What does it illustrate?
2.  How is the extent of the woman’s suffering like what we’ve seen in other healing accounts? How do these miracles highlight Jesus’ compassion coupled with his power?
3.  What does Luke say about the inter-relationship of the spiritual and physical in the woman’s affliction? How does Scripture call us to respond to our sufferings regardless of the origin?
4.  What is wrong with the synagogue ruler’s thinking and criticism? How does his lack of concern for the woman serve as a warning to us?
5.  What is Jesus’ response to the criticism? How does it show his wisdom and righteousness?
6.  In what ways does this passage anticipate Christ’s ultimate victory and glory?

References: Luke 4:15-16, 31-37; 6:1-11 (corporate reading); 11:14; Acts 10:38; Exodus 20:9-10; Isaiah 8:14; Genesis 12:3; John 4:34; Luke 6:9; Mark 2:27-28; John 8:44; Luke 19:39-40.