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Commentaries
English
Luke
  
THE HEALING OF THE CRIPPLED WOMAN
(Luke 13:10-17)
10Now He was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath.11And behold, there was a woman who had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bent over and could in no way raise herself up.12But when Jesus saw her, He called her to Him and said to her, "Woman, you are loosed from your infirmity."13And He laid His hands on her, and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God.14But the ruler of the synagogue answered with indignation, because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath; and he said to the crowd, "There are six days on which men ought to work; therefore come and be healed on them, and not on the Sabbath day."15The Lord then answered him and said, "Hypocrite! Does not each one of you on the Sabbath loose his ox or donkey from the stall, and lead it away to water it?16So ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has bound -- think of it -- for eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath?"17And when He said these things, all His adversaries were put to shame; and all the multitude rejoiced for all the glorious things that were done by Him.


The evangelist Luke shows us how Jesus served his people in his journey to Jerusalem, according to the parable of the fig tree and the vineyard-keeper. He dug, cultivated, and blessed the hearts to save them from the coming condemnation of God. He also bent to the poor and to those who were going astray. Do you feel with the sick, suffer with them, and wish them restoration to health? Jesus was full of compassion toward the woman who had been bent over for eighteen years and could not straighten up, for the segments of her backbone were bent and removed from their fixed position, and her muscles were weak. Eighteen years is a long portion of time: it exceeds 7500 days filled with sufferings, pains, and despair. In spite of that, the poor woman went to church, because she found comfort only with God. Though she was unable to lift up her head, she lifted up her heart to her merciful Lord.
Jesus came. He heard the cry of faith out of the suffering heart, and perceived her hardship in her features. So he called her willingly, and assured to her, her cure of her infirmity. That was in the midst of the crowded multitudes of prayers. She was away from him at a corner of the church. Yet her heart did not immediately grasp the word of God, for she was bound in herself through her belief in devilish insinuation. She might have once resorted to a diviner, or a conjuror, and her body was bound by the destructive dominion of Satan. This is why Jesus called her to him, and put his creative hands on the poor crooked woman, whose back immediately cracked, and her muscles became strong. Then she lifted up her head and stood erect, for the power of God forgave her all her sins, and loosed her from the bonds of the evil spirit, and she was cured in body, soul, and spirit. This deep change was a victory to Christ, for the redeemed woman magnified God in public, and her heart flowed over with praise, because all her bodily pains and mental stress disappeared.
Facing this joy for God’s prevalence, the narrow-sighted unfair spirit appeared without feeling or pity in the ruler of the synagogue who understood and kept his law literally. Accordingly he forbade most of the works on the Sabbath, to satisfy those who worship to God by keeping commandments and judgments. Through such worship he and his congregation became empty from love, for they thought only of themselves, and considered their selfish security of their own salvation. So they became inactive and dull in their hard spirit, embracing the formalities and superficialities of the law. They were prepared to sacrifice anyone for their principles’ sake. The law became an idol, and not a servant to men. In spite of that, they were unrealistic that they allowed some hard works on the Sabbath, fed, and watered their animals. That was just, but as they allowed service to animals they prohibited it to men. Consequently, they considered their animals more essential and better than man. This is why Christ called them "hypocrites."
Even today, some peasants consider their fields more important than their household. Many fathers spend money on their cars more than they spend on their children. We can see merchants nailed for long hours in their shops without caring for their families. Most of employees kill their free time amusing themselves in cafes and spoiling things. They do not bring their children up in good training and instruction, nor do they spend any time to look after their neighbors who need their advice.
However, Christ showed the Jews that men are more important than animals, especially that they are descents of Abraham, and having God’s image in their forms. Likewise, Christ says to you too: "All your schoolmates and fellow workers are more important than your bright diplomas, or your bank account. Your aim in life is not your personal success, but your love for your poor brother man whom you meet today. Christ calls every prayer a hypocrite, if he did not truly love his relatives and neighbors. So think of your friends, look after your brothers, and serve your parents. Feel with them, help them in practice, and pray for them strongly that the Lord’s blessing may dwell in them. If you pretend godliness before men, and do not truly serve them, then God will call you a hypocrite bound by the chains of Satan, and must be loosed from your repulsive selfishness.

Prayer
O Lord of love, I confess that my heart is cold, because I think first of my work, my intents, and myself. Please forgive me my selfishness. Thank you for you loose us from the bonds of Satan, and consecrate us to your pity and dedicate us to serve joyfully and pray constantly. Bless my friends, neighbors, and relatives that they may become free from the bonds of Satan, and glad in the experience of your power.
Question
Why did Jesus call the ruler of the synagogue “hypocrite”?