Daily Devotions
Luke
Luke 13 :10-17 "COURAGEOUS COMMITMENT TO TEACH GOD'S WORD"
Day 174 – Luke 13
Text: Luke 13 :10-17
COURAGEOUS COMMITMENT TO TEACH GOD’S WORD
When Jesus began His teaching ministry, many were amazed. Luke recorded for us the initial response of the people who heard Him.
“So all bore witness to Him,
and marveled at the gracious words
which proceeded out of His mouth.”
Luke 4:22
“And they were astonished at His teaching,
for His Word was with authority.”
Luke 4:32
Unfortunately, this initial response was not followed up. The people should have responded in faith and commitment to believe what they heard from the lips of the Greatest Teacher ever!
When their hearts did not receive the Word of God in faith and appreciation, Jesus knew that the prophetic words of Isaiah the prophet were being fulfilled…
“Seeing they may not see,
and hearing they may not understand.”
Luke 8:10
The novelty of hearing Jesus expounding the Word of God was all but gone. The multitudes just did not seem to understand what Jesus was seeking to teach them. They saw what Jesus did, but did not understand what they were seeing. They heard gracious words coming from the lips of Jesus, but they did not comprehend what He actually sought to teach them.
The Scribes and Pharisees fared no better. They understood what Jesus sought to teach. However, they rejected the teachings of Jesus, for accepting them would mean that they would have to admit that they had been wrong all along! That was too humiliating, to say the least.
The Scribes and Pharisees became the nemeses of Jesus instead. They chose instead to oppose Jesus in every way possible.
“As He said these things to them,
the scribes and the Pharisees began
to assail Him vehemently,
and to cross-examine Him about many things,
lying in wait for Him,and seeking to catch Him
in something He might say,
that they might accuse Him.”
Luke 11:53-54
What courage and commitment Jesus showed as He continued “teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath” (Luke 13:10). He had been given a commission by His Father. He had been sent to teach the Scriptures. He would teach the Word of God, no matter the kind of negative responses He received from those who heard Him.
AN OLD ISSUE
The Sabbath issue was not a new problem that Jesus had to deal with. On two previous occasions Jesus was accused of breaking the Sabbath:-
1. When His Disciples were so hungry they “plucked the heads of grain and ate them” (Luke 6:1). On this occasion,
“Some of the Pharisees said to them,
‘Why are you doing what is not lawful on the Sabbath?’ “
Luke 6:2
2. On another occasion, Jesus healed a man “whose right hand was withered” (Luke 6:6). On this occasion,
“The scribes and Pharisees watched Him closely,
whether He would heal on the Sabbath,
that they might find an accusation against Him.”
Luke 6:7
Again, they were bested. Jesus turned the tables on them. They became furious with Jesus.
“But they were filled with rage, and discussed with one another
what they might do to Jesus.”
Luke 6:11
THE HEALING OF A BADLY CRIPPLED WOMAN ON THE SABBATH
Jesus was well aware of the fact that should He heal the woman who came to the synagogue that Sabbath, He would be accused once again. He knew that His opponents would never let up in their determination to attack Him. Nevertheless, Jesus healed the woman who had suffered from a disease that so crippled her she could not stand up straight.
The inevitable attack came. We read,
“But 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.’ “
Luke 13:14
We marvel at the way in which people can be so taken up with what they believe in… even when they are wrong. How courageous and committed Jesus must have been in His ministry, with an audience like the one He had.