Daily Devotions
Luke
Luke 13 :10-17 "BEYOND FEELINGS AND CONVICTION"
Day 175 – Luke 13
Text: Luke 13 :10-17
BEYOND FEELINGS AND CONVICTION
There is no question that the ruler of the synagogue believed that he was right. He spoke with “indignation”. This suggests that he must have spoken with deep feelings even as he addressed the crowds.
He did not appear to “attack” Jesus directly. He addressed the crowds when he spoke. He was wily in his approach, for there was no question as to the fact that He attacked Jesus even as he addressed the crowd.
He accused the crowd and in particular the woman who was just healed by the Lord Jesus Christ. However, the veiled barb that was intended for Jesus was not missed. He saw through the tactical ploy of the ruler of the synagogue. He knew that the attack was aimed at Him, even though he appeared to address the crowd.
Many are often moved by “feelings and conviction”. When a person speaks with a sense of passion, he tends to move people. However, Jesus was not impressed by his argument.
The crowd had no answer to the tirade of the ruler of the synagogue. He was probably within his rights to address the people who came to his synagogue. He may have felt that he was only doing his duty when he addressed the congregation.
Jesus saw through him immediately. He may have used good rhetoric. He may have covered himself. However, there was something fundamentally wrong with his argument. He had failed to understand THE TRUTH concerning the Law of the Sabbath.
DEFENDING THE TRUTH AT ALL COST
This may be the third battle concerning the Sabbath issue. This may not be the last battle yet. Jesus was not weary or tired of battling similar issues. The battle for truth is wearying and daunting for the faint-hearted. To the valiant, it is another battle that must be fought and won.
Jesus rose to the occasion and defended the truth. He minced no words. He saw through the deceptive ploy of the ruler of the synagogue. He did not give face to the ruler of the synagogue either.
Jesus replied as forcefully,
“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?”
Luke 13:15
If the ruler of the synagogue had been a truly honest person, he would have to admit that he and many others who were wealthy enough to own oxen and donkey, would “break the Sabbath” by leading their animals to have a drink of water.
Was the Sabbath really only focused on prohibiting every form of work? Then this work of leading their animals to the watering hole must also be classified as work, and therefore, they violated the Sabbath too! Why did they not think that it was a violation of the Sabbath, when they took care of their animals?
The animals needed to have water every single day – including the Sabbath! Why were they not feeling guilty about breaking the Sabbath to water their animals?
Jesus knew that they had no answer. He went on to drive home His point,
“So 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?”
Luke 13:16
What were some of the truths that Jesus was driving home to His detractors?
1. Surely, this woman, “a daughter of Abraham” deserved better treatment than an ox or a donkey!
2. Surely the plight of this woman, “whom Satan has bound for eighteen years”, deserved far more compassion than she had been getting thus far.
3. Surely the Sabbath law cannot be legalistically applied against this woman!
“ALL HIS ADVERSARIES WERE PUT TO SHAME…” Luke 13:17
The words of Jesus could not be refuted! The wisdom, the logic, the compassion and the authority behind His words could not be gainsaid! The indignation of the ruler of the synagogue came crashing down.
Shame was felt this time round. The obvious contrast that Jesus drew between the woman, a daughter of Abraham, and the ox and donkey broke down the spurious argument of the ruler of the synagogue.
When an ox or a donkey is thirsty, it would do anything and everything to obtain water. The owner would obviously have some compassion for his work animals and somehow meet their needs.
The woman had borne her problem for eighteen long years. She had heard that Jesus had come to her town. This was her day. This was her opportunity to seek special grace from Him. Perhaps she would be healed from her ailment.
Her illness was not just physical. She had been bound by Satan for eighteen long years. Given her plight, given the fact that this was a spiritual battle, would it not have been justifiable for the Sabbath to be “broken” for the healing of this pitiful daughter of Abraham? Jesus did not break the Sabbath. He honoured God in showing compassion.
“AND ALL THE MULTITUDE REJOICED FOR ALL THE GLORIOUS THINGS THAT WERE DONE BY HIM” Luke 13:17
The multitudes may not have made deep commitments to follow Jesus. However, they had little love for the hypocritical Scribes and Pharisees. Thus when they saw how Jesus triumphed over them in a verbal battle, and also because they were really happy that this crippled woman was made well, they rejoiced, and well they should!
Every thing that Jesus said and did should have caused the people to rejoice all the time. The truly wise would take time to ponder over all that Jesus said and did! May we be blessed with this wisdom to rejoice in all that we read in the Scriptures!