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.
18 He said therefore, “What is the kingdom of God like? And to what shall I compare it? 19 It is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his garden, and it grew and became a tree, and the birds of the air made nests in its branches.”
20 And again he said, “To what shall I compare the kingdom of God? 21 It is like leaven that a woman took and hid in three measures of flour, until it was all leavened.”
(ESV)
STOP! Think a little 🤔 What is God saying to you?
- What is the writer saying?
- How do I apply this to my life?
While Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath a woman was there who had been disabled by a spirit for eighteen years. Jesus called her over, laid His hands on her, and immediately she was cured of her disability and could stand straight again. She responded by giving glory to God. But the leader of the synagogue was insensed because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath. He scolded the people telling them that there are six days to work and they should come on those days to be healed, not on the Sabbath. Jesus addressed him and the other leaders as hypocrites. They were quite willing to untie their animals in order to take them to water on the Sabbath. Was it not right to release this woman from the bondage Satan had her under for eighteen years on the Sabbath. Their actions displayed that they placed greater value on and showed more compassion to their animals than they did to the people under their care. They were so bound up in their strict adherence to the law that they completely missed the heart of God that was always behind the law. In what areas might you be so focussed on doing things the way they’ve always been done that you are missing opportunities to connect with others. Considering we are no longer bound by the law, our religiosity is usually tied to our preferences. What can you do to ensure your preference never gets in the way of deeper relationships?
Jesus then presented two metaphors to describe the kingdom of God. In the context of Jesus’ admonishments, it seems unlikely that these are positive descriptions.
The mustard seed growing into a large tree likely depicts the great spread of the church from a humble beginning but the birds nesting in it may represent forms of corruption that have found rest within the church. In the metaphor of the leaven, the three measures of flour likely represent the kingdom and the leaven (which is always used negatively in Scripture) indicates the possibility of evil doctrine to spread throughout the church. We must protect our churches from the leaven of false doctrine. Jesus repeatedly pointed out the false doctrine of the leaders of His time. Do you know your Bible well enough that you are able to spot error when it pops up?
Major Stories of the Bible Reading Plan
The Law is Read and Sin Confessed: Nehemiah 8-9