The Priority of Compassion
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Scripture Reading
Scripture Reading
10 On a Sabbath Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues, 11 and a woman was there who had been crippled by a spirit for eighteen years. She was bent over and could not straighten up at all. 12 When Jesus saw her, he called her forward and said to her, “Woman, you are set free from your infirmity.” 13 Then he put his hands on her, and immediately she straightened up and praised God.
14 Indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, the synagogue ruler said to the people, “There are six days for work. So come and be healed on those days, not on the Sabbath.”
15 The Lord answered him, “You hypocrites! Doesn’t each of you on the Sabbath untie his ox or donkey from the stall and lead it out to give it water? 16 Then should not this woman, a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has kept bound for eighteen long years, be set free on the Sabbath day from what bound her?”
17 When he said this, all his opponents were humiliated, but the people were delighted with all the wonderful things he was doing.
Introduction
Introduction
As we continue in our study in the Gospel of Luke, we come to an account that Luke includes that is not included in any of the other Gospel accounts. This is unique to Luke. There’s been some debate over Luke’s reason for including this account where he does within his gospel. I think the most likely scenario is that Luke includes this to highlight or emphasize the fact that the religious leaders were failing to respond appropriately to Christ.
Keep in mind that in the preceding passages Luke has included the words of Jesus calling his followers to respond appropriately to who he was. He spoke about the fact that he did not come to bring peace, but division, and a sword. He called upon the crowds following him to repent or perish. He spoke about the fig tree in the vineyard that failed to bear fruit, and that if this continued, the tree would be cut down. So, all of these are speaking about the urgency and the necessity of repentance and faith in Jesus Christ.
In that context, this passage would fit well in terms of demonstrating that there was an ongoing failure to heed the calls of Jesus. Irrespective of the fact that Jesus had clearly demonstrated himself to be God’s chosen Messiah come into the world, we find in our passage this morning that the synagogue ruler accused Jesus wrongly, instead of learning from him. He also failed to demonstrate the fruit in keeping with repentance, a humble attitude towards those around him.
So that is the context of our present study, and with that in mind let us consider firstly from our passage:
1. The Compassionate Saviour (vv.10-13)
1. The Compassionate Saviour (vv.10-13)
We read in verse ten of our passage:
10 On a Sabbath Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues,
This verse sets the context of what is about to unfold. Jesus is in a synagogue, on the Sabbath day, with the Jewish people present with him in this synagogue. We also find that Jesus was busy teaching the people in the synagogue. Just one point worth noting in the context of the Gospel of Luke is the fact that this is the last time that Luke will note that Jesus is teaching within the context of a synagogue. At least that is according to the way that Luke records events.
But as Jesus is teaching the synagogue, he notices a woman that is there was crippled. Look with me at verse eleven:
11 and a woman was there who had been crippled by a spirit for eighteen years. She was bent over and could not straighten up at all.
There are a few things that we should note from this verse concerning the woman. Firstly, she was crippled in the sense that she was bent over and could not straighten up at all. Some translations state that she was bent over double.
This immediately reminded me of a recent video of a particular Chinese man who had a rare spinal condition, and lived bent over for many, many years. It took four very carefully planned operations to break his bones and reconnect them to help him to stand up straight. And I simply mention this to compare Christ’s powerful ability to heal people, as opposed to man’s efforts to help. We certainly are thankful for medical interventions, and grateful for our doctors and specialists that assist in helping people with all kinds of conditions. But Christ performed miracles – genuine, undeniable miracles in an instant, with perfect success.
We see also from our passage that this was her condition for the past eighteen years. It was not a condition that was temporary or that had suddenly come upon her. Rather, she had a genuine condition which resulted in her being unable to stand up straight for eighteen long years. She had probably been coming to the synagogue for the past 18 years, and the people there would have been aware of her condition.
We must not miss the significance of the difficult state in which this lady found herself. This must’ve been an immensely difficult time for the lady as she was afflicted. It must’ve been an immensely difficult time for her family; for everyone who was caring for her. It’s evident that no help was able to be provided to this woman.
We also read in this verse that the condition was caused by a spirit. It’s always interesting to note how the Scriptures distinguish between these afflictions that were caused by the Spirit or by a plain medical condition. In this case, it was a spirit.
There was a question that came up in Bible Study this past week regarding sickness, and whether it’s caused by physical things, or if there is always a spiritual dimension behind them. And this is a worldview issue that we need to keep in mind, particularly for us who are more influenced by Western thinking where everything is physical in nature and has an answer in science. And essentially, the answer to that question was that there can be either physical or spiritual causes for sickness and afflictions.
We then read in verse twelve:
12 When Jesus saw her, he called her forward and said to her, “Woman, you are set free from your infirmity.”
It’s during this time that Jesus is preaching that he sees this woman that is doubled over and so he calls her forward to the place where he is teaching and says the words “woman, you are set free from your infirmity.” This was a declaration from Jesus that she would be freed from this affliction from this time forward. Interestingly, it is only following this declaration that he put his hands on her and actually heals her. Verse thirteen says,
13 Then he put his hands on her, and immediately she straightened up and praised God.
Jesus not only tells the woman that she has been set free, but he demonstrates his love and compassion through touching her and healing her. We notice the immediacy of the healing for this woman. There is no further need for any action on her part, but she was instantaneously healed of her infirmity with which she had struggled for eighteen long years.
We must think about the extent of the joy and jubilation that must’ve filled the heart of this woman and those who knew her he loved her as they saw what it is taken place.
Let me ask… probably mainly those who are elderly… because it’s as we get older that the aches and pains in the body increase. But think about your greatest affliction today, your greatest physical limitation, and how it impacts your life. We have people that struggle with body aches and pains; arthritis; at our men’s meetings, a few of our older men are struggling with hearing; struggling with eye sight problems; back pains and injuries;…. now, imagine that you are instantly healed of your greatest physical ailment. And perfectly so!!! The longer you’ve had to put up with the struggle, the greater sense of delight and joy it would have brought.
This lady would no doubt have been overwhelmed with emotions of joy and gratitude for what it just happened.
And the reason I’m emphasizing this is that we can so quickly skim through this, and maybe delve into theological truths, without recognising the extent of Christ’s compassion and love being shown, and in contrast to that, the extent of the mercilessness of the synagogue ruler. So, let us keep that in mind.
Before we go on to the next section, I do want to pause and emphasize the reality of this compassion of Christ, and the fact that this compassion is in fact a demonstration of the compassion of God the Father. What Christ is demonstrating here through His compassionate care of this crippled woman is merely a demonstration or reflection of the compassion of God. And so many struggle with this. They see God as harsh, vengeful, angry, etc. And while it’s certainly true that there are times where God is rightly angry, and He does take vengeance, we must understand that He is at the same time loving and compassionate.
In fact, this is how He reveals Himself.
15 The Lord, the God of their fathers, sent word to them through his messengers again and again, because he had pity on his people and on his dwelling place.
15 But you, O Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God,
slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness.
3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort,
When Christ came into the world, we are told that in Him, all the fullness of the godhead dwelt bodily (Col.2:9). In Hebrews 1:3 we’re told that Jesus is “…the radiance of God’s glory, and the exact representation of His being.” What Christ is doing as He comes into this synagogue and calls the woman forward to be healed, is that He’s putting on display for all to see, the mercies, the compassion, and the kindness of God.
But notice also the response of the lady as she’s set free. She praised God. If anyone understood the implications of what just happened, it was her. Prior to being healed, she probably cried out and sought help from every place she could find. Eventually she’s set free from her infirmity. And immediately she professes that what has happened is the free gift of God. He has done the healing. An appropriate response!
With that in mind let’s consider secondly:
2. The Callous Ruler (v.14)
2. The Callous Ruler (v.14)
Christ was compassionate, we’ve seen, but we now come to consider the religious leader, the Ruler of the synagogue. And keep in mind the context that I mentioned from the outset – the religious leaders failing to submit to Christ, and bear fruit in keeping with repentance.
We read in verse fourteen:
14 Indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, the synagogue ruler said to the people, “There are six days for work. So come and be healed on those days, not on the Sabbath.”
The first thing that I want us to note from this verse is the immediate response of the synagogue ruler. Within the context of a woman that has been set free from a debilitating condition for the past eighteen years, a lady who’s praising God for his goodness, the immediate response from synagogue ruler is indignation. The word speaks of horror or a sense of anger at something that is believed to be unrighteous or unholy. Instead of rejoicing with this lady because of her freedom, the synagogue ruler is upset about the matter.
Notice the reason that he’s upset. He’s upset because Jesus has healed on the Sabbath. In other words, this synagogue ruler was concerned that work had been done on the Sabbath day. Obviously, he is considering the concept of work in terms of the religious constructs of his day. He is thinking about the definition of work in terms of what the Jewish leaders had developed in terms of their own ideas about what work is.
I discussed this in a past sermon on this series showing you how of the Jewish people consider the idea of what work is a what constitutes work (see Luke 6:1-11). But essentially it was all man-made doctrine. In other words, there was nothing specific within the law of Moses that disallowed healingto take place on a Sabbath day. Rather, it was the man-made ideas that developed from the law that they try to keep in order to please God through their righteousness.
The important point to note here is the fact that the religious leader has no compassion on this lady, and cares very little for the fact that she’s just been delivered from an 18-year long debilitating condition. He’s so concerned to point out the law and the rules and regulations, that he fails to demonstrate a heart of compassion.
His response demonstrates that his character is entirely out of keeping with the God He claims to worship.
Friends, we need to see this and consider its application to our own lives. Where the Gospel is alive and well, there is a freedom to treat those around you with grace, mercy and compassion. And this freedom delights in good coming to those around you. It does not focus so heavily on rules and regulations, that no care and compassion is demonstrated to those around you. Rather, love rejoices when good comes upon another.
But notice also what the synagogue ruler does in this instance. He doesn’t address his concerns with Jesus and enter into a dialogue with Jesus or ask him why he’s done this. He was probably too afraid or intimidated to do this. Instead, he turns his attention to the crowd and he begins to address the crowd in order to “teach” them why what is been done is wrong. What the synagogue ruler says to the people amounts to an instruction to them. He says, “There are six days for work. So come and be healed on those days, not on the Sabbath.”
Notice the callousness and the lack of sensitivity on the part of the synagogue ruler. There is no joy or even a sense of gladness on behalf of this woman who is been set free from her condition. In fact, he has no care or concern towards this person whatsoever. All he cares about is obeying the rules.
3. The Cautionary Rebuke (vv.15-16)
3. The Cautionary Rebuke (vv.15-16)
At this point, Jesus brings a sharp rebuke, particularly directed at the religious leaders and those who sided with them, rather than the crowds in general. Verse 15 reads:
15 The Lord answered him, “You hypocrites! Doesn’t each of you on the Sabbath untie his ox or donkey from the stall and lead it out to give it water?
Christ does not take what has been said here by the synagogue ruler lightly. Rather, there is a Stern rebuke given for the hypocritical nature of the synagogue ruler and his views. He immediately points the crowds to the compassion that is shown towards animals as these people would care for their animals, and how hypocritical it is then to not set a person free from their bondage.
I just want to point out the words of Jesus previously to the woman that was doubled over. He said to her that she was freed from her infirmities. The word there has the implication of releasing her from something that howled her captive. Christ then picks up on a very similar word in the original language, a word that related to setting animals free by means of untying them. He will use exactly the same word in the next verse as he speaks about this woman being set free on the Sabbath.
He goes on in verse sixteen to say these words:
16 Then should not this woman, a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has kept bound for eighteen long years, be set free on the Sabbath day from what bound her?”
Jesus drives the point home.
Here before them in the synagogue stood a woman that had been held captive. This was not a mere animal that needed to be released to go and drink water, but rather it a person. Not only was this a person, but this was a daughter of Abraham.
The entire argument of the synagogue ruler was that because it was a Sabbath day, this woman ought to have been kept in her bondage for another day. His thought was that she needed to stay in her state of captivity, which was, according to Jesus, a bondage to Satan, rather than a been freed a day earlier.
Friends, this just shows the callousness of the heart of man that is unredeemed. Christ says that this woman ought to be set free on the Sabbath day. After all, as one commentator notes:
“…what more appropriate day for this to happen to a daughter of Abraham, a daughter of promise? What more appropriate day to defeat Satan and release people from his bonds than the day of rest when God is to be contemplated? Here is a day to remember God and celebrate the goodness of his healing grace. (Bock, D. L. (1996). Luke (p. 374). Zondervan Publishing House.)
Christ had come into the world in order to set people free from their bondage. That was precisely the work for which He came, and it was a good work to the glory of God. Turn with me in your Bibles to Luke 4:16, just by way of reminder…
“He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. And he stood up to read. The scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written: “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him, and he began by saying to them, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”” (Luke 4:16–21, NIV84)
Here was the work that Christ had come to do. And he was performing that work in the midst of the people.
With that in mind, let us note…
4. The Contrasting Consequences (v.17)
4. The Contrasting Consequences (v.17)
We find the different consequences / responses in verse 17 of our text…
17 When he said this, all his opponents were humiliated, but the people were delighted with all the wonderful things he was doing.
Firstly, there were the opponents of Jesus. Clearly, the synagogue ruler was not the only one that was opposed to Jesus healing on the Sabbath. There were probably other religious leaders there. Apart from them, there would have been those who were from the crowds, probably the stricter of the religious people, and they stood on the side of the leaders, determined to hold to their strict set of rules and regulations.
But I want us to note that all of these who were opposed to Jesus had this pride of heart in terms of their strict obedience to regulations. They were more concerned with obeying rules than showing mercy to people. They were more concerned about making themselves right in the eyes of God and man, than actually living a life of service towards, and care for others.
In light of the position that they took in this matter, we note that they were humiliated. I think it’s important to see that their humiliation came both as a result of the healing and the words of Christ. It was through a combination of both.
Very clearly, Christ was vindicated in what He did through the fact that a woman that had been disabled for 18 years was now able to walk and move around freely. Based on that fact alone, God was very evidently behind the work of Jesus. Although the Synagogue Ruler was very indignant at what took place, he could not deny the reality of the healed person standing in front of him. In that sense, he really ought to have thought twice about his position. Nonetheless he responded according to his indignation.
But further to this, Christ’s words clearly hit home through what he said them. Suddenly, the Synagogue Ruler and all those that supported his view came face to face with the reality that they cared more for animals than they did for the descendants of Abraham. They were prepared to set animals free to drink water, but they would not allow the descendants of Abraham to be set free from bondage to Satan on the Sabbath, and to sing praises to God.
And this is what heightened their sense of humiliation. They could not respond. The situation was clear. With a healed lady standing in their presence, and the arguments of Christ in terms of their own inconsistencies, they had no substantive response.
On the other hand, there were those people from the crowds that were delighted at what was unfolding. According to Luke, they were delighted because of all the wonderful things that Christ was doing. In this sense, the crowds were more attuned to the nature and character of God than were the religious leaders. I don’t think we should read too much further into that. Sadly, many of the crowds would ultimately abandon Christ, and turn their backs on him. Nonetheless, the response from them in this instance was appropriate. /
With that in mind, I would like to draw a number of points of application for us this morning.
Application / Conclusion
Application / Conclusion
A.1. Our Freedom in Christ
A.1. Our Freedom in Christ
The first point under application that I’d like us to see is that ultimately Christ came to set us free from bondage sin and darkness. Christ came into the world to proclaim freedom. In the context of his earthly ministry, that freedom was often made tangibly visible through physical healings. But ultimately, the greatest enemy has never been physical affliction, but rather spiritual bondage to sin.
14 We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin.
There is this bondage to sin that we are all born into, and the greatest need of every person is to be set free from this bondage to sin.
And friends, that is precisely the reason for Christ coming. He came in order to set us free. First and foremost, He came to set us free from the consequences of our sin and rebellion. In other words, he came to bring forgiveness of sin, and reconciliation with God. This is the Gospel message of reconciliation.
Now, if you are wavering, not sure if you should walk in obedience to Christ or not. Is it worth the sacrifice, you may ask! Let me just say that the pleasures of sin never ultimately deliver on what they promise. Sin always leads to a sense of guilt. Sin will always lead to judgment and condemnation.
16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
But beyond this, I think we need to also recognise that this freedom extends beyond this, to a freedom to act with love towards God and towards neighbour. But we need to see that this freedom means that there will be differences in views and opinions on what is acceptable or not acceptable.
1 Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on disputable matters. 2 One man’s faith allows him to eat everything, but another man, whose faith is weak, eats only vegetables. 3 The man who eats everything must not look down on him who does not, and the man who does not eat everything must not condemn the man who does, for God has accepted him. 4 Who are you to judge someone else’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls. And he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand.
Just note, we should not use freedom as a covering for evil…
16 Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God. 17 Show proper respect to everyone: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king.
A.2. The Need for Compassion
A.2. The Need for Compassion
Since compassion is clearly a mark of God, a characteristic of the nature of God, we ought to be those that demonstrate and live with a heart of compassion towards others.
Turn to Colossians 3:12
12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.
Turn to Galatians 5:22-26
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.
Note also what this is contrasted with… the previous few verses in Galatians…
19 The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.
Turn to Philippians 2:1-4
1 If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. 4 Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.
Compassion as part of Christian witness and testimony, or as part of the fruit of salvation.
One of the reasons that I want us to see this is because we so often fail to deal sensitively with those around us who are experiencing the pains and difficulties of life.
We also fail to deal with compassion with those who are struggling against sin in their lives. They have an honest and sincere desire to live righteously, growing in holiness, and they are putting measures in place… and they are making progress, albeit slow progress. We need to deal compassionately with people.
When we don’t deal in this way with them, we must see that this is very much out of keeping with the character of Christ. The nature and character of God and his son Jesus Christ is such that he is a deep care and compassion for people. Particularly for people who are enduring great struggles and difficulties. God hears the cries of his people. We ought to hear other people as they are in a state of affliction and to show them compassion and sympathy.
A.3. Compassion and the Gospel Call go Hand-in-Hand
A.3. Compassion and the Gospel Call go Hand-in-Hand
This is to be seen both in the manner that we call the world to repentance and faith in Christ, and also how we deal with people when they are in need of the Gospel to apply to their lives in a particular circumstance.
Keep in mind that the context of Jesus demonstrating this compassion to the woman by setting her free is the importance of preaching the Gospel message of repentance. It is the truth that Christ has not come to bring peace, but a sword.
We can never take that to mean that Christ has come to fight with people, or to be nasty, or to be arrogant. Not at all. The simple reality is that when the true Gospel is graciously and lovingly proclaimed, and perhaps even demonstrated, then this sword and division will come.
This is simply to say, we must preach the Gospel with grace and compassion. We must call people to repentance and faith in Christ. They need that. But should do so in a winsome and gracious manner. There is perhaps a time for warning as well. But even then, that should not flow from a place of arrogance.
Francis Schaffer: “Biblical orthodoxy without compassion is surely the ugliest thing in the world.”
Friends, let me ask in closing, have you come to experience the grace and mercy and compassion of God through the freedom that comes from the Gospel. Have you been set free?
If not, then the Gospel message is for you today, to confess your sin, repent of sin and self-righteous efforts of salvation, and to submit to Jesus Christ as your Saviour, and your Lord.
If you have been set free, my call to you is to live your life in light of that freedom, loving God in that freedom, loving neighbour in that freedom, showing compassion and mercy that is in keeping with nature and character of the God we serve.
May God enable us to do that.