And 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. (Luke 13:11 NKJV)
Infirmity – a physical weakness or ailment; lack of strength.
But when Jesus saw her, He called her to Him and said to her, “Woman, you are loosed from your infirmity.” And He laid His hands on her, and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God. (Luke 13:12, 13 NKJV)
Loosed – free from anything that binds or restrains; free from fastening or attachment.
What an amazing passage! A woman who could not walk upright because a spirit of Satan has her in shackles for 18 years. There are many thing that I take away from this:
– Jesus was teaching in the synagogues on the Sabbath.
– This lady believed and was called by Jesus “a daughter of Abraham.”
– She immediately glorifies God when healed.
– Satan had bound her with an “unseen” spirit of infirmity with physical consequences.
– Jesus loosens the spirit by both proclaiming the Father’s words and with physical touch.
– The ruler of the synagogue responds out of frustration that the law was not being recognized (in his mind).
– Jesus looked at the situation and had grace and mercy on the woman. He helped because He knew what His Father wanted Him to do. Jesus calls the woman to Himself in this example.
– People are to be considered more valuable than animals.
The 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? 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?” And 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. (Luke 13:15-17 NKJV)
Michael LaFond 