August 5

Luke 13:10-17 (Click to see scripture)

Bible in One Year Passages:

Journal Entry

Scripture

15Then 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? 16And ought not this woman, a daughter of Abraham whom Satan bound for eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath day?"

Observation

This passage reads like a movie scipt. Jesus meets a woman in need. The people are amazed by the miraculous healing but then the evil rulers come to judge him and to lecture them about rules that would prevent this miracle. Our hero rises up and lashes a counter-attack against them. They are thoroughly embarassed and the last scene shows the people cheering on Jesus and congratulating this woman who has been healed. But there is more to this account than an enjoyable story. There is spiritual truth.

Jesus has the spiritual discernment to obey God's law as well as God's intent. The rulers knew the law and made allowance for the physical need of their animals. Yet they didn't want to allow it for the physical need of this woman, oblivious to God's intent. They had an alterior motive. They spoke out against Jesus because they wanted to trap him. They are hypocrites not only because they applied God's rule differently to their animals and this woman but also because they were manipulating God's law for their own gain. They were not interested in honoring God, they wanted to condemn and discredit Jesus.

Application

I am guilty of applying God's rules differently to others. It may escape my notice that I "untie my donkey to water it." Today, God is telling me not to judge others. He reminds me to love my neighbor as myself and that my neighbor is whoever is in need. In loving others, I have to really see things from their perspective. Would I want healing today if I have been disabled for 18 years? Would I want to pass up the opportunity to be healed today given the uncertainty of meeting Jesus again tomorrow?

I want to have the spiritual discernment to obey God's commands and God's intent. Without prayer time with God, this is not possible. I try too hard to understand God rather than trying to let go of myself and allow the Holy Spirit to lead me. If I trust the Spirit, then I will have spiritual discernment. I will see that Satan has bound this woman for 18 years and that she should be loosed right now on the Sabbath day. God promised to give us the Holy Spirit to those who ask. It is up to me to ask, receive and submit to the Spirit today.

Prayer

Lord, I find myself leaning on my own understanding rather than trusting you to lead me. Thank you that you love me and that the Holy Spirit intercedes for me. I am not what I want to be and often find myself to be a hypocrite. Yet you are compassionate and patient. Fill me with your Spirit and teach me to let go of myself daily.

--Jason Kim