While Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues on the sabbath, behold, there was a woman who had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years and was bowed together, and she could in no wise lift herself up. And when Jesus saw her, He called her unto Himself, and said unto her, Woman, you are loosed from your infirmity.

And Jesus laid His hands on her: and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God. And the ruler of the synagogue answered with indignation, because that Jesus had healed on the sabbath day, and said unto the people, There are six days in which men ought to work: in them therefore come and be healed, but not on the sabbath day.

The Lord then answered him and said, you hypocrite, do not each one of you on the sabbath loose his ox or his ass from the stall and lead him away to watering? And ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom satan had bound, lo, these eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the sabbath day? And when Jesus had said these things, all of His adversaries were ashamed: and all the people rejoiced for all the glorious things that were done by Him. Luke 13 : 10-17.

This is really important, you have to know this:

  • Jesus exposed the hypocrisy of those who honored religious rules but ignored mercy.

  • While the leaders were offended that healing took place on the Sabbath, Jesus revealed the heart of God: to set the bound free—even on the holy day.

  • This woman, bent low for eighteen long years under satan’s oppression, was seen, called, touched, and instantly restored by the power of Christ.

And though the religious rulers were silenced in shame, the people rejoiced. The kingdom of God had broken through, not in ritual, but in liberation. Let every heart that is bound hear His voice—you are loosed..