Luke 13:10-21

Luke 13:10-Esther : . A Woman Healed on the Sabbath. (Lk. only; cf. Luke 6:1-1 Kings :).— Loisy is too fanciful in connecting this section with what precedes by suggesting that as the barren tree stands for unrepentant Israel so the healed woman, and those who rejoice with her, represent those Jews who accepted Jesus as Messiah. The phrase “ spirit of infirmity” shows that the case was regarded as one of demoniacal possession, perhaps Lk.’ s misconception of Jesus’ reference to Satan in Luke 13:16. There is no hint of exorcism in the story; the woman has a curved spine and Jesus heals her by imposition of hands. With “ daughter of Abraham,” cf. Luke 19:9. The official in charge somewhat meanly attacks Jesus through the people, and especially the patient, though there is no indication that she had come seeking a cure. Jesus shows how even the Law gave way to common-sense and human feelings in the case of beasts on the Sabbath; much more so should it yield in the case of a woman ( cf. Matthew 12:12).

Luke 13:13-Ecclesiastes : . Parables of the Mustard Seed and Leaven ( Mark 4:30-Jonah : *, Matthew 13:31-Micah : *).— There is no real connexion with the foregoing incident; “ therefore” ( Luke 13:18) is only an attempt at a link; though Loisy, who has seen converted Jews in Luke 13:16, sees converted Gentiles in the “ birds” of Luke 13:19, and the heathen world in the “ three measures of meal” ( Luke 13:21). Three measures (see pp. 115f.) was a usual baking ( Genesis 18:6)— there is no allegory of “ body, mind, and spirit” or “ earth, Church, and State.”