Luke 13:14 - The ruler of the synagogue, being indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, said to the multitude, “There are six days in which men ought to work. Therefore come on those days and be healed, and not on the Sabbath day!”

Generated Verse: Luke 13:14

What does "Luke 13:14" mean?


This verse from Luke 13:14 reveals the conflict between Jesus' actions and the strict interpretation of Sabbath law held by some religious leaders. Here's a breakdown of what it means:

Context: Jesus had just healed a woman who had been crippled for 18 years on the Sabbath. This miracle happened in a synagogue, during a Sabbath service.
"The ruler of the synagogue, being indignant...": This indicates that the leader of the synagogue was angry or offended by Jesus' action. His indignation was not about the woman's suffering, but about the perceived violation of Sabbath rules.
"...because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath...": Healing was considered work, and strict interpretations of Jewish law prohibited working on the Sabbath. This leader saw Jesus' healing as a transgression of that law.
"...said to the multitude...": The ruler addressed the congregation, not Jesus directly. This suggests he was trying to sway public opinion against Jesus.
“There are six days in which men ought to work. Therefore come on those days and be healed, and not on the Sabbath day!”: This is the crux of the verse. The ruler is saying:

The Sabbath is for rest: According to him, the Sabbath is solely for rest and worship, not for performing any kind of work, including healing.
Healing can wait: He argues that people can postpone their needs until the other six days of the week to comply with the Sabbath law.
He implies Jesus is deliberately breaking the law: By suggesting people come for healing on other days, he implies that Jesus is purposely defying the Sabbath rules for his own purposes.

In essence, the verse highlights:

Clash of Interpretations: It underscores the tension between Jesus' compassionate approach to the law (emphasizing its spirit and purpose - helping people) and the rigid, legalistic interpretation held by some religious leaders.
Priorities: It reveals a conflict of priorities. The ruler valued strict adherence to the Sabbath law above the immediate relief of someone's suffering.
Hypocrisy (Implied): While not explicitly stated in this verse, it sets the stage for Jesus' response (found in the following verses), which often exposes the hypocrisy of such strict interpretations, as they often allowed for other exceptions on the Sabbath when it suited their needs.

The verse is a powerful example of the conflict between Jesus' ministry and the established religious authorities, illustrating different perspectives on the purpose and application of religious law.

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