The Gospel of Luke 13:14 When God Says...I Say, AMEN!

When God Says …

“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, and not on the sabbath day.” (Luke 13:14 KJV).

It is amazing how religion can warp the minds and perspectives of those who are held captive by its deceptive creeds. This synagogue leader, an equivalent to this age’s so-called “church” leaders, exemplifies the blindness that the eye-patch of religion provides. Instead of praising and glorifying God for the restoration of one of his long-suffering congregant, he sees instead a perceived infraction of their stiff religious laws. It dashes out compassion and love, towards his fellow “church” member in dire need.

This synagogue leader, enraged by the Lord’s healing a woman on the Sabbath, rebukes the crowd, instructing them to seek healing on a "work" day, and not on Sabbath day. It highlights conflict between rigid legalism, valuing religious rules over compassion to people in need. Love and compassion are the hallmarks of the Lord’s gospel of grace. This verse exposes religious hypocrisy, prioritizing, as the Lord later notes, religious customs and traditions, man-made interpretations of the Law over mercy and love for salvation of the lost souls.

In this passage, the Lord Jesus shows that the Sabbath was intended to celebrate liberation, and He corrects a narrow, cold view of the law, by prioritizing divine compassionate love. God’s intent for Sabbath is not a legalistic and rigid religious day off, but a, "finished work" rest in Christ Jesus, where believers cease striving, to receive favors and healing by grace. When we enter His rest by faith in Christ Jesus, our Father works. “And this was why the Jews were persecuting the Lord Jesus, because He was doing these things on the Sabbath rest. But Jesus answered them, “My Father is working until now, and I am working.”” (John 5:16-17 ESV).

And I say, AMEN!

Daily reflections by:
F. A. Frias
PFC Ministries

When God says... I say, AMEN! is a provocative reflection of the Lord's holy Word. It intends to challenge every seeker of truth to dig deep into the core of the Word of Life to point every being to Christ Jesus - the author and finisher of our faith, and to draw revelations for change, for nourishment and for strength of every soul.

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