AFFLICTED DAUGHTER OF ABRAHAM

LUKE 13:1

A. "AND, BEHOLD, THERE WAS A WOMAN WHICH HAD A SPIRIT OF INFIRMITY EIGHTEEN YEARS, AND WAS BOWED TOGETHER AND COULD IN NO WISE LIFT UP HERSELF"
  1. Our Lord identified this woman:
    1. By calling her "a daughter of Abraham" - Luke 13:16
    2. He thus identified her with the family of Abraham, whom the Jews claimed as their father - John 8:33
  2. When the Jews objected to her being healed on the Sabbath day:
    1. They contradicted their claims
    2. And showed beyond any doubt that they were not motivated by the spirit of Abraham
B. AFFLICTED DAUGHTER OF ABRAHAM
  1. When the Son of God called the afflicted woman "a daughter of Abraham":
    1. He showed that the woman was far more precious in the sight of God than an ox or an ass
    2. The title the Lord gave her indicates that the afflicted woman was of the inner circle - perhaps one of the remnant in Israel - Is. 37:4; 31-32
  2. The infirmity of the daughter of Abraham indicates further:
    1. That God's children are not necessarily exempted from suffering. There are times one wonders just why certain of God's people are exposed to affliction - Example: Job was a righteous man, yet what suffering he endured. Wrote the Psalmist, "Many are the afflictions of the righteous but the Lord delivereth him out of them all" - Ps. 34:19
    2. God permits these infirmities to dray the afflicted closer to Himself - Heb. 12:5-11
    3. The phrases Luke uses reveal his professional touch, "a spirit of infirmity", "bowed together", and "could in no wise life herself up"
    4. The duration of the infirmity - eighteen long years - that indicates that her trouble was long standing and hopeless
  3. The Deliverer of her malady:
    1. It is most profitable to study our Lord's varied methods in healing the sick. He did not cure in the same way all that were brought to Him
    2. He called this infirm woman, touched her and said, "Thou art loosed from thine infirmity" - "immediately she was made straight" There was divine power in action; creative power, redeeming power
    3. The woman herself glorified God, and so did the people who witnessed this miracles; but the ruler of the house answered with indignation - how blind people can be
C. A TIMELY LESSON FOR US
  1. God's children are not always exempted from bodily infirmities, as is shown in our text:
    1. The infirm woman was very devout, never failed to be among the worshipers at the temple - she had this infirmity eighteen years
    2. Our compassionate Saviour is mindful of His suffering children, "In all their affliction he was afflicted" - Is. 63:9; "Surely He hath born our griefs and carried our sorrows" - Is. 53:4
  2. Infirmity of the body should never:
    1. Keep us from the place of worship - Heb. 10:25-26
    2. Nor should it lessen our love and affection for the Lord or His service, "We glory in tribulation" - Rom. 5:3
    3. We should present ourselves to the Lord in prayer, "Is anyone among you afflicted, let him pray" - James 5:13
  3. The healing took place on the Sabbath Day:
    1. Our Lord healed a number of persons on the Sabbath Day - compare Mark 2:1-28 with Matt. 12:10-14; John 5:1-13
    2. To the blind Pharisees healing on the Sabbath was transgression of the fourth commandment; but He who made the Sabbath for man said, "It is lawful to do good even on the Sabbath Day" - Matt. 12:12
    3. The fourth commandment does not forbid to be merciful to the suffering


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