13:12 And when Jesus saw her, he called [her to him], and said unto her, Woman, thou art {e} loosed from thine infirmity.
(e) For Satan had the woman bound, as if she had been in chains, to the extent that for eighteen years time she could not hold up her head.
13:11-13 There was a woman who had a spirit of infirmity. This case of healing in the synagogue on the Sabbath is only given by Luke. We do not know when or where it occurred. In Mt 12:10-13 Mr 3:1-5, is recorded a similar case. The disease of the woman was probably paralysis.
13:10-17 Our Lord Jesus attended upon public worship on the sabbaths. Even bodily infirmities, unless very grievous, should not keep us from public worship on sabbath days. This woman came to Christ to be taught, and to get good to her soul, and then he relieved her bodily infirmity. This cure represents the work of Christ's grace upon the soul. And when crooked souls are made straight, they will show it by glorifying God. Christ knew that this ruler had a real enmity to him and to his gospel, and that he did but cloak it with a pretended zeal for the sabbath day; he really would not have them be healed any day; but if Jesus speaks the word, and puts forth his healing power, sinners are set free. This deliverance is often wrought on the Lord's day; and whatever labour tends to put men in the way of receiving the blessing, agrees with the design of that day.
