13:14
As was often the case, the religious leaders were horrified that their rules had been broken, rather than rejoicing that God had set a woman free. This is what happens when we become legalistic. Moreover, it was happens when we set ourselves up as gods, which is what the religious leaders had done. It is also what we can do if we are not careful. Calvinists can do it, charismatics can do it, we can all do it. Jesus had not actually violated anything in the Law, only the man made rules. The religious leaders had violated the “rule” that God loves people.
13:15,16
Jesus then points out that the Law itself allowed a donkey or other animal to be led out to water on the Sabbath. The Law itself said “use some common sense”. Worse, the leaders were devaluing human life. This woman was someone created in the image of God and God delighted in setting her free. As Jesus says elsewhere, the Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. This woman was a daughter of Abraham, Jesus is stressing how valuable she is. The gospel values people.
13:17
The religious leaders were humiliated. Not just because of their general attitude, but because they had been shown up to not really understand the law at all, something they prided themselves on. The people were presented with a different view of the Law, one that put God’s love and care for man at the forefront. We need to do the same when we present the gospel. The gospel is God-centered, Jesus-centered, but God is focused on us. Now if we make ourselves the focus we are wrong and completely miss the heart of the gospel. But when we truly have Jesus at the centre we will find that God’s love for man will shine out.
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