Luke 13:10–21

Jesus Heals a Disabled Woman on the Sabbath Day

10Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues on a Sabbath day. 11A woman there had been disabled by an evil spirit for 18 years. She was bent over and could not stand up straight.

12Jesus saw her. He asked her to come to him. He said to her, “Woman, you will no longer be disabled. I am about to set you free.” 13Then he put his hands on her.

Right away she stood up straight and praised God.

14Jesus had healed the woman on the Sabbath day. This made the synagogue ruler angry. He told the people, “There are six days for work. So come and be healed on those days. But do not come on the Sabbath.”

15The Lord answered him, “You pretenders! Doesn’t each of you go to the barn and untie his ox or donkey on the Sabbath day? Then don’t you lead it out to give it water? 16This woman is a member of Abraham’s family line. But Satan has kept her disabled for 18 long years. Shouldn’t she be set free on the Sabbath day from what was keeping her disabled?”

17When Jesus said this, all those who opposed him were put to shame. But the people were delighted. They loved all the wonderful things he was doing.

The Stories of the Mustard Seed and the Yeast

18Then Jesus asked, “What is God’s kingdom like? What can I compare it to? 19It is like a mustard seed. Someone took the seed and planted it in a garden. It grew and became a tree. The birds sat in its branches.”

20Again he asked, “What can I compare God’s kingdom to? 21It is like yeast that a woman used. She mixed it into a large amount of flour. The yeast worked its way all through the dough.”