Text Study for the Thirteenth Sunday in

Pentecost – Year C
The Rev. Joseph Winston
August 21, 2010

Commentary
Isaiah 58:9b-14
The prophet tells the believers that if they improve themselves and the lot of oth-
ers, then your life will be better because God will help you.

Isaiah 58:9 Then you shall call, and the L ORD will answer – The basic assump-
tion here is unlike other rulers, this One will listen to the demands of His
people and answer. This means that He is held accountable for His actions
and the inverse is also true. The people must hold up their side of the bar-
gain.
If you remove the yoke from among you – The appointed lectionary begins
here as do the list of requirements. Yokes come in many forms. Some are
found in poor behaviors that cause us to be worn down by this world. Others
are placed on us. Age and gender are two examples along with the difference
between the insider and outsider found in the following pairs: master/slave,
heir/illegitimate, citizen/alien.
the pointing of the finger, the speaking of evil – This is how we divide the
world into us and them. By showing pointing out who “they” are, we iden-
tify ourselves. By demonizing the others, we set them apart and it makes
the step of dehumanizing them very easy.

Isaiah 58:10 if you offer your food to the hungry – In times of surplus, there
is little risk with offering a meal to someone else. But when members of

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 society are already living on the edge between life and death, sharing a
meal might also condemn your own family to death. This is the radical call
of the prophet. Trust the L ORD even in the bad times, even when you do not
know where your next meal is coming from.
then your light shall rise in the darkness – The result of helping others,
especially when you have nothing to share, shows the world what they must
do.

Isaiah 58:11 The L ORD will guide you continually – Despite what the people
may or may not do, the promise of the L ORD continues.
and satisfy your needs in parched places – Human, animals, and plants re-
quire water to live. The L ORD will provide.
and make your bones strong – A well balanced diet is necessary for the
human endoskeleton. The L ORD will provide.
and you shall be like a watered garden – These blessings of the L ORD will
continue day and night. The world will see the L ORD’s actions and His
name will be blessed.

Isaiah 58:12 Your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt – The previous investments that
have been found to be bankrupt will now pay back rich dividends.

Isaiah 58:13 If you refrain from trampling the sabbath – A day of rest in an
abundant society is easy because you do not have to worry where your next
meal is coming from. The prophet is speaking to a people that often do not
have enough. This makes keeping the sabbath holy even harder because you
could take that day as one to earn food for your family.

Isaiah 58:14 you shall take delight in the L ORD – The hope is that by living in a
world that all have enough for the day, the people will be happy.

Psalm 103:1-8
In an interior dialog, the psalmist asks his inner being to thank God for everything.
This section ends with a well known quote “The L ORD is merciful and gracious,
slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.”

Psalm 103:1 Bless the L ORD, O my soul – The author is reminding himself that
his entire life should be lived in a way that the world sees the L ORD.

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 Psalm 103:2 do not forget all his benefits – In the world, it is very easy to become
distracted with day to day life and to push the L ORD somewhere out of sight.
The author reminds his audience that the L ORD must be kept in mind at all
times.

Psalm 103:3 who forgives all your iniquity – The final arbitrator in creation is
the L ORD.

Psalm 103:4 who redeems your life from the Pit – People sell their existence to
others. This occurs in many different ways. Sometimes, it is out of sheer
necessity. You need a job and are willing to do anything, even if it kills you.
In other ways, small everyday decisions move you from the L ORD’s house.

Psalm 103:5 who satisfies you with good as long as you live – The reality of this
world stands in stark contrast to the unbridled optimism found here. The
issue is complex but can be broken down into three broad categories. The
first is deciding who is responsible for what happens in the world. Realists
will admit this fact and ask why evil exists. This is not enough. People
and powers must be specifically named. The next is identifying who should
do something about what is found. Certainly, there are people who do not
have a good life. It might be that they need to change. It is also true that
others might have to amend their ways. The final issue is preventing the
problem from happening again. This could require a trial and punishment
or reconciliation.

Psalm 103:6 The L ORD works vindication and justice for all who are oppressed
– The question is when does this judgement come.

Psalm 103:7 He made known his ways to Moses – The underlying unspoken
assumption is that the transmission of information from the L ORD to Moses
was both completely unambiguous and that it covers every possible situation
known to humanity.

Psalm 103:8 The L ORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding
in steadfast love. – These characteristics bring hope for change in this life.

Hebrews 12:18-29
The author’s view of God is that of the total other. One who’s physical appearance
is frightening and One who demands complete and total adherence to the rules.

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Next, the followers of Christ are warned not to ignore Jesus. Finally, using an
analogy of an earthquake, the author tells us that while all of creation may shake
God’s kingdom stands still. Our duty is to give worship to God because God is the
other.

Hebrews 12:18 You have not come to something that can be touched – The item
that is being illustrated resides outside of normal human existence.

Hebrews 12:19 whose words made the hearers beg that not another word be
spoken to them – So foreign is this One, that even simple communication is
too much to bear.

Hebrews 12:20 If even an animal touches the mountain, it shall be stoned to

death. – The distance between the other and this One is so great that even
an accidental encounter brings death.

Hebrews 12:21 Moses said, “I tremble with fear.” – The Lord’s chosen knew that
his life was at risk.

Hebrews 12:22 you have come – Followers of the Way, approach this dreadful
sight in a different frame of mind.

Hebrews 12:23 to the assembly – Not only is the Lord here in worship but also
all those who the Lord has chosen.

Hebrews 12:24 Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant – The previous agreements
between the Lord and His people have not passed away. This is another
binding treaty between God and His people.

Hebrews 12:25 do not refuse the one who is speaking – The choice set before the
people is to ignore Jesus.

Hebrews 12:26 Yet once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heaven.
– Dramatic change is coming in the world, but this does not decrease in any
way the One who brings the change.

Hebrews 12:27 so that what cannot be shaken may remain – Separation comes
in this illustration by removing what does not belong.

Hebrews 12:28 receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken – By definition then,

what remains is strong. If you will, something that cannot be “shaken” even

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 though this action occurred in the process of dividing creation into those
who follow the Way and those who do not.

Hebrews 12:29 our God is a consuming fire – Drawing on the imagery in Exodus,
the author reminds his audience that God changes everything.

Luke 13:10-17
The Gospel Lesson for us today presents us with a sharply defined story of oppos-
ing priorities. On one side are the leader of the synagogue and those who follow
this way of thinking. They oppose the healing of the woman because they believe
the primary issue in faithfulness to God is following the Law to the letter. On the
opposite side is Jesus with a completely different viewpoint. Jesus says, God is
more concerned with the health of all of creation.
The leader of the synagogue and Jesus would surely agree that we must love
God with every bit of our existence. This, the heart of Judaism and Christianity,
can be found throughout the Old and New Testament. In Deuteronomy, God tells
the people, to “love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your
soul, and with all your might. (Deuteronomy 6:5).” This phrase along with the
introduction that “the Lord is our God, the Lord alone” is an integral part of the
faith (Deuteronomy 6:4). The people of Israel are to keep these words in their
hearts, to tell their children this teaching, to discuss the meaning of loving God
at all times, and to physically attach this phrase to their body and their houses
(Deuteronomy 6:6-9).
In fact, we can be even bolder with the assertion that these two men agreed
with this teaching because both men would have had them inscribed on the prayer
shawls they were wearing and they also could be found tied to their arms.
After this one point of agreement, their views diverge completely. The leader
of the synagogue assumes that God’s first priority in this world is to remain com-
mitted to a firmly established set of laws. This viewpoint means that every one of
God’s laws must be followed to the letter. In other words, this woman has been
sick for eighteen years. It will not hurt her to be healed until after sunset because
this is the time that God has set for work to be done.
Jesus totally disagrees with this set of priorities. He is concerned with the well
being of all of its members. This is why Jesus healed the woman on Saturday. She
was possessed by a force that kept her oppressed for eighteen years. What better
way to show everyone that God cares for all of creation than by ridding her of
this demon? All throughout Luke, Jesus constantly presents us with this image of

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God. Take for example the beloved story of the shepherd who leaves the ninety-
nine sheep to find the one that is lost (Luke 15:5). When that wayward sheep is
finally found, the shepherd calls all of his friends together for a party celebrating
the animal’s return (Luke 15:6). Or what about the story of the woman who lost
a single coin? In order to find the missing coin, she completely turns the house
upside down (Luke 15:8). When it finally turns up, she invites everyone over to
share in her joy (Luke 15:9).
Make no mistake; Jesus is not eliminating any of the requirements of the Law.
You can hear this in His own Words, “it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away,
than for one dot of the law to become void (Luke 16:17).” Instead of removing the
Law, today’s Gospel lesson shows us that God has a different emphases. First and
foremost, God’s concern is for authentic life: one that is lived in relationship with
God and in community with the rest of creation. Order in this world is achieved
through the following God’s Law.

Luke 13:10 he was teaching – From the discussion that follows, it appears that
teaching on the Sabbath is perfectly acceptable.
on the sabbath – The word sabbath appears five times this lectionary.

Luke 13:11 And just then there appeared a woman – If the line “he was teaching
in one of the synagogues” and this line are correct, then Jesus must be in the
outside courts of the synagogue because a woman cannot be found in the
interior.
with a spirit – In reality, this is an exorcism.
crippled her for eighteen years – There appears to be no reason for the
woman to be healed on the Sabbath. Was it because of God’s passion? Was
it to befuddle the crowds?
᾿Ασθένεια appears in the Greek text and it is not translated by the NRSV.
Asthenia is a medical condition that is seen when a person does not have
enough energy or is weaker than to be expected.
In Luke’s account, Jesus does not come to invalidate the Law for He says,
“But it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away, than for one dot of the
law to become void (Luke 16:17).” Instead, the real issue is how the Law is
interpreted.

Luke 13:12 Woman, you are set free from your ailment. – The Greek reads γύναι
ἀπολέλυσαι τῆς ἀσθενείας σου. The Greek 2nd person perfect passive in-

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 dicative singular ἀπολέλυσαι indicates that God was responsible for the ac-
tion.1

Luke 13:13 he laid his hands on her – Men do not touch any women except for
their wives.

Luke 13:14 indignant – This is the only use of ἀγανακτέω in Luke and it appears
to mean irritated.
There are six days on which work ought to be done – Deuteronomy 5:14
states that oxes and asses may not work on the Sabbath.2 The text in Deuteron-
omy 22:1-4 indicates that one may help and animal that has fallen.3

Luke 13:15 untie his ox or his donkey from the manger, and lead it away to give
it water – Other limitations on work include untying knots, and leading
animals to water.4 So it appears that they teach this law but do not follow it.

Luke 13:16 And ought not this woman – This is an argument from the lesser to
the greater.
Satan bound – Compare the message that Jesus comes to free the captive
(Luke 4:18)
whom Satan bound for eighteen long years – An argument might be made
that those who oppose Jesus are in league with satan.

Luke 13:17 the entire crowd was rejoicing at all the wonderful things that he was
doing. – Are they simply looking for bread and a circus?

References
Johnson, Luke Timothy; Harrington, S.J., Daniel J., editor, The Gospel of Luke,
Volume 3, Sacra Pagina, (The Liturgical Press, Collegeville, MN: The
Liturgical Press, 1991).

1
Luke Timothy Johnson; Daniel J. Harrington, S.J., editor, The Gospel of Luke, Volume 3,
Sacra Pagina, (The Liturgical Press, Collegeville, MN: The Liturgical Press, 1991), p. 212.
2
Ibid.
3
Ibid.
4
Ibid.