Luke 13:15
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“You hypocrites!” the Lord replied. “Does not each of you on the Sabbath untie his ox or donkey from the stall and lead it to water?
Commentaries
Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.
the Lord--(See on Luk 10:1). hypocrite!--How "the faithful and true Witness" tears off the masks which men wear! his ox, &c.--(See on Mat 12:9-13; and Luk 6:9).
Open source ↗In this chapter we have, I. The good improvement Christ made of a piece of news that was brought him concerning some Galileans, that were lately massacred by Pilate, as they were sacrificing in the temple at Jerusalem (Luk 13:1-5). II. The parable of the fruitless fig-tree, by which we are warned to bring forth fruits meet for that repentance to which he had in the foregoing passage called us (Luk 13:6-9). III. Christ's healing a poor infirm woman on the sabbath day, and justifying himself in it (Luk 13:11-17). IV. A repetition of the parables of the grain of mustard-seed and the leaven (Luk 13:18-22). V. His answer to the question concerning the number of the saved (Luk 13:23-30). VI. The slight he put upon Herod's malice and menaces, and the doom of Jerusalem read (Luk 13:31-35).
Open source ↗13:15-16 You hypocrites! The religious leaders would take care of their own animals on the Sabbath (to protect their investment) but then refuse to meet the needs of a fellow human being. In an ironic wordplay, the same word is translated untie (13:15) and released (13:16). The religious leaders would free their animals but not a daughter of Abraham—one of God’s chosen people and a recipient of his favor. • in bondage by Satan: Jesus’ exorcisms and healings manifested the Kingdom of God and the defeat of Satan (see 11:20).
Open source ↗Cross-references
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And He asked them, “Which of you whose son or ox falls into a pit on the Sabbath day will not immediately pull him out?”
How can you say, ‘Brother, let me take the speck out of your eye,’ while you yourself fail to see the beam in your own eye? You hypocrite! First take the beam out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.
For the ruthless will vanish, the mockers will disappear, and all who look for evil will be cut down—
In the same way, on the outside you appear to be righteous, but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.
You hypocrite! First take the beam out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.
Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the kingdom of heaven in men’s faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let in those who wish to enter.
You hypocrites! Isaiah prophesied correctly about you:
In the meantime, a crowd of many thousands had gathered, so that they were trampling one another. Jesus began to speak first to His disciples: “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.
Disregard them! They are blind guides. If a blind man leads a blind man, both will fall into a pit.”
that godless men should not rule or lay snares for the people.