October 21, 2026 | The Crippled Woman & The Man With Dropsy | Lesson 360

LUKE 13:10-17; LUKE 14:1-6

Full lesson HERE

THE CRIPPLED WOMAN: This miracle probably occurred in Perea, the territory east of the Jordan River. The area is referred to in the New Testament as "beyond the Jordan" (Matt. 4:25; Mark 3:8), and Josephus describes it as the region lying between the Jabbok and Arnon Rivers. Perea was under the jurisdiction of Herod Antipas at the time of Jesus' ministry.

The story involves another healing on the Sabbath day, thus causing the indignation of the ruler of the synagogue. Jesus called to him a woman who had a spirit of infirmity attributed to Satan (bound by Satan, Luke 13:16) that caused her to be physically deformed—bent over, unable to straighten. He laid his hands on her and cured her instantly. The ruler of the synagogue condemned this action as a violation of the Sabbath. Jesus countered by pointing out and illustrating the hypocrisy of the rulers.

THE MAN WITH DROPSY: In this story Jesus dined at the house of a Pharisee on a Sabbath day. He had apparently been invited but was being watched in order that the Jews might entrap him. The Jews commonly feasted on the Sabbath, but the food was prepared before the Sabbath commenced in obedience to the instructions given to the Israelites in the wilderness (Ex. 16:23). A certain man who was present at the feast is described by Luke, the physician, as having dropsy. This disease causes an abnormal accumulation of fluid in the body which then becomes bloated and swollen. Often the disease is incurable.