But the leader of the synagogue,
indignant that Jesus had cured on the sabbath,
said to the crowd in reply,
"There are six days when work should be done.
The crowd doesn't understand the purpose of these laws. If they truly respected the Sabbath they would come to an ever deeper relationship with God. That relationship would compel them to offering what mercy they were able to offer to those in need even on the Sabbath.
The crowd is thinking as "debtors to the flesh". We witness here what the flesh does to twist laws which are good and just. It all stems from fear and the need to protect oneself. Laws are then used as part of an aggressive campaign designed to protect our comfort. The Sabbath is not used for relationship as it is meant to be. It is rather used against love of neighbor. It is used to minimize our responsibilities. But this is not what the law is really about.
This daughter of Abraham,
whom Satan has bound for eighteen years now,
ought she not to have been set free on the sabbath day
from this bondage?
How do we prevent our flesh from twisting God's laws in this way? We live by the spirit instead. That means we put to death the deeds of the flesh by the supernatural power of God.
For those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.
For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear,
but you received a spirit of adoption,
through which we cry, "Abba, Father!"
The power we need begins with the Spirit crying out Abba in our spirit. This cry enables us to live beyond the fears that constrain our flesh. It allows us to believe in God and to trust the plans he has for us no matter what circumstances bring.
The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit
that we are children of God,
and if children, then heirs,
heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ,
if only we suffer with him
so that we may also be glorified with him.
Let us allow the Spirit within us to convince us that we are children of a loving Father. Let that knowledge lead us beyond fear into selfless love.
The father of orphans and the defender of widows
is God in his holy dwelling.
God gives a home to the forsaken;
he leads forth prisoners to prosperity.
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