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I. THE AFFLICTED WOMAN.

1. The nature of her complaint. Probably her spine was affected, so that she could not stand erect. Such a deformity, while humiliating to all, would be particularly trying to a female.

2. Its duration. A sharp affliction, if short, is much easier borne than a lighter one that is long continued, as in this instance.

II. THE UNEXPECTED CURE SHE RECEIVED.

1. Where she was cured. In the synagogue. In spite of her deformity, she did not absent herself from the sanctuary. Well for her that she did not!

2. The manner in which she was cured. Two things are mentioned.

(1) The gracious words which our Saviour uttered. As in the case of the ten lepers, she is declared to be cured before the act was performed. But with Christ, purpose anal accomplishment, willing and doing, are identical. When He speaks, the thing is as good as done; when He commands it is sure to stand fast.

(2) The condescending act He performed.

3. How she felt when cured. It is said that "she glorified God," by which is meant that she adored and magnified His holy name for the wonderful deliverance she had experienced. There are many ways in which we are to glorify Him, and this is one of the most important. It might have been supposed that all present would have joined with her in praising God; such, however, was not the case. Other feelings than those of grateful homage and adoration were called forth, which leads us to the next particular, namely —

III. THE REFLECTIONS WHICH HER CURE OCCASIONED. In this, the concluding part of the narrative, we have —

1. The charge.

2. The defence.

3. The result. It is shown in regard to two classes.

(1) The ruler and his party. "And when He had said these things all His adversaries were ashamed." They felt that no answer could be given to what Jesus had been saying; they were therefore speechless and confounded.

(2) The multitude. "All the people rejoiced." The miracle had been so signal, and the subsequent vindication had been so complete, that they gave unequivocal demonstrations of their gladness and delight. In applying this subject there are three classes to which it more especially speaks.

1. The wretched vassals of sin and Satan. The condition of this poor sufferer may be regarded as emblematic of every individual who is tied and bound with the chains of his iniquities. Let the sinner's cry therefore be, Lord, loose this miserable soul of mine, which Satan hath so long bound in his slavish fetters.

2. Those whose minds are too much enthralled by earthly affections. It was the misfortune of this woman that her eyes were bent downward, but what was her unavoidable calamity is our wilful sin. Our souls cleave to the dust, and we seek, not the things above, but the vain and perishable objects of time and sense. O how important is it that we Should be lifted up from such a grovelling condition, and be liberated, in order thereto, from the thraldom of this present evil world!

3. The downcast and sorrowful.

(Expository Outlines.)

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KJV: And he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the sabbath.

WEB: He was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath day.