SERMON NOTES
Feb 15, 2026
Bent
Luke 13:10-21
Opening
Most things have a purpose and if you use it for a purpose it was not intended for, bad things happen. Don’t use a knife for a screwdriver. It probably won’t work and will likely break and you will probably cut yourself.
Don’t use Valentine’s day or your wedding anniversary as a measuring stick for how much your spouse loves you. It’s supposed to be a celebration rather than a test or a way to make them feel bad about themselves.
The law of God is also often misused. It was given so that we could know the character of God and so we could know what His standards are and so we could see our need for Him. The law shows us our need for Jesus. Look at Romans 8:3.
Romans 8:3 (ESV)
3For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh,
The law was designed to cause us to see that we are too weak to keep the law. It lead us to Jesus. It leads us to grace. But in Luke 13:10-21 we see the misuse of the law but we also see Jesus and His kingdom overcoming those who misuse the law.
Context
Luke is presenting a series of Jesus’ teachings as He travels from Galilee to Jerusalem. These teachings all are warnings or even condemnations of the religious leaders. Last week we looked at the previous section where Jesus condemned the idea that people who parish in disasters or are martyred are no more sinful than anyone else. All people face the disaster of death.
In Like 13:10-21, Jesus addresses the issue of religious people using the law to keep others away from grace.
Luke 13:10–11 (ESV)
10Now he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath.
11And behold, there was a woman who had had a disabling spirit for eighteen years. She was bent over and could not fully straighten herself.
Do we have some bent people here today? How long have you been struggling? This woman is bent over and has been for 18 years. Yet she is still coming to the place of worship.
Luke tells us she her condition was caused by a disabling spirit. This means that her physical condition was caused by a spiritual condition. This is not always the case. Luke has been careful to tell us that Jesus casts out demons out of some and physically heals others. Disease and injury are most often the results if living dying bodies in a fallen world. But in this case the spirit from Satan has her permanently bent over.
Satan does have the power to cause people to be unable to stand up straight though usually he is more subtle than that. He is more likely to cause people to live bent and broken lives and make it hard for them to see Jesus or to get to Jesus.
Luke 13:12–13 (ESV)
12When Jesus saw her, he called her over and said to her, “Woman, you are freed from your disability.”
13And he laid his hands on her, and immediately she was made straight, and she glorified God.
Jesus is demonstrating His authority over both her physical and spiritual conditions. He is Lord over both.
It is so great that of all the people in the synagogue, Jesus noticed and moved to help the woman who was bent. He sees all of the issues and all of the problems of everyone here today as well. And He would love to bring spiritual healing anyone who is open to being touched by Him. Jesus came to heal spiritually and that’s the best thing for you physically.
Some of you may be thinking, why doesn’t Jesus heal everyone all the time? If He has the ability, why doesn’t He use it? We must understand Jesus’ purpose when He walked the earth and now. His goal was and is to provide eternal spiritual healing that will last for eternity. Everyone Jesus healed physically on earth eventually died. But because of what Jesus did on the cross, everyone who receives the gift of salvation will live forever after death.
But some don’t like how Jesus goes about His business. Some are unhappy with Him healing her.
Luke 12:14 (ESV)
14But the ruler of the synagogue, indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, said to the people, “There are six days in which work ought to be done. Come on those days and be healed, and not on the Sabbath day.”
Wow! Sounds pretty crazy to us. “You’ve six others days to heal people but not on the day of worship and rest.” He is basically saying, “the law says you cannot heal someone on the day of rest so they can finally rest after 18 years.” And the really crazy thing is that the synagogue ruler was only stating what he was taught and the rules he was committed to upholding. He didn’t necessarily have a problem with Jesus personally. He was just keeping the rules. But the effect has that he was using the law to keep people from Jesus.
Luke 12:15-16 (ESV)
15Then the Lord answered him, “You hypocrites! Does not each of you on the Sabbath untie his ox or his donkey from the manger and lead it away to water it?
16And ought not this woman, a daughter of Abraham whom Satan bound for eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath day?”
It’s interesting that Luke refers to Jesus as the “Lord” here. It’s a way to communicate that Jesus is the one who has authority over everyone else.
Jesus does not mince words. He calls the ruler of the synagogue and other leaders hypocrites. They are pretenders. They are actors who pretend to value the things of God but in truth are only interested in maintaining their own power and prestige. They don’t truly care anything about God or His people.
He makes a comparison between what was allowable for work for animals and what was allowable for work for humans. The rules which were developed from the original law of Moses actually favored animals. Sounds familiar doesn’t it. It’s illegal in the US to remove or even disturb eggs in a sea turtle nest but it is legal to kill an unborn child. Many dogs in America are treated better than children in other places. In fact, many value their relationship with their pet over human relationships.
When the law or rules in general are used to control people or keep them from getting to Jesus, they are being misused. They are being used for the opposite purpose they were intended for. It is an indication of being bent.
Notice the people’s reaction.
Luke 12:17 (ESV)
17As he said these things, all his adversaries were put to shame, and all the people rejoiced at all the glorious things that were done by him.
The adversaries were not ashamed but they were put to shame. They were embarrassed by Jesus and His logic. They were exposed as hypocrites. And the people rejoiced. Jesus was overcoming the shackles the religious leaders had placed on the people. They were seeing Him as a true savior. Tim Keller said it well in His sermon the “Gospel Shaped Life”.
“The law places burdens on people while the Gospel removes burdens from people.”
Tim Keller
The Gospel Shaped Life
Jesus next shares two parables to cast light on what is happening.
Luke 13:18–21 (ESV)
18He said therefore, “What is the kingdom of God like? And to what shall I compare it?
19It is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his garden, and it grew and became a tree, and the birds of the air made nests in its branches.”
20And again he said, “To what shall I compare the kingdom of God?
21It is like leaven that a woman took and hid in three measures of flour, until it was all leavened.”
A grain of mustard seen is one of the smallest seeds in nature. Jesus is saying that something very small can grow into something quite large. Something seemingly insignificant can become something very significant.
Similarly, it only takes a little leaven to spread through the entire lump of dough. Once the dough is leavened, the dough is changed in an unmistakable way. The presence of the leaven changes the properties of the entire bowl of dough.
The people who witnessed the healing of the bent woman were no doubt wondering why Jesus didn’t use His power to bring His entire kingdom to the earth immediately. In response, Jesus said, my kingdom has begun. It may seem insignificant now but it will expand and expand and expand and will one day be complete and incredibly significant.
Applications
Jesus’ kingdom has come and is coming. It is expanding. What started very small among just a few people has saved millions. Some believe that this Kingdom will ultimately usher in a golden age of 1000 years on earth where the Gospel will completely dominate the culture before Jesus returns. This view is called Post-millennialism. And it could be true. I hope it’s true, but I think it is unlikely.
One thing I know is true is this. Jesus’ kingdom will absolutely grow and develop and expand and it will yield millions and millions of souls. The question for us it this. Will we be a part of it or will we be in the way?
Main Idea
Because Jesus’ kingdom is here and is expanding, be an ambassador for the Gospel rather than officer of the law.
Jesus was always breaking social expectations and going places many thought He shouldn’t go in order to share grace. He calls us to do the same. He calls us to represent Him and His good news as ambassadors. We are not called to be officers of the law. To be sure, we help people know and understand God’s character and what God expects. We hold others accountable who claim to follow Jesus. However, our role in our community is to live out the Gospel so that people can know Jesus and receive His gift of salvation.
Here are some examples of
Ambassadors of the Gospel
· Remove burdens
· Help broken people find healing and grace
· Use the law to help people know their need for God
· Build dependence on Jesus
· Develop redemptive relationships with those far from Jesus
· Long for the bent to be made straight
· Quickly repent when they sin
Officers of the Law
· Add burdens
· Use brokenness to condemn others
· Use the law to make people feel guilty and try harder
· Build dependence on themselves
· Avoid people far from Jesus
· Their bent is to expect the bent to remain bent
· Delay repentance until they do some good things
The law is designed to drive us to Jesus not to keep us from Jesus.
When I try to prove my worthiness, I am misusing the law.
When I delay repentance until I can distance myself from my sin, I misuse the law.
One of the reasons we don’t think everyone deserves the grace of Jesus is because we have a small view of His enormous love.
Close
Are you bent?
Are you helping people straighten up their lives?
Jesus’ kingdom is here and is expanding.
Be an ambassador for the Gospel rather than officer of the law.
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Revelation Teaching Notes
Week One - January
Introduction and Chapter 1
This is important but it is not a first order issue. It’s important because it helps us see:
The glory of Jesus
The victory of Jesus
How God feels about evil
The end of evil
The sovereignty of God
God’s ultimate plan
But, there are some things that are not clear and that godly, well-meaning theologians and church members disagree on. Let’s agree to remain brothers and sisters even though we may have significant disagreements about the interpretation of this book.
Some might ask, why is it so unclear? Why does God not make it clear? I cannot say for sure but I suspect that God is fine with people wrestling with different views of interpretation within reason. I think He probably intends for this to be the case.
We need to remember a couple of things whenever we struggle to understand something about God.
A God we can completely understand is not God.
Most of the best scholars of the say missed Jesus the first time. We need to be humble enough to accept the fact that we won’t get it all correct.
I also need to tell you that my views have changed over the years and as I have studied this recently.
I’m going to give you a brief overview of the 4 views of interpretation but before I do, let’s begin where nearly everyone agrees we will end up. Let’s begin in Chapter 20. I am going to read this without comment, mostly.
Revelation 20:1–21:8 (ESV)
1Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding in his hand the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain.
2And he seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years,
3and threw him into the pit, and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he might not deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years were ended. After that he must be released for a little while.
4Then I saw thrones, and seated on them were those to whom the authority to judge was committed. Also I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus and for the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.
5The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended. This is the first resurrection.
6Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! Over such the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years.
7And when the thousand years are ended, Satan will be released from his prison
8and will come out to deceive the nations that are at the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them for battle; their number is like the sand of the sea.
9And they marched up over the broad plain of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city, but fire came down from heaven and consumed them,
10and the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.
11Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them.
12And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done.
13And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done.
14Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire.
15And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.
1Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more.
2And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
3And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God.
4He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”
5And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”
6And he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment.
7The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son.
8But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”
This is exciting stuff! Let’s take a minute and celebrate the victory of Jesus.
Everyone agrees that this is where we are headed.
Jesus wins
Satan is defeated
God’s people are given an incredible heavenly home
There is a new heaven and new earth
God will dwell with His people
Death and mourning are no more
Here is an overview of the 4 major views of how Revelation should be interpreted. Please note this is a simple description. There are many nuances and variations.
Preterist –
Primarily Catholic
The book was written to the seven churches and all of the events happened within the first century AD.
The second coming of Jesus is assumed to have happened in 70 AD with the destruction of the temple and Jerusalem
Post-millennial
Jonanthan Edwards, R. C. Sproul
The Gospel will continue to transform the world leading to a golden age on earth of 1000 years after which Jesus will return
Outlook for the future: The world will get better
Premillennial
Two types
Dispensational –
John MacArthur, David Jeremiah, Dallas Theological Seminary, Scoffield Study Bible
Furturist – Chapters 4-22 all happen in the future
Rapture => 7 years of Tribulation => 1000 year reign of Jesus on earth => Judgment new heaven and new earth
Outlook for the future: The world will get worse
Historical
Erasmus, John Piper, Darrell Bock
Not futurist, events have been happening since book was written
Tribulation has happened and will continue to happen until Jesus returns
Jesus returns => 1000 year reign of Jesus on earth => Judgment new heaven and new earth
Outlook for the future: The world may get worse
Amillennial
Augustine, Voddie Baucham, Sam Storm
The millennium in not a literal 1000 years but instead refers to a long time
The millennium began when Jesus ascended and will end when He returns
Some believe Jesus is reigning in the intermediate state now
Some believe Jesus reigning on earth now.
Tribulation has happened and will continue to happen until Jesus returns
Outlook for the future: The world may be worse or may stay about the same
The Genre of Apocalyptic literature
Lots of images
Not necessarily in chronological order
The question of how literal it intends to be is to some degree left open.
Let’s begin with Chapter 1
Date:
Either 60-65 AD – during the reign of Nero
Or 90-95 AD during the reign on Domitian
Both were brutal Roman leaders who persecuted the church
Author
While some disagree, in general the author is believed to be John the Apostle
Revelation 1:1–20 (ESV)
1The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John,
2who bore witness to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw.
3Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near.
4John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne,
5and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood
6and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
7Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so. Amen.
8“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”
9I, John, your brother and partner in the tribulation and the kingdom and the patient endurance that are in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos on account of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus.
10I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet
11saying, “Write what you see in a book and send it to the seven churches, to Ephesus and to Smyrna and to Pergamum and to Thyatira and to Sardis and to Philadelphia and to Laodicea.”
12Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking to me, and on turning I saw seven golden lampstands,
13and in the midst of the lampstands one like a son of man, clothed with a long robe and with a golden sash around his chest.
14The hairs of his head were white, like white wool, like snow. His eyes were like a flame of fire,
15his feet were like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace, and his voice was like the roar of many waters.
16In his right hand he held seven stars, from his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword, and his face was like the sun shining in full strength.
17When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying, “Fear not, I am the first and the last,
18and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades.
19Write therefore the things that you have seen, those that are and those that are to take place after this.
20As for the mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand, and the seven golden lampstands, the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.
Revelation 1:1–2 (ESV)
1 The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John,
2 who bore witness to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw.
Is it a revelation that reveals Jesus or is it a revelation the belongs to Jesus that Jesus delivers? Reading the book seems to say both. It both reveals Jesus and it tells the rest of the story of Jesus.
Revelation 1:3 (ESV)
3 Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near.
There is a blessing for those who read this aloud and for those that hear and keep it.
The time is near – what could that mean?
Revelation 1:4–8 (ESV)
4John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne,
5and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood
6and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
7Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so. Amen.
8“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”
Notice who the book is addressed to. These are seven churches in what is now western Turkey. There were real churches in real places
Jesus is presented as alive, powerful, and coming.
Revelation 1:9–11 (ESV)
9 I, John, your brother and partner in the tribulation and the kingdom and the patient endurance that are in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos on account of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus.
10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet
11 saying, “Write what you see in a book and send it to the seven churches, to Ephesus and to Smyrna and to Pergamum and to Thyatira and to Sardis and to Philadelphia and to Laodicea.”
John presents his setting as in the midst of tribulation.
Revelation 1:12–16 (ESV)
12Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking to me, and on turning I saw seven golden lampstands,
13and in the midst of the lampstands one like a son of man, clothed with a long robe and with a golden sash around his chest.
14The hairs of his head were white, like white wool, like snow. His eyes were like a flame of fire,
15his feet were like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace, and his voice was like the roar of many waters.
16In his right hand he held seven stars, from his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword, and his face was like the sun shining in full strength.
Contrast this picture of Jesus with Jesus on the cross. Jesus is revealed here for who He truly is. This may be how He appeared at the transfiguration.
Revelation 1:17–20 (ESV)
17When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying, “Fear not, I am the first and the last,
18and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades.
19Write therefore the things that you have seen, those that are and those that are to take place after this.
20As for the mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand, and the seven golden lampstands, the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.
When you know Jesus, you should not be afraid.
Resources:
Thomas Schreiner
Revelation
Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament
Paige Patterson
Revelation
New American Commentary
Dr. Voddie Baucham
“When is the Millennium?”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wVbsgUzonK4
Dr. John Piper
“An Evening of Eschatology – Premillennialism, Amillennialism, Postmillennialism”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4S0TQ2dXnms
Thomas Schreiner
“Thomas Schreiner on Revelation A Fresh Take and the Millennium”
Church Grammar Podcast
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/thomas-schreiner-on-revelation-with-a-fresh-take/id1449161376?i=1000640943347