At that time, Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath. And there was a woman who had had a spirit of infirmity for eighteen years; she was bent over and could not fully straighten herself. And when Jesus saw her, he called her and said to her, “Woman, you are freed from your infirmity.” And he laid his hands upon her, and immediately she was made straight, and she praised God. But the ruler of the synagogue, indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, said to the people, “There are six days on which work ought to be done; come on those days and be healed and not on the Sabbath day.” Then the Lord answered him, “You hypocrite! Does not each of you on the Sabbath untie his ox or his ass from the manger, and lead it away to water it? And ought not this woman, a daughter of Abraham whom Satan bound for eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath day?” As Jesus said this, all his adversaries were put to shame; and all the people rejoiced at all the glorious things that were done by him.

1. Why do you think no work could be done on the Sabbath?

2. Why would people take their animals to get water on the Sabbath if work wasn’t supposed to be done on that day?

3. Is this breaking the rule?

4. Is Jesus healing the woman the same kind of action as watering an animal? Why or why not?

5. Is this breaking the rule? Why or why not?

6. Can rules be broken or interpreted differently in each situation? Why or why not? When? How?