Luke 13:10 kjv

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

Luke 13:10 nkjv

Now He was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath.

Luke 13:10 niv

On a Sabbath Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues,

Luke 13:10 esv

Now he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath.

Luke 13:10 nlt

One Sabbath day as Jesus was teaching in a synagogue,

Luke 13 verses

Luke 13 10 Meaning

This verse states that Jesus was routinely teaching in a synagogue on the Sabbath day. It introduces the setting for the subsequent event, highlighting His continuous ministry of instruction and His intentional presence within the established religious gathering places of His time, particularly on the consecrated day of rest. This habitual action foreshadows the common points of encounter and conflict between Jesus' compassionate ministry and the prevailing legalistic interpretations of the Law by religious authorities.

Luke 13 10 Context

Luke 13:10 introduces a pivotal event in Jesus' ministry. Prior to this verse, Jesus has called for repentance, illustrated by the parable of the barren fig tree (Luke 13:6-9), emphasizing the urgency of turning to God before judgment. This sets a tone of divine patience mixed with a call to transformation. Immediately following verse 10, Jesus performs a healing miracle on a woman who has been crippled for eighteen years, prompting a direct confrontation with the synagogue leader and other religious authorities regarding the appropriateness of healing on the Sabbath (Luke 13:11-17).

Historically and culturally, synagogues were the central hub for Jewish community life, prayer, and instruction, especially on the Sabbath. On this sacred day, observant Jews would refrain from all work and gather for scripture readings, prayers, and teaching from visiting rabbis or esteemed community members. The meticulous laws surrounding the Sabbath were extensively developed by religious leaders (Pharisees and scribes), often emphasizing prohibitive rules that could overshadow the original intent of rest, worship, and doing good. This verse specifically places Jesus in this customary Sabbath setting, setting the stage for His profound demonstration of divine compassion and His challenge to a legalism that prioritized human interpretations over God's intent for the Sabbath. It underscores Jesus' adherence to the practices of His people while simultaneously preparing to redefine true righteousness and mercy.

Luke 13 10 Word Analysis

• And: (Greek: kai) A simple conjunction, yet it serves to smoothly transition from the previous discourse (on repentance and the parable) to this specific illustrative event. It connects the abstract theological lesson with a concrete demonstration of Jesus' authority and the kind of conflict He regularly encountered.
• he: Refers directly to Jesus. Luke consistently portrays Jesus as the central figure, the active agent in all events, particularly in His ministry of teaching and healing.
• was teaching: (Greek: didaskōn, from didaskō) This is an imperfect tense verb (represented by the participle), indicating an ongoing or habitual action. Jesus wasn't just teaching that one day; He regularly taught in synagogues. This underscores His consistent practice of disseminating God's truth, fulfilling His prophetic role (Deut 18:15-19, Isa 61:1). It highlights the primary mode of His ministry before and even during miracles.
• in one of the synagogues: (Greek: en mia tōn synagōgōn)
  • in one of: Signifies that Jesus' teaching ministry was not confined to a single location but was itinerant, moving from community to community throughout Galilee and other regions. This emphasizes the breadth of His reach and accessibility.
  • synagogues: (Greek: synagōgē, lit. "a bringing together" or "assembly") These were not temples (only one in Jerusalem) but local gathering places for Jews for prayer, Scripture reading, and teaching. Their widespread existence facilitated the dispersal of God's Word. Jesus’ presence there shows His respect for traditional Jewish religious life, even while challenging its misguided interpretations. It also reflects His strategy of engaging directly with the people where they gathered.
• on the sabbath: (Greek: en tō sabbatō) The Sabbath (Hebrew: Shabbat) was the seventh day of the week, consecrated by God for rest, worship, and remembrance of creation and deliverance (Exo 20:8-11, Deut 5:12-15). Jesus' intentional presence and action on the Sabbath often became the flashpoint for His conflicts with the religious authorities, as His compassionate healings were perceived as violations of their stringent Sabbath regulations, demonstrating a tension between their tradition and divine love.

Words-Group Analysis

• And he was teaching: This phrase succinctly encapsulates Jesus' ongoing ministry and method. He was actively and consistently engaged in communicating divine truth. This wasn't an isolated event, but part of His characteristic mission.
• in one of the synagogues on the sabbath: This entire phrase establishes the precise time, place, and customary nature of Jesus' encounter. It indicates both His deep immersion in Jewish life (frequenting synagogues, respecting the Sabbath tradition) and the deliberate setting for what often became a scene of controversy. The combination of synagogue and Sabbath meant the audience was composed of the devout, often including scribes and Pharisees, making it a ready stage for theological and practical showdowns over the true meaning of God's law. It's a typical Luken setup for Jesus to show compassion while challenging hypocrisy.

Luke 13 10 Bonus Section

• Theophany of Action: This verse, though descriptive, implicitly presents Jesus' continuous action ("was teaching") as a living revelation of God. His regular presence and instruction in the synagogues demonstrated His accessibility and commitment to public ministry within Jewish society, acting as the divine Rabbi.
• Precursor to Healing: While stated plainly, this verse is essential for the literary tension that follows. It's not just a casual note about Jesus' activities; it is the deliberate placement of Jesus in the perfect setting (a public religious gathering on a holy day) for a radical display of His power and authority, which would inevitably clash with the established religious order.
• Luke's Emphasis: Luke's Gospel often highlights Jesus' compassion and His encounters with marginalized individuals. This setup, where Jesus is teaching on the Sabbath, provides the ideal stage for demonstrating compassion through healing, even when it means challenging deeply ingrained traditions. It paves the way for the healing of the "bent over" woman in the following verses, a typical Luken narrative showing Jesus’ heart for the afflicted and outcasts.

Luke 13 10 Commentary

Luke 13:10, though seemingly simple, serves as a crucial stage-setter within the narrative of Jesus' ministry. It portrays Jesus in His habitual role: actively teaching the crowds, consistently engaging with communities where they congregated, especially within the structured environment of the synagogue. His choice to teach "on the Sabbath" is particularly significant. Far from avoiding this holy day due to its stringent rules, Jesus embraced it, transforming it into a moment for revealing divine truth and mercy.

This verse lays the groundwork for the ensuing Sabbath healing of the crippled woman, making the coming conflict explicit. Jesus’ regular Sabbath teaching implies that His healings on this day were not accidental occurrences but rather intentional acts designed to redefine what it meant to "keep holy" the Sabbath. He challenges the rigid, burdensome interpretations of the Law promoted by religious leaders, asserting that the Sabbath was made for man's benefit and liberation, not for his restriction (Mark 2:27). The very act of teaching implies authority and knowledge of Scripture, while teaching in a synagogue underscores His appeal to the Jewish people within their established framework. This consistent pattern of Sabbath-day teachings and healings underscores Jesus' authority as the Lord of the Sabbath and His compassionate nature, willing to prioritize human need over human-made rules, thereby embodying the true spirit of the Law (mercy over sacrifice). It is a microcosm of His entire earthly ministry: bringing freedom, health, and truth into religious spaces often bound by tradition.