ELL Bible Study: Luke 13:10-17 — Jesus Heals on the Sabbath

This Bible study lesson is for people who are learning English (ELL or ESL students). It is made for advanced beginner and intermediate English learners. Children who speak English or adults who prefer easy English may also enjoy it and learn from it.

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Luke 13:10-17 Printable Discussion Questions

Lesson Icebreaker Question

Can you tell about a time when someone helped you or made you feel better when you were sick or sad?

Lesson Highlight

In this lesson, we will learn about a woman who was sick for a long time and how Jesus made her well. We will also see how Jesus teaches that love and kindness are always important.

Vocabulary List (GNT)

Abraham — A man in the Bible whom God chose to be the father of the Jewish people.
Angry — Feeling mad or upset about something.
Ashamed — Feeling bad or guilty because of something wrong you did.
At Once — Right away; without waiting.
Bent Over — When the body is not standing up straight but curved forward.
Bonds — Ties or chains that keep someone held down or trapped.
Called Out — To speak loudly to get someone’s attention.
Crippled — Not able to walk or move the body in a normal way.
Descendant — A person in a family who comes from a person who lived long ago.
Donkey — An animal like a small horse that carries people or things.
During — In a certain period of time.
Enemies — People who hate or fight against someone.
Evil Spirit — A bad, unseen being that causes trouble or harm.
Free — Not held down, trapped, or controlled.
Hands — The parts of your body at the end of your arms, used for holding things.
Heal — To make someone well or healthy again.
Healed — To be made healthy or well again.
Hypocrite — A person who says one thing but does another.
Lord — A name used for God or Jesus in the Bible.
Official — A leader or person with an important job in a group.
Ox — A large, strong animal like a cow, used for farming work.
Praised — To say good things about someone or something.
Placed — To carefully put something in a certain spot.
Rejoiced — To feel and show great happiness.
Released — To let someone or something go free.
Sabbath — A special day of rest and worship for Jewish people, from Friday evening to Saturday evening.
Satan — The enemy of God in the Bible who wants to harm people.
Saw — To have looked at something with your eyes.
Should — The right thing to do.
Sick — Not healthy; having an illness.
Spoke Up — To say something loudly or clearly.
Stall — A small space in a barn where animals are kept.
Straighten Up — To stand up tall and not be bent over.
Synagogue — A place where Jewish people meet to pray and learn about God.
Teaching — The act of helping people learn something.
Untie — To loosen or undo something that is tied.
Water — A clear liquid people, animals, and plants need to live.
Wonderful — Very good, special, or exciting.
Work — To do a job or task.
You Are Free — A way to say that someone is no longer trapped, sick, or held down.

Summary of the Passage

This passage tells about a special time when Jesus was teaching in a synagogue. A synagogue is a place where Jewish people gather to pray and learn about God. On this day, there was a woman who had been sick for eighteen years. Her back was bent over, and she could not stand up straight.

When Jesus saw the woman, he called her to him. He told her she was free from her sickness. Then, he touched her, and right away she stood up straight. She was so happy and thanked God for making her well.

But not everyone was happy. The leader of the synagogue was upset because Jesus healed the woman on the Sabbath. The Sabbath was a special day of rest for Jewish people. The leader said people should come for healing on other days, not on the Sabbath. Jesus answered him by saying that people would help their animals on the Sabbath, so it was even more important to help a person.

This passage teaches us that Jesus cares about people, no matter what day it is. It shows us that love, kindness, and helping others are always the right thing to do.

Read The Passage

Most English learners should use the Easy-to-Read Version (ERV), the New International Reader’s Version (NIRV), or the Good News Translation (GNT). If you want to try something harder, you can read one of the other Bible versions.

Text from the ERV Bible Translation

Jesus Heals a Woman on the Sabbath
10 Jesus taught in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath day.
11 A woman was there who had an evil spirit inside her.
It had made the woman crippled for 18 years.
Her back was always bent; she could not stand up straight.
12 When Jesus saw her, he called to her,
“Woman, you have been made free from your sickness!”
13 He laid his hands on her, and immediately she was able to stand up straight.
She began praising God.
14 The synagogue leader was angry because Jesus healed on the Sabbath day.
He said to the people,
“There are six days for work.
So come to be healed on one of those days.
Don’t come for healing on the Sabbath day.”
15 The Lord answered,
“You people are hypocrites!
All of you untie your work animals and lead them to drink water every day—even on the Sabbath day.
16 This woman that I healed is a true descendant of Abraham.
But Satan has held her for 18 years.
Surely it is not wrong for her to be made free from her sickness on a Sabbath day!”
17 When Jesus said this, all those who were criticizing him felt ashamed of themselves.
And all the people were happy for the wonderful things he was doing.
Luke 13:10-17 (ERV)

Text from the GNT Bible Translation

Jesus Heals a Crippled Woman on the Sabbath
10 One Sabbath Jesus was teaching in a synagogue.
11 A woman there had an evil spirit that had kept her sick for eighteen years; she was bent over and could not straighten up at all.
12 When Jesus saw her, he called out to her, “Woman, you are free from your sickness!”
13 He placed his hands on her, and at once she straightened herself up and praised God.
14 The official of the synagogue was angry that Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, so he spoke up and said to the people, “There are six days in which we should work; so come during those days and be healed, but not on the Sabbath!”
15 The Lord answered him, “You hypocrites! Any one of you would untie your ox or your donkey from the stall and take it out to give it water on the Sabbath.
16 Now here is this descendant of Abraham whom Satan has kept in bonds for eighteen years; should she not be released on the Sabbath?”
17 His answer made his enemies ashamed of themselves, while the people rejoiced over all the wonderful things that he did.
Luke 13:10-17 (GNT)

Very Easy: Easy-to-Read Version: Luke 13:10-17 (ERV)
Very Easy: New International Reader’s Version: Luke 13:10-17 (NIRV)
Easy: Good News Translation: Luke 13:10-17 (GNT)
Medium: New Living Translation: Luke 13:10-17 (NLT)
Hard: New International Version: Luke 13:10-17 (NIV)
Very Hard: English Standard Version: Luke 13:10-17 (ESV)

Luke 13:10-17 Printable ERV Passage

Luke 13:10-17 Printable GNT Passage

Luke 13:10-17 Printable Discussion Questions

Comprehension Questions

Where was Jesus teaching in this story?
What was wrong with the woman in the synagogue?
How long had she been sick?
What did Jesus do when he saw the woman?
What happened after Jesus touched her?
Why was the synagogue leader upset?
What did Jesus say about helping animals on the Sabbath?
How did the people feel after Jesus healed the woman?

Application Questions

Why do you think Jesus healed the woman even though it was the Sabbath?
Have you ever needed help on a day when people were busy or resting? What happened?
Why is it important to be kind and help others, even when it is not easy?
What is one way you can show kindness to someone this week?
How does it feel when someone helps you when you need it most?

Theological Insights

Jesus has power to heal and cares for people’s pain.
The Sabbath is a good gift from God, but it is not a reason to stop helping others.
Love and mercy are more important than following rules the wrong way.
Jesus teaches that every person is important to God.
When Jesus helps people, it shows God’s goodness to everyone.

Closing Prayer

Dear Father, thank you for loving us and caring for our pain. Help us to be kind and help others like Jesus did. Teach us to show your love every day. Amen.