Jesus Heals on the Sabbath: An ESL Bible Study on Luke 13:10-17

This Bible study series is for people who are learning English. It is designed for advanced beginner and intermediate learners, but children or adults who prefer simple English may also enjoy it.

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Luke 13:10-17 Printable Discussion Questions

Luke 13:10-17 Printable ERV Passage

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 Lists for the ERV Bible Translation

Key Vocabulary Words (10 words)

ashamed: (adjective) Feeling bad because you did something wrong.
criticize: (verb) To say that someone is doing something wrong.
evil spirit: (phrase) A bad and powerful being from the devil that can hurt people.
heal: (verb) To make a sick or hurt person well again.
hypocrite: (noun) A person who pretends to be good but is not.
laid hands on: (phrase) To put hands on a person to show care or to ask God to heal them.
Sabbath day: (phrase) The seventh day of the week that is a special day of rest for Jewish people to worship God.
sickness: (noun) A state of being ill or unhealthy.
stand up straight: (phrase) To make your back and body flat and tall.
synagogue: (noun) A building where Jewish people meet to pray and study.

Important Words to Know (20 words)

ashamed: (adjective) Feeling bad because you did something wrong.
bent: (adjective) Not straight.
cripple: (noun) A person who cannot walk or move their body correctly.
criticize: (verb) To say that someone is doing something wrong.
descendant: (noun) A person who comes from a certain family or ancestor.
evil spirit: (phrase) A bad and powerful being from the devil that can hurt people.
free: (verb) To take away the power or control that something has over a person.
heal: (verb) To make a sick or hurt person well again.
hypocrite: (noun) A person who pretends to be good but is not.
immediately: (adverb) Happening right away without waiting.
laid hands on: (phrase) To put hands on a person to show care or to ask God to heal them.
leader: (noun) A person who is in charge of a group.
praise: (verb) To say very good things about God or a person.
Sabbath day: (phrase) The seventh day of the week that is a special day of rest for Jewish people to worship God.
Satan: (noun) The enemy of God and leader of evil spirits.
sickness: (noun) A state of being ill or unhealthy.
stand up straight: (phrase) To make your back and body flat and tall.
synagogue: (noun) A building where Jewish people meet to pray and study.
untie: (verb) To loosen a knot or string.
work animal: (phrase) An animal like an ox or a donkey that helps people with hard jobs.

Complete Lesson Word Bank

able: (adjective) Having the power or skill to do something.
Abraham: (noun) The first father of the people of Israel who trusted God.
always: (adverb) Every time or at all times.
angry: (adjective) Feeling very mad about something.
ashamed: (adjective) Feeling bad because you did something wrong.
back: (noun) The part of the body behind the chest.
began: (verb) To have started something.
bent: (adjective) Not straight.
call: (verb) To speak a name to get someone’s attention.
come: (verb) To move toward a person or a place.
could: (verb) To have been able to do something.
cripple: (noun) A person who cannot walk or move their body correctly.
criticize: (verb) To say that someone is doing something wrong.
descendant: (noun) A person who comes from a certain family or ancestor.
even: (adverb) Used to show that something is surprising.
every: (adjective) All the people or things in a group.
evil spirit: (phrase) A bad and powerful being from the devil that can hurt people.
felt: (verb) To have had a sensation in your body or an emotion in your heart.
free: (verb) To take away the power or control that something has over a person.
God: (noun) The creator and ruler of everything.
happy: (adjective) Feeling joy or pleasure.
heal: (verb) To make a sick or hurt person well again.
held: (verb) To have owned or kept something.
hypocrite: (noun) A person who pretends to be good but is not.
immediately: (adverb) Happening right away without waiting.
inside: (preposition) In the inner part of something like a house.
Jesus: (noun) The Son of God and the Savior of the world!
laid hands on: (phrase) To put hands on a person to show care or to ask God to heal them.
lead: (verb) To show the way by going in front.
leader: (noun) A person who is in charge of a group.
Lord: (noun) A name that shows someone has power or authority.
made: (verb) To have created or built something.
people: (noun) More than one person.
praise: (verb) To say very good things about God or a person.
Sabbath day: (phrase) The seventh day of the week that is a special day of rest for Jewish people to worship God.
Satan: (noun) The enemy of God and leader of evil spirits.
saw: (verb) To have looked at something with your eyes.
sickness: (noun) A state of being ill or unhealthy.
stand up straight: (phrase) To make your back and body flat and tall.
surely: (adverb) Without any doubt.
synagogue: (noun) A building where Jewish people meet to pray and study.
taught: (verb) To have helped someone learn something.
untie: (verb) To loosen a knot or string.
wonderful: (adjective) Very good or amazing.
work animal: (phrase) An animal like an ox or a donkey that helps people with hard jobs.
wrong: (adjective) Not right or not true.

Summary of the Passage

This passage tells about a special time when Jesus was teaching in a synagogue. A synagogue is a building where Jewish people gather to pray and learn about God. On this day, there was a woman who had an evil spirit inside her. This spirit had made her a cripple for eighteen years. Her back was always 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 laid hands on her. To lay hands on someone means to touch them gently to show God’s love and power. Right away, she stood up straight! She was so happy! She began praising God, thanking him for making her well.

But not everyone was happy. The leader of the synagogue was angry because Jesus healed the woman on the Sabbath day. The Sabbath is the seventh day of the week and is a special day of rest. The leader thought Jesus was “working” by healing the people. He told the people to come for healing on other days.

Jesus called the leader and the others hypocrites. A hypocrite is a person who says one thing but does another. They act like they follow God’s rules, but they do not have love in their hearts. He said that every day, even on the Sabbath, people untie their work animals, like donkeys, to give them water. Jesus said this woman is a descendant of Abraham. Being a descendant of Abraham means she belongs to God’s special family. Jesus said it was right to free her from her pain on the Sabbath. When the people heard this, those who were criticizing him felt ashamed. But everyone else was happy because of the wonderful things Jesus was doing!

This passage teaches us that Jesus cares about people, no matter what day it is. It shows us that love and kindness are more important than following rules in a way that is mean or cold.

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.

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)

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

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.