Luke 13:12, Woman…spirit of infirmity. Sometimes Yeshua healed people who neither asked for it, nor evidenced faith to be healed simply that the glory of YHVH might be manifested. From time to time, we hear of miraculous healings and divine interventions that saved people’s lives occurring for no apparent reason. Perhaps YHVH likes to stir the pot of human affairs occasionally just to draw men’s attention to him, bring glory to his name and to raise men’s hopes a bit in pointing them to the fact that there is an Elohim who is sovereignly orchestrating things behind the scenes and who cares about humans.
Luke 13:15, Hypocrite. Yeshua was able to defend his actions and contradict the leader of the synagogue because he knew the Torah better than they did. This teaches us two things. First, just because one is a church leader doesn’t mean they know the Torah or the rest of the word of Elohim very well. Paul taught the “whole counsel of Elohim,” including the Torah. How many Bible teachers do that in our day? In fact, the New Testament as we know it didn’t even exist in Paul’s day; all he has was the Old Testament from which to teach. More often than not, the church’s modern day Bible teachers know religious tradition and doctrines of men better then the actual word of Elohim. Second, as a minister of the word of Elohim, one will need to defend it against those who are false teachers and who teach the doctrines of men that make of non-effect the Word of Elohim. To be able to do this, the Bible teacher must study and know YHVH’s word intimately down to the most minute details and better so than one’s opponents. On this score, Yeshua was preeminent, and was able to leave his accusers speechless and without rebuttals. As his disciples, we must endeavor to imitate his example.
Luke 13:18, Kingdom of Elohim. The kingdom of Elohim not only grows from a tiny seed to become like a mighty plant, but with it comes healing for the sick, sight for the blind, food for the hungry, liberty for the captives, happiness for the mourners and freedom for the oppressed. It literally becomes a shelter or a protective covering for those who seek refuge, for now, in its truth and hope, and, eventually, in its universal reality when it is established globally at Yeshua’s second coming.
Luke 13:30, First who will last. Many people have been caught up in religiosity even while professing the name of Jesus (Yeshua), but have not walked in righteousness (i.e. Torah obedience). As Yeshua states in Matt 5:19 and Matt 7:21–23, Torah obedience not only determines the level of one’s rewards in the kingdom of Elohim, but whether our faith in Yeshua is genuine. Its genuineness is determined by the fruits of our actions (John 14:15; 1 John 2:3–6; Jas 2:14–26; Rev 22:14). What we believe in and have a heart for, we will back up with actions. These are those who Yeshua will let into the narrow gate of his kingdom. The workers of iniquity or Torahlessness will be left outside the gate to Yeshua’s kingdom (Luke 13:27).
Luke 13:31, Some Pharisees came. Not all the Pharisees were the evil enemies of Yeshua. Some were genuinely questioning whether he was the Messiah or not. Some later became believers (e.g., Paul and the Acts 15 believers). These Pharisees were warning Yeshua of death threats and urging him to escape his enemies.
