Study note

Luke 13:15–16

  • You hypocrites! Hypocrites are people who pretend to be good or righteous, saying one thing but doing another. The religious leaders would care for their own animals on the Sabbath, but they would not help another person in need.

    There is also a play on words in the text. The same word is used for "untie" (13:15) and "released" (13:16). The leaders would free their animals but not a daughter of Abraham, one of God's chosen people.

  • whom Satan has kept bound: This means she was under the power of Satan. Jesus drove out demons and healed people, which showed the kingdom of God (God’s rule) and the defeat of Satan (see 11:20).