Apparently, Just One More Parlor Trick

Luke

• 13:10 And he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the sabbath.
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• 13:11 And, behold, there was a woman which had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bowed together, and could in no wise lift up [herself].
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• 13:12 And when Jesus saw her, he called [her to him], and said unto her, Woman, thou art loosed from thine infirmity.
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• 13:13 And he laid [his] hands on her: and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God.
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• 13:14 And the ruler of the synagogue answered with indignation, because that Jesus had healed on the sabbath day, and said unto the people, There are six days in which men ought to work: in them therefore come and be healed, and not on the sabbath day.
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• 13:15 The Lord then answered him, and said, [Thou] hypocrite, doth not each one of you on the sabbath loose his ox or [his] ass from the stall, and lead [him] away to watering?
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• 13:16 And ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan hath bound, lo, these eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the sabbath day?
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• 13:17 And when he had said these things, all his adversaries were ashamed: and all the people rejoiced for all the glorious things that were done by him

Noted by Robert Price, this seems to me a fascinating, and clearly contrived, piece of self-serving Midrash on the part of Luke. On the one hand, he seems to demonstrate an embarrassing ignorance of Halakhah - I can think of no reason why anyone would take issue with what 'Jesus' did. On the other hand, and perhaps more relevent, Luke inadvertently displays an equally embarrssing backwardness: Luke's world of magic and exorcism, someone could miraculously cure an 18-year-old infirmity generating the slightest sense of awe or fear or amazement ... not even mild surprise. Clearly, those were the good old days.{Added blank lines, to separate things - Adminnemooseus}[This message has been edited by Adminnemooseus, 03-12-2004]

Willowtree, do you know anything about Halakhah - about Jewish Law. If not, please don't presume to teach others.Do you truly believe the Israeli health profession simply shuts down on Shabbas? While the prohibitions surrounding Shabbat are both varied and complex, there is absolutely nothing which prohibits healing per se. Now stop embarrassing yourself. (1) Perhaps it's just a Lucan story.(2) Gullible cherrypickers with no fondness for fig trees and no belief in the Infancy Gospels?[This message has been edited by ConsequentAtheist, 03-30-2004]

You mistake contempt for anger. Having watched you demonstrate a rather pathetic ignorance of Jewish Law, you'll understand why I might find your perspective worthless at best and repugnant at worst.Rather than diverting this discussion with references to phylacteries, rather than your ignorant and antisemitic dismissal of the Tannaim, simply point out where Halakhah prohibits healing on Shabbat.[This message has been edited by ConsequentAtheist, 03-30-2004]

So your position is that the Pharisees were upset because Jesus did something that does not profane Shabbat? You are either exceptionally dishonest or exceptionally confused - clearly you are exceedingly gullible. As I said, you are exceedingly gullible. You also paint with a wide, antisemitic brush. You might find this of interest, but I doubt it, given that you seem so comfortable with your particulary Christian brand of bigotry. You believe a number of silly things.

Very well.