Luke 13:10

KJV

¶ And he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the sabbath.

KJV (with Strong's)

And {G1161} he was {G2258} teaching {G1321} in {G1722} one {G3391} of the synagogues {G4864} on {G1722} the sabbath {G4521}.

Complete Jewish Bible

Yeshua was teaching in one of the synagogues on Shabbat.

Berean Standard Bible

One Sabbath Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues,

American Standard Version

And he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the sabbath day.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Luke 13:10 serves as a concise yet profoundly significant introductory verse, setting the stage for a pivotal encounter in Jesus's public ministry. It simply notes that "he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the sabbath," a seemingly ordinary observation that carries deep theological and historical implications, particularly as it immediately precedes a miraculous healing that precipitates a sharp conflict with religious authorities over the proper observance of the Sabbath day. This verse underscores Jesus's consistent practice of engaging with the Jewish community in their established places of worship, asserting His authority as a teacher and prophet, even as He prepares to challenge prevailing interpretations of God's law.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Luke 13:10 transitions the narrative from a series of parables and teachings about repentance and the urgency of the kingdom of God (such as the parable of the barren fig tree in [Luke 13:6-9](/luke/13-6-9 "Parable of the Barren Fig Tree")) to a specific instance of Jesus's ministry that highlights His compassionate power and His confrontational relationship with the religious establishment. The preceding verses emphasize the need for spiritual fruitfulness and the consequences of rejecting God's call. This verse then grounds these abstract teachings in a concrete event, demonstrating how Jesus's principles played out in real-life interactions. It immediately sets up the healing of a crippled woman, an act of mercy performed on the Sabbath, which directly leads to the indignant reaction of the synagogue ruler and Jesus's subsequent powerful defense of His actions, thereby illustrating the very themes of judgment and mercy discussed earlier in the chapter.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** In first-century Judea, synagogues were the epicenters of Jewish community life, serving multiple functions beyond just worship. They were places for prayer, the reading and exposition of the Torah and Prophets, community gatherings, and even local courts. Unlike the Temple in Jerusalem, which was the singular center for sacrificial worship, synagogues were decentralized, found in every town and village, making them accessible to the common people. The Sabbath, observed from Friday sunset to Saturday sunset, was the foundational day of rest and worship, mandated by the Mosaic Law ([Exodus 20:8-11](/exodus/20-8-11 "The Fourth Commandment - Remember the Sabbath Day")). By Jesus's time, various rabbinic traditions and interpretations (halakha) had developed around Sabbath observance, often leading to a complex system of prohibitions that, in the view of Jesus, sometimes overshadowed the original intent of the law—to provide rest and demonstrate God's mercy. Jesus's regular presence and teaching in these synagogues, especially on the Sabbath, positioned Him directly within the heart of Jewish religious life, allowing Him to engage with both the common people and the religious leaders on their own terms.
* **Key Themes:** This verse, though brief, introduces several critical themes that permeate Luke's Gospel and Jesus's ministry. Firstly, it highlights **Jesus's Authority as a Teacher**. His consistent practice of teaching in synagogues, as seen throughout [Luke's Gospel](/luke "The Gospel According to Luke"), establishes Him as a profound and authoritative interpreter of God's Word, often challenging traditional understandings. Secondly, the mention of the **Sabbath Setting** immediately foreshadows the recurring tension between Jesus and the religious authorities. Many of Jesus's most significant healings and confrontations, such as the healing of the man with the withered hand in [Luke 6:6-11](/luke/6-6-11 "Jesus Heals on the Sabbath") or the healing of the man born blind in [John 9:1-16](/john/9-1-16 "Jesus Heals a Man Born Blind"), occur on the Sabbath, revealing a fundamental disagreement over the law's spirit versus its letter. This sets up the theme of **Compassion vs. Legalism**, where Jesus consistently prioritizes human need and God's mercy over rigid, man-made rules, demonstrating that the Sabbath was made for humanity, not humanity for the Sabbath, a point He makes explicitly in [Mark 2:27](/mark/2-27 "The Sabbath Was Made for Man").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **teaching (Greek, _didáskō'_):** From G1321, a prolonged (causative) form of a primary verb (to learn); to teach (in the same broad application). This word signifies more than mere instruction; it implies authoritative declaration and comprehensive training. Jesus was not simply imparting information but shaping understanding and calling for a transformation of life based on divine truth.
* **synagogues (Greek, _synagōgḗ'_):** From G4864, from (the reduplicated form of) συνάγω; an assemblage of persons; specially, a Jewish "synagogue" (the meeting or the place); by analogy, a Christian church. This term emphasizes the communal gathering place where Jewish people assembled for worship, study, and fellowship, highlighting the public and accessible nature of Jesus's ministry.
* **sabbath (Greek, _sábbaton'_):** From G4521, of Hebrew origin (שַׁבָּת); the Sabbath (i.e. Shabbath), or day of weekly repose from secular avocations (also the observance or institution itself); by extension, a se'nnight, i.e. the interval between two Sabbaths; likewise the plural in all the above applications. The mention of the Sabbath is crucial, immediately signaling the context for the ensuing conflict, as Jesus frequently performed acts of healing and mercy on this day, challenging the prevailing legalistic interpretations.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And he was teaching":** This phrase establishes Jesus's primary activity and role. The imperfect tense of the verb "was teaching" (G2258 ēn, G1321 didáskō) suggests continuous or habitual action, indicating that teaching was a regular and central aspect of His ministry. It underscores His identity as a rabbi, a master teacher, who proclaimed and explained the truths of God's kingdom with inherent authority.
* **"in one of the synagogues":** This detail specifies the setting for Jesus's teaching. Synagogues were ubiquitous in Jewish life, serving as local centers for religious instruction and community gatherings. The phrase "one of the synagogues" indicates that this was a typical, perhaps unremarkable, local synagogue, not necessarily a prominent one in Jerusalem, emphasizing Jesus's ministry to ordinary people in ordinary places throughout Galilee and Judea.
* **"on the sabbath":** This final phrase provides the crucial temporal context that foreshadows the ensuing narrative. The Sabbath was the divinely ordained day of rest and worship, but by Jesus's time, it had become laden with numerous human interpretations and restrictions. Jesus's deliberate choice to teach and heal on the Sabbath often brought Him into direct conflict with the religious authorities, who prioritized strict adherence to their interpretations of the law over acts of compassion and mercy.

#### Literary Devices
Luke 13:10, though brief, effectively employs several literary devices. The primary device is **Setting**, which immediately establishes the time ("on the sabbath") and place ("in one of the synagogues") for the subsequent action. This setting is not merely descriptive; it is highly significant, as the Sabbath context is a recurring motif in Luke's Gospel, often serving as the catalyst for conflict. This leads to **Foreshadowing**, where the mention of the Sabbath subtly hints at the controversy that is about to unfold in the following verses (Luke 13:11-17), where Jesus heals a crippled woman, drawing the ire of the synagogue ruler. The verse also implicitly uses **Characterization** by showing Jesus in His characteristic role as a teacher, reinforcing His identity as the authoritative interpreter of God's will and the Law.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Luke 13:10, by placing Jesus in a synagogue on the Sabbath, immediately connects to profound theological themes concerning the nature of God's law, the purpose of worship, and the character of the Messiah. Jesus's consistent practice of teaching in these settings affirms His respect for the established forms of Jewish piety, yet His actions often challenged the rigid legalism that had obscured the heart of God's commands. His presence as a teacher on the Sabbath demonstrates that true worship is not merely about resting from labor but about actively engaging with God's truth and extending His compassion. This verse sets the stage for Jesus to reveal that the Sabbath, created for humanity's benefit, was never intended to be a burden that prevented acts of mercy, thereby asserting His divine authority over the Law itself.

* [Matthew 12:9-14](/matthew/12-9-14 "Jesus Heals on the Sabbath")
* [Mark 3:1-6](/mark/3-1-6 "Jesus Heals a Man with a Withered Hand on the Sabbath")
* [Luke 6:6-11](/luke/6-6-11 "Jesus Heals on the Sabbath")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Luke 13:10, while a simple scene-setter, carries profound implications for our own spiritual lives. Jesus's consistent presence in the synagogue on the Sabbath reminds us of the importance of corporate worship and the regular intake of God's Word. He did not withdraw from the community; rather, He actively engaged with it, bringing light and truth into familiar spaces. For us, this highlights the value of gathering with fellow believers, not just out of obligation, but with an eager heart to learn and grow. Moreover, the verse implicitly challenges us to examine our own "sabbath" practices—whether they are days of rest and spiritual nourishment, or merely periods of rigid adherence to rules that may miss the spirit of God's intention. Jesus's subsequent actions in this chapter demonstrate that true piety is always rooted in compassion and a desire to alleviate suffering, even if it means challenging conventional norms. We are called to be people who prioritize God's heart for humanity over man-made traditions, always seeking opportunities to embody His love and mercy in our daily lives.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How consistently do I prioritize gathering with fellow believers for spiritual instruction and worship?**
* **In what ways might my personal or communal religious practices unintentionally prioritize rules over compassion and human need?**
* **How can I, like Jesus, use my regular routines and familiar settings as opportunities to bring God's truth and grace to others?**
* **What does "resting in God" truly mean for me, beyond merely abstaining from work, and how can I cultivate a more spiritually nourishing "sabbath" in my life?**

### FAQ

**Why was Jesus teaching in synagogues if He often challenged the religious leaders?**

Answer: Jesus consistently taught in synagogues because they were the primary public forums for religious instruction and community gathering in Jewish society. By teaching there, He demonstrated His respect for the Jewish tradition and ensured His message was accessible to a broad audience, including both devout followers and those who might be skeptical or opposed. His presence allowed Him to engage directly with the people and the religious leaders, offering His authoritative interpretation of the Law and the Prophets. While He often challenged the *interpretations* and *practices* of the religious leaders, especially their legalism and hypocrisy, He did not reject the institutions themselves. His aim was to bring correction and fulfillment to the Law, not to abolish it, as He states in [Matthew 5:17-18](/matthew/5-17-18 "Jesus Fulfills the Law").

**What is the significance of the Sabbath being mentioned in this verse?**

Answer: The mention of the Sabbath is highly significant because it immediately signals a potential point of conflict. Throughout the Gospels, Jesus's healings and actions on the Sabbath frequently provoke indignation and opposition from the Jewish religious authorities. The Sabbath was a holy day of rest, but the Pharisees and other leaders had developed numerous strict interpretations that, in Jesus's view, often missed the spirit of the law, which was intended for human good and God's glory. By setting this teaching and subsequent healing on the Sabbath, Luke prepares the reader for Jesus to once again demonstrate His authority as "Lord of the Sabbath" ([Luke 6:5](/luke/6-5 "Jesus, Lord of the Sabbath")), prioritizing compassion and divine intervention over rigid legalistic interpretations.

**Did Jesus always teach in synagogues?**

Answer: While Jesus frequently taught in synagogues, as seen in [Luke 4:15](/luke/4-15 "Jesus Teaches in Synagogues") and [Matthew 4:23](/matthew/4-23 "Jesus Teaches and Heals"), His ministry was not confined to them. He also taught in homes ([Mark 2:1-2](/mark/2-1-2 "Jesus Heals a Paralytic")), on hillsides ([Matthew 5:1-2](/matthew/5-1-2 "The Sermon on the Mount")), by the sea ([Mark 4:1-2](/mark/4-1-2 "Parable of the Sower")), and in the Temple courts in Jerusalem ([Luke 20:1](/luke/20-1 "Jesus Teaches in the Temple")). His teaching ministry was highly adaptable, going wherever the people were, demonstrating His commitment to making the good news of the Kingdom accessible to all.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Luke 13:10, in its simple declaration of Jesus teaching in a synagogue on the Sabbath, profoundly points to Christ's identity and mission. As the ultimate Teacher, Jesus doesn't merely impart information; He authoritatively reveals the very heart of God, embodying the wisdom of God Himself ([1 Corinthians 1:24](/1_corinthians/1-24 "Christ the Power and Wisdom of God")). His consistent presence in the synagogue underscores His fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets, demonstrating that He came not to abolish them but to fulfill them ([Matthew 5:17](/matthew/5-17 "Jesus Fulfills the Law")). The Sabbath setting, in particular, foreshadows His role as the "Lord of the Sabbath" ([Luke 6:5](/luke/6-5 "Jesus, Lord of the Sabbath")), who redefines its purpose from a day of burdensome rules to a day of divine rest and redemptive action. The healing that immediately follows this verse (Luke 13:11-17) exemplifies how Jesus's compassion transcends human legalism, showcasing His divine prerogative to bring freedom and restoration. Ultimately, Jesus's ministry of teaching and healing on the Sabbath points to the new covenant rest offered through Him—a rest from the futile works of the Law and the burden of sin, found only in His finished work on the cross ([Hebrews 4:9-10](/hebrews/4-9-10 "The Promise of Rest")). He is the true Sabbath, in whom all who believe find spiritual repose and eternal life ([Matthew 11:28-30](/matthew/11-28-30 "Come to Me, All Who Are Weary")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Matthew 4:23

¶ And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people.

Luke 4:44

And he preached in the synagogues of Galilee.

Luke 4:15

And he taught in their synagogues, being glorified of all.

Luke 4:16

And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read.