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Author: Stephen Weller
662 words, 4 minutes read time

The Shame/Honor Principle

Scripture: Luke 13:15-17

In the previous lesson we saw Jesus heal a woman who had suffered for eighteen years with a disabling spirit. Since the healing was done on the Sabbath, it provoked opposition from the ruler of the synagogue. In this lesson we will look at how Jesus responds to the statement made by this ruler to the people concerning healing on the Sabbath.

^{Lk 13:15} “Then the Lord answered him, “You hypocrites! Does not each of you on the Sabbath untie his ox or his donkey from the manger and lead it away to water it? ¹⁶ And ought not this woman, a daughter of Abraham whom Satan bound for eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath day?”’

In lesson H181, I stated, “There are cultural differences and one of those explains why the Pharisees are so upset with Jesus. In our western culture we have the standard of right and wrong, but in this eastern culture the standard is honor and shame. Jesus has done nothing wrong to provoke the negative response he has been receiving from the Pharisees. Jesus has caused them shame by pointing out their failures. Jesus holds a position of honor and always will since he is also God and from now on you will see the Pharisees trying to shame Jesus. Near the end of our journey they will have their revenge by hanging him on a cross, a symbol of ultimate shame, but by dying and then rising again, Jesus was able to rise through shame to glory and provide a way for believers who experience shame to experience the glory of eternal life.”

Jesus again shames them by calling them hypocrites and then points out why they were. Jesus points out to them that on each Sabbath they untie their ox or their donkey and lead them from the manger to water it; to which they would have to agree. Jesus then points out that he just set a daughter of Abraham free who had been bound for eighteen years by Satan. The implication of shame is that the untying of the woman, which they opposed to being done on the Sabbath, is more important than the untying of an animal to water it on the Sabbath, which they all do.

^{LK 13:17} As he said these things, all his adversaries were put to shame, and all the people rejoiced at all the glorious things that were done by him.”

At Psalm 132:18 ESV we read: “His enemies I will clothe with shame, but on him his crown will shine.” At Job 8:22 ESV we find: “Those who hate you will be clothed with shame, and the tent of the wicked will be no more.” In the New Testament at 1 Peter 3:16 ESV Peter says: “having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame.”

As those who condemned Jesus were being put to shame, the people rejoiced at all the glorious things he was doing and in Luke 18:43 “All the people, when they saw it, gave praise to God.” Do you walk close enough with the Lord to see him do things that result in you rejoicing and giving praise? As John Piper said, “God is more glorified in us as we are more satisfied in him.” Do you find your satisfaction in him or in the things of the world? What do you hunger and thirst after?

Conclusion

What traditions do we have that hinders our walk with God? When we stand before him will these things cause us shame? 23 “Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! 24 And see if there be any grievous way in me and lead me in the way everlasting!” (Psalm 139:23 – 24 ESV).