What does Luke 13:17 mean?
When the synagogue leader invited Jesus to speak on the Sabbath, he probably didn't think his credibility was at risk. While Jesus taught, He saw a woman who had been oppressed and crippled by a demon. Jesus called her forward and healed her. The religious leaders were horrified that Jesus dared to work on the Sabbath. He pointed out their hypocrisy. Any one of them would have led their ox or donkey to fresh water on the Sabbath. Why shouldn't He provide the greatest rest this woman could hope for on earth—deliverance and healing? The Sabbath is the perfect day to free a daughter of Abraham from her bondage to the enemy (Luke 13:10–16).We typically take this event as further proof that the Sabbath regulations do not apply to God-followers in the church age. For certain, they don't; the Sabbath is the only one of the Ten Commandments that is not repeated in the New Testament. But that's not the reason Luke recorded this story in this place.
Luke is explaining what the kingdom of God is like. It includes urgency, as no one knows when it will be too late to repent and reconcile with God (Luke 13:1–5). It is a time of grace, as Jesus stands in the gap between us and judgment—even, perhaps, negotiating for more time (Luke 13:6–9). Once it starts, it is wildly inevitable and pervasive (Luke 13:20–21).
It also inevitably brings separation. It will separate family members from one another (Luke 12:51–53) and people from the religious leaders they have trusted but who abuse them (Luke 11:37–46). Jesus warns His listeners to be careful to interpret the signs of the coming kingdom (Luke 12:54–56); judgment is near (Luke 12:49–50).