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.
all his.
Luke 14:6 And they could not answer him again to these things.
Luke 20:40 And after that they durst not ask him any question at all.
Psalm 40:14 Let them be ashamed and confounded together that seek after my soul to destroy it; let them be driven backward and put to shame that wish me evil.
and all.
Luke 19:37-40,48 And when he was come nigh, even now at the descent of the mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen; …
Exodus 15:11 Who is like unto thee, O LORD, among the gods? who is like thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders?
Psalm 111:3 His work is honourable and glorious: and his righteousness endureth for ever.
all His adversaries were humiliated
The adversaries, primarily the religious leaders, were often in opposition to Jesus due to His challenge to their authority and interpretation of the Law. Their humiliation here is a result of their inability to counter Jesus' wisdom and the truth of His message. This moment reflects the broader theme of Jesus' ministry, where the proud are brought low (Luke 1:52) and the wisdom of the world is confounded (1 Corinthians 1:27).
And the whole crowd rejoiced
The crowd's reaction indicates their recognition of Jesus' authority and the joy that His works and teachings brought to the people. This joy is a common response to Jesus' miracles and teachings, as seen in other instances such as the feeding of the 5,000 (John 6:14) and the healing of the paralytic (Matthew 9:8).
at all the glorious things He was doing
The "glorious things" refer to Jesus' miracles and teachings, which revealed His divine nature and the coming of God's Kingdom. These acts fulfilled Old Testament prophecies about the Messiah bringing healing and liberation (Isaiah 61:1-2). The term "glorious" emphasizes the divine power and authority inherent in Jesus' works, pointing to His identity as the Son of God (John 1:14).
“When Jesus said this” points us back to His words in verse 16, where He defended freeing the woman who had been bound for eighteen years. His statement carried divine authority:
• Luke 4:32 notes that “they were astonished at His teaching, because His message had authority.”
• John 7:46 records officers admitting, “Never has anyone spoken like this man!”
• Hebrews 4:12 reminds us that the word of God “is living and active… able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”
Jesus’ truth-filled words exposed legalistic thinking and affirmed God’s heart of compassion, proving again that His voice silences error and liberates the oppressed.
The synagogue ruler and likeminded critics suddenly found themselves shamed, not by ridicule, but by undeniable truth and a miraculous healing right before their eyes.
• Luke 20:40 shows a similar outcome: after another exchange, “they did not dare to question Him any longer.”
• Psalm 35:4 pleads, “May those who seek my life be disgraced and put to shame,” a pattern fulfilled here as opponents of God’s work are exposed.
Why the humiliation?
- They had elevated man-made rules above God’s mercy.
- They could not refute the visible evidence of the woman’s restored health.
- Jesus’ citation of Scripture revealed their hypocrisy and hardened hearts.
Public correction from the Messiah leaves no room for pride.
While the leaders wilted, ordinary worshipers erupted in celebration. The contrast is striking: legalism breeds resentment, but grace stirs joy.
• Luke 5:26—after another miracle—reports, “They were all amazed and glorified God, filled with awe.”
• Luke 19:37—the triumphal entry—shows disciples “rejoicing and praising God for all the miracles they had seen.”
Here the people taste firsthand the goodness of God and respond naturally with praise, fulfilling Psalm 126:2, “Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with shouts of joy.”
The rejoicing wasn’t limited to one event; it encompassed “all the glorious things He was doing.” Luke keeps the verb in the imperfect tense, highlighting an ongoing stream of wonders:
- Healing the sick (Luke 4:40)
- Raising the dead (Luke 7:14-15)
- Forgiving sins (Luke 5:20-24)
- Delivering the oppressed (Luke 8:2)
John 2:11 says these signs “revealed His glory,” confirming Jesus as the long-promised Son of God and ushering in the kingdom foretold in Isaiah 35:5-6. Every miracle magnified God’s character and invited people to believe.
Luke 13:17 shows a dramatic double outcome of Jesus’ Sabbath healing: critics are shamed, and common people burst into praise. His authoritative word vindicates mercy over legalism, exposes hypocrisy, and displays God’s glory through continuous acts of compassion. The verse invites us to side with the rejoicing crowd, celebrating every work of Christ and acknowledging Him as the Lord who both humbles the proud and lifts the oppressed.
Parallel Commentaries ...