In Luke 13:10-17, the Lord heals a woman who was bent over and could not straighten up. Luke mentions that she had this infirmity for eighteen years (v 11), and the Lord Himself mentions this in v 16. Why this emphasis on how many years she had suffered?
Eighteen years is a long time. Most see “eighteen years” and conclude that the point is simple: She had been in her condition for a long time. She was without hope and could not be healed. But the Lord showed her mercy and released her from her torment. His power could do the impossible.
There is much truth in that observation. But I think there is more to the mention of eighteen years than that.
In Luke 13, the Lord is addressing the condition of the nation of Israel. If they did not repent, judgment would fall upon the nation. Some Jews had been put to death by Pilate. Others had died when a tower fell on them. But many more Jews would lose their lives if the nation would not believe that Jesus was the Christ and repent of their sins (13:1-5).
Things were not looking good for Israel. The Lord teaches a parable comparing the nation to a tree that does not produce fruit (13:6-9). If they did not repent and produce the fruit God expected of them, they would be like an unfruitful tree that was cut down.
This judgment fell upon Israel in AD 70. God used the Romans to discipline His unrepentant, non-fruit-bearing people.
After discussing Israel’s condition and need, Luke records the account of this woman and her healing. It is not about salvation from hell, nor is it a feel-good story. The woman is a picture of Israel. The nation was sick and needed to be released from its condition through the strength that only Christ could provide.
In the account, a leader of the synagogue is present when the healing takes place. He pictures Israel’s problem. Like the nation’s religious leaders, he is an unmerciful jerk. He does not care for this woman and is angry that the Lord healed her. His religious traditions and position were more important than the fact that the Christ was in the synagogue. He was a hateful legalist. This was the kind of fruit the nation was producing. The judgment they would experience was well deserved.
The account of the woman does not occur in a vacuum. The woman and the synagogue leader are exhibits A and B, proving what the Lord had just said in the previous verses (13:1-9).
Some, no doubt, would say my view of the passage is a clear example of allegorizing. Why can’t we simply look at this woman’s healing and give glory to God for His mercy toward her? Why do we need to bring Israel into it? How do I know I’m not making more out of the context than is warranted?
There are many reasons. One of them is the number eighteen. I would suggest that the repetition of the number in the account of this woman points to something more than simply the length of time she had suffered.
When the Lord spoke of the danger the nation faced, He referred to a tower that fell on some people in Jerusalem. All of them were killed. If the nation did not repent, it would suffer the same fate.
The Lord gets very specific. He tells us how many died when that tower fell. It was eighteen (13:4).
Luke 13 is the only place in the NT that mentions the number eighteen. It is cited twice in the account of the woman. The observant reader or listener will remember what has just been said about the eighteen men. Luke is connecting the warning to Israel with this woman. He wants the reader to see that connection. The connection indicates that the Lord wants us to see the woman as a picture of Israel. If the nation would come to Him, He was able to save them from the coming judgment, just as He delivered this woman.
Am I allegorizing by using the number eighteen in this way? The reader will have to decide. But I am convinced that sometimes there is more in a number than meets the eye.
