Jesus sets us free

In Luke 13:10 - 17, Jesus is teaching in a synagogue.  During his teaching, he sees a woman who is bent in half.  He interrupts the teaching, calls her forward and completely heals her.  He sets her free from the binding of Satan.  In doing this, he calls her a daughter of Abraham.  By calling her a daughter of Abraham, he is saying that she is living by faith.  She is doing what Abraham did.  Apparently, for 18 long, arduous years, this woman has been faithfully placing one foot in front of the other, practicing her faith, attending synagogue, praying and worshiping the Almighty God.  So, in one way, even though bound physically, she is free spiritually.  She is free spiritually to worship in spite of her physical ailments.  Jesus makes her complete, by aligning her spiritual freedom with her physical freedom. 

Now Jesus contrasts this physically bound woman with the hypocritical synagogue ruler who is bound by legalism.  He is bound by a list of rules so that the job is easy.  Just apply the rules to the situation and totally ignore the human touch, the human side of the equation.  In fact, as Jesus points out, the rules are more in favor of animals than they are for humans on the Sabbath.

I have a simple question.  If Jesus is all about setting us free (Sabbath or no Sabbath), did he also set the synagogue ruler free by humiliating him and calling him a hypocrite?  In other words, does this strategy help to get to the heart of the matter and set two free?  Or, are some of us so bound up by our legalism and rules that, even when the inconsistencies are pointed out, we still don't get it? 

So, the P.S. is:  Can we accept criticism from the Lord and then go and change our ways?  I pray that as we see ourselves in the mirror of scripture, we can notice what needs changed and ask the Lord to work in our hearts and minds and change us for His glory!