Luke 8

Some Women Accompany Jesus

1 And it happened that {afterward} also he was going about from [one] town and village [to another] preaching and proclaiming the good news concerning the kingdom of God, and the twelve [were] with him,
2 and some women who had been healed of evil spirits and diseases: Mary (who was called Magdalene), from whom seven demons had gone out,
3 and Joanna the wife of Chuza (Herod's household manager), and Susanna, and many others who were helping to support them from their possessions.

The Parable of the Sower

4 And [while] a large crowd was gathering and [they] were going to him from town [after town], he spoke by means of a parable:
5 "The sower went out to sow his seed, and while he was sowing, {some seed} fell on the side of the path and was trampled under foot, and the birds of the sky devoured it.
6 And other [seed] fell on the rock, and [when it] came up, it withered, because it did not have moisture.
7 And other [seed] fell in the midst of the thorn plants, and the thorn plants grew up with [it] [and] choked it.
8 And other [seed] fell on the good soil, and [when it] came up, it produced a hundred times as much grain." [As he] said these [things], he called out, "The one who has ears to hear, let him hear!"

The Reason for the Parables

9 And his disciples asked him what this parable meant.
10 And he said, "To you it has been given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God, but to the rest [they are] in parables, so that 'Seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand.'

The Parable of the Sower Interpreted

11 Now the parable means this: the seed is the word of God,
12 and those beside the path are the ones who have heard. Then the devil comes and takes away the word from their heart, so that they may not believe [and] be saved.
13 And those on the rock [are those] who receive the word with joy when they hear [it], and these do not have [enough] root, who believe for a time and in a time of testing fall away.
14 And the [seed] that fell into the thorn plants--these are the ones who hear and [as they] go along are choked by the worries and riches and pleasures of life, and they do not bear fruit to maturity.
15 But the [seed] on the good soil--these are the ones who, [after] hearing the word, hold fast to [it] with a noble and good heart, and bear fruit with patient endurance.

The Parable of the Lamp

16 "And no one, [after] lighting a lamp, covers it with a jar or puts [it] under a bed, but puts [it] on a lampstand, so that those who come in can see the light.
17 For nothing is secret that will not become evident, and nothing hidden that will never be known and come to light.
18 Therefore consider how you listen, for whoever has, to him [more] will be given, and whoever does not have, even what he thinks [that he] has will be taken away from him."

Jesus’ Mother and Brothers

19 Now his mother and brothers came to him, and they were not able to meet with him because of the crowd.
20 And it was reported to him, "Your mother and your brothers are standing outside wanting to see you."
21 But he answered [and] said to them, "These are my mother and my brothers--the ones who hear the word of God and do [it].

Calming of a Storm

22 Now it happened that on one of the days both he and his disciples got into a boat, and he said to them, "Let us cross over to the other side of the lake." And they set sail,
23 and [as] they were sailing, he fell asleep. And a storm of wind came down on the lake, and they were being swamped and were in danger.
24 And they came [and] woke him up, saying, "Master, master! We are perishing!" So he got up [and] rebuked the wind and the billowing waves of water and they ceased, and it became calm.
25 And he said to them, "Where [is] your faith?" But they were afraid [and] were astonished, saying to one another, "Who then is this, that he commands even the winds and the water and they obey him?"

A Demon-possessed Gerasene Healed

26 And they sailed to the region of the Gerasenes, which is opposite Galilee.
27 And [as] he got out on the land, a certain man from the town met [him] who had demons and for a considerable time had not worn clothes and did not live in a house, but among the tombs.
28 And [when he] saw Jesus, he cried out, fell down before him, and said with a loud voice, "{What do I have to do with you}, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you, do not torment me!"
29 For he had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. (For it had seized him many times, and he was bound with chains and shackles [and] was guarded, and breaking the bonds he would be driven by the demon into the deserted places.)
30 So Jesus asked him, "What is your name?" And he said, "Legion," because many demons had entered into him.
31 And they began imploring him that he would not order them to depart into the abyss.
32 Now there was a large herd of pigs feeding there on the hill, and they implored him that he would permit them to enter into those [pigs]. And he permitted them.
33 So the demons came out of the man [and] entered into the pigs, and the herd rushed headlong down the steep slope into the lake and were drowned.
34 And [when] the herdsmen saw what had happened, they fled and reported [it] in the town and in the countryside.
35 So they went out to see what had happened, and they came to Jesus and found the man from whom the demons had gone out sitting [there] clothed and in his right mind, at the feet of Jesus, and they were afraid.
36 And those who had seen [it] reported to them how the man who had been demon-possessed had been healed.
37 And all the people of the surrounding region of the Gerasenes asked him to depart from them, because they had been seized with great fear. So he got into the boat [and] returned.
38 And the man from who the demons had gone out was begging him to stay with him, but he sent him away, saying,
39 "Return to your home and tell all that God has done for you." And he went away, proclaiming throughout the whole town all that Jesus had done for him.

A Woman Healed and a Daughter Raised

40 Now when Jesus returned, the crowd welcomed him, because they were all waiting for him.
41 And behold, a man {who was named} Jairus came, and this man was a ruler of the synagogue. And he fell down at the feet of Jesus [and] began imploring him to come to his house,
42 because {he had} an only daughter, about twelve years [old], and she was dying. Now as he was going, the crowds were pressing against him.
43 And a woman who was {suffering from hemorrhages} for twelve years (who, [although she] had spent all [her] assets on physicians, was not able to be healed by anyone)
44 came up behind [him] [and] touched the edge of his cloak, and immediately {her hemorrhaging} stopped.
45 And Jesus said, "Who [is] the one who touched me?" And [when they] all denied [it], Peter said, "Master, the crowds are pressing you hard and crowding [you]!"
46 But Jesus said, "Someone touched me, because I know power has gone out from me."
47 And [when] the woman saw that she did not escape notice, she came trembling and falling down before him. In the presence of all the people, she told for what reason she had touched him, and that she was healed immediately.
48 And he said to her, "Daughter, your faith has saved you. Go in peace."
49 [While] he was still speaking, someone came from the synagogue ruler's [house], saying, "Your daughter is dead! Trouble the Teacher no longer!"
50 But Jesus, [when he] heard [this], replied to him, "Do not be afraid! Only believe, and she will be healed."
51 Now [when he] came to the house, he did not allow anyone to enter with him except Peter and John and James and the father and mother of the child.
52 And they were all weeping and mourning for her, but he said, "Do not weep! For she is not dead, but is sleeping."
53 And they began laughing at him, [because they] knew that she was dead.
54 But he took her hand [and] called, saying, "Child, get up."
55 And her spirit returned, and she got up immediately, and he ordered [something] to be given to her to eat.
56 And her parents were astonished, but he ordered them to tell no one what had happened.

Luke 8 Commentary

Chapter 8

The ministry of Christ. (1-3) The parable of the sower. (4-21) Christ stilleth the tempest and casteth out devils. (22-40) The daughter of Jairus restored to life. (41-56)

Verses 1-3 We are here told what Christ made the constant business of his life, it was teaching the gospel. Tidings of the kingdom of God are glad tidings, and what Christ came to bring. Certain women attended upon him who ministered to him of their substance. It showed the mean condition to which the Saviour humbled himself, that he needed their kindness, and his great humility, that he accepted it. Though rich, yet for our sakes he became poor.

Verses 4-21 There are many very needful and excellent rules and cautions for hearing the word, in the parable of the sower, and the application of it. Happy are we, and for ever indebted to free grace, if the same thing that is a parable to others, with which they are only amused, is a plain truth to us, by which we are taught and governed. We ought to take heed of the things that will hinder our profiting by the word we hear; to take heed lest we hear carelessly and slightly, lest we entertain prejudices against the word we hear; and to take heed to our spirits after we have heard the word, lest we lose what we have gained. The gifts we have, will be continued to us or not, as we use them for the glory of God, and the good of our brethren. Nor is it enough not to hold the truth in unrighteousness; we should desire to hold forth the word of life, and to shine, giving light to all around. Great encouragement is given to those who prove themselves faithful hearers of the word, by being doers of the work. Christ owns them as his relations.

Verses 22-40 Those that put to sea in a calm, even at Christ's word, must yet prepare for a storm, and for great peril in that storm. There is no relief for souls under a sense of guilt, and fear of wrath, but to go to Christ, and call him Master, and say, I am undone, if thou dost not help me. When our dangers are over, it becomes us to take to ourselves the shame of our own fears, and to give Christ the glory of our deliverance. We may learn much out of this history concerning the world of infernal, malignant spirits, which though not working now exactly in the same way as then, yet all must at all times carefully guard against. And these malignant spirits are very numerous. They have enmity to man and all his comforts. Those under Christ's government are sweetly led with the bands of love; those under the devil's government are furiously driven. Oh what a comfort it is to the believer, that all the powers of darkness are under the control of the Lord Jesus! It is a miracle of mercy, if those whom Satan possesses, are not brought to destruction and eternal ruin. Christ will not stay with those who slight him; perhaps he may no more return to them, while others are waiting for him, and glad to receive him.

Verses 41-56 Let us not complain of a crowd, and a throng, and a hurry, as long as we are in the way of our duty, and doing good; but otherwise every wise man will keep himself out of it as much as he can. And many a poor soul is healed, and helped, and saved by Christ, that is hidden in a crowd, and nobody notices it. This woman came trembling, yet her faith saved her. There may be trembling, where yet there is saving faith. Observe Christ's comfortable words to Jairus, Fear not, believe only, and thy daughter shall be made whole. No less hard was it not to grieve for the loss of an only child, than not to fear the continuance of that grief. But in perfect faith there is no fear; the more we fear, the less we believe. The hand of Christ's grace goes with the calls of his word, to make them effectual. Christ commanded to give her meat. As babes new born, so those newly raised from sin, desire spiritual food, that they may grow thereby.

Footnotes 54

  • [a]. Literally "in what follows"
  • [b]. *Here "[while]" is supplied as a component of the temporal genitive absolute participle ("was gathering")
  • [c]. Literally "some of which"
  • [d]. *Here "[when]" is supplied as a component of the participle ("came up") which is understood as temporal
  • [e]. *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
  • [f]. *Here "[and]" is supplied because the previous participle ("grew up with") has been translated as a finite verb
  • [g]. *Here "[when]" is supplied as a component of the participle ("came up") which is understood as temporal
  • [h]. *Here "[as]" is supplied as a component of the participle ("said") which is understood as temporal
  • [i]. *Here "[and]" is supplied because the previous participle ("believe") has been translated as a finite verb
  • [j]. *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
  • [k]. *Here "[as]" is supplied as a component of the participle ("go along") which is understood as temporal
  • [l]. *Here "[after]" is supplied as a component of the participle ("hearing") which is understood as temporal
  • [m]. *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
  • [n]. *Here "[after]" is supplied as a component of the participle ("lighting") which is understood as temporal
  • [o]. *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
  • [p]. *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
  • [q]. *Here "[and]" is supplied because the previous participle ("answered") has been translated as a finite verb
  • [r]. *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
  • [s]. *Here "[as]" is supplied as a component of the temporal genitive absolute participle ("were sailing")
  • [t]. *Here "[and]" is supplied because the previous participle ("came") has been translated as a finite verb
  • [u]. *Here "[and]" is supplied because the previous participle ("got up") has been translated as a finite verb
  • [v]. *Here "[and]" is supplied because the previous participle ("were afraid") has been translated as a finite verb
  • [w]. *Here "[as]" is supplied as a component of the participle ("got out") which is understood as temporal
  • [x]. *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
  • [y]. *Here "[when]" is supplied as a component of the participle ("saw") which is understood as temporal
  • [z]. Literally "what to me and to you"
  • [aa]. *Here "[and]" is supplied because the previous participle ("was bound") has been translated as a finite verb
  • [ab]. *The imperfect tense has been translated as ingressive here ("began imploring")
  • [ac]. *Here "[and]" is supplied because the previous participle ("came out") has been translated as a finite verb
  • [ad]. *Here "[when]" is supplied as a component of the participle ("saw") which is understood as temporal
  • [ae]. *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
  • [af]. *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
  • [ag]. *Here "[and]" is supplied because the previous participle ("got") has been translated as a finite verb
  • [ah]. Literally "to whom the name"
  • [ai]. *Here "[and]" is supplied because the previous participle ("fell down") has been translated as a finite verb
  • [aj]. *The imperfect tense has been translated as ingressive here ("began imploring")
  • [ak]. Literally "there was to him"
  • [al]. Literally, "with a flow of blood"
  • [am]. *Here "[although]" is supplied as a component of the participle ("had spent") which is understood as concessive
  • [an]. *Literally "the"; the Greek article is used here as a possessive pronoun
  • [ao]. *Here "[and]" is supplied because the previous participle ("came up") has been translated as a finite verb
  • [ap]. Literally "the flow of her blood"
  • [aq]. *Here "[when]" is supplied as a component of the temporal genitive absolute participle ("denied")
  • [ar]. *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
  • [as]. *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
  • [at]. *Here "[when]" is supplied as a component of the participle ("saw") which is understood as temporal
  • [au]. *Here "[while]" is supplied as a component of the temporal genitive absolute participle ("speaking")
  • [av]. *Here "[when]" is supplied as a component of the participle ("heard") which is understood as temporal
  • [aw]. *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
  • [ax]. *Here "[when]" is supplied as a component of the participle ("came") which is understood as temporal
  • [ay]. *The imperfect tense has been translated as ingressive here ("began laughing")
  • [az]. *Here "[because]" is supplied as a component of the participle ("knew") which is understood as causal
  • [ba]. *Here "[and]" is supplied because the previous participle ("took") has been translated as a finite verb
  • [bb]. *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation

Luke 8 Commentaries

Scripture quotations marked (LEB) are from the Lexham English Bible. Copyright 2012 Logos Bible Software. Lexham is a registered trademark of Logos Bible Software.