11 Now G1161 the parable G3850 is G2076 this: G3778 The seed G4703 is G2076 the word G3056 of God. G2316
The sower G4687 soweth G4687 the word. G3056 And G1161 these G3778 are they G1526 by G3844 the way side, G3598 where G3699 the word G3056 is sown; G4687 but G2532 when G3752 they have heard, G191 Satan G4567 cometh G2064 immediately, G2112 and G2532 taketh away G142 the word G3056 that was sown G4687 in G1722 their G846 hearts. G2588 And G2532 these G3778 are they G1526 likewise G3668 which are sown G4687 on G1909 stony ground; G4075 who, G3739 when G3752 they have heard G191 the word, G3056 immediately G2112 receive G2983 it G846 with G3326 gladness; G5479 And G2532 have G2192 no G3756 root G4491 in G1722 themselves, G1438 and G235 so endure G1526 but for a time: G4340 afterward, G1534 when affliction G2347 or G2228 persecution G1375 ariseth G1096 for G1223 the word's sake, G3056 immediately G2112 they are offended. G4624 And G2532 these G3778 are G1526 they which are G1526 sown G4687 among G1519 thorns; G173 such as G3778 hear G191 the word, G3056 And G2532 the cares G3308 of this G5127 world, G165 and G2532 the deceitfulness G539 of riches, G4149 and G2532 the lusts G1939 of G4012 other things G3062 entering in, G1531 choke G4846 the word, G3056 and G2532 it becometh G1096 unfruitful. G175 And G2532 these G3778 are G1526 they which are sown G4687 on G1909 good G2570 ground; G1093 such as G3748 hear G191 the word, G3056 and G2532 receive G3858 it, and G2532 bring forth fruit, G2592 some G1520 thirtyfold, G5144 some G2532 G1520 sixty, G1835 and G2532 some G1520 an hundred. G1540
I G1473 have planted, G5452 Apollos G625 watered; G4222 but G235 God G2316 gave the increase. G837 So G5620 then neither G3777 is G2076 he that planteth G5452 any thing, G5100 neither G3777 he that watereth; G4222 but G235 God G2316 that giveth the increase. G837
Being born again, G313 not G3756 of G1537 corruptible G5349 seed, G4701 but G235 of incorruptible, G862 by G1223 the word G3056 of God, G2316 which liveth G2198 and G2532 abideth G3306 for G1519 ever. G165 For G1360 all G3956 flesh G4561 is as G5613 grass, G5528 and G2532 all G3956 the glory G1391 of man G444 as G5613 the flower G438 of grass. G5528 The grass G5528 withereth, G3583 and G2532 the flower G438 thereof G846 falleth away: G1601 But G1161 the word G4487 of the Lord G2962 endureth G3306 for G1519 ever. G165 And G1161 this G5124 is G2076 the word G4487 which G3588 by the gospel is preached G2097 unto G1519 you. G5209
For G1063 we are G2070 labourers together G4904 with God: G2316 ye are G2075 God's G2316 husbandry, G1091 ye are God's G2316 building. G3619 According G2596 to the grace G5485 of God G2316 which G3588 is given G1325 unto me, G3427 as G5613 a wise G4680 masterbuilder, G753 I have laid G5087 the foundation, G2310 and G1161 another G243 buildeth G2026 thereon. But G1161 let G991 every man G1538 take heed G991 how G4459 he buildeth G2026 thereupon. For G1063 other G243 foundation G2310 can G1410 no man G3762 lay G5087 than G3844 that is laid, G2749 which G3739 is G2076 Jesus G2424 Christ. G5547 Now G1161 if any man G1536 build G2026 upon G1909 this G5126 foundation G2310 gold, G5557 silver, G696 precious G5093 stones, G3037 wood, G3586 hay, G5528 stubble; G2562
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Luke 8
Commentary on Luke 8 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 8
Lu 8:1-3. A Galilean Circuit, with the Twelve and Certain Ministering Women. (In Luke only).
1. went—travelled, made a progress.
throughout every city and village—through town and village.
preaching, &c.—the Prince of itinerant preachers scattering far and wide the seed of the Kingdom.
2. certain women … healed, &c.—on whom He had the double claim of having brought healing to their bodies and new life to their souls. Drawn to Him by an attraction more than magnetic, they accompany Him on this tour as His almoners—ministering unto Him of their substance. Blessed Saviour! It melts us to see Thee living upon the love of Thy ransomed people. That they bring Thee their poor offerings we wonder not. Thou hast sown unto them spiritual things, and they think it, as well they might, a small thing that Thou shouldst reap their material things (1Co 9:11). But dost Thou take it at their hand, and subsist upon it? "Oh, the depth of the riches" (Ro 11:33)—of this poverty of His!
Mary Magdalene—that is, probably, of Magdala (on which see Mt 15:39; see on Mr 8:10).
went—rather, "had gone."
seven devils—(Mr 16:9). It is a great wrong to this honored woman to identify her with the once profligate woman of Lu 7:37, and to call all such penitents Magdalenes. The mistake has arisen from confounding unhappy demoniacal possession with the conscious entertainment of diabolic impurity, or supposing the one to have been afflicted as a punishment for the other—for which there is not the least scriptural ground.
3. Joanna, wife of Chuza, Herod's steward—If the steward of such a godless, cruel, and licentious wretch as Herod Antipas (see on Mr 6:14, &c.) differed greatly from himself, his post would be no easy or enviable one. That he was a disciple of Christ is very improbable, though he might be favorably disposed towards Him. But what we know not of him, and may fear he lacked, we are sure his wife possessed. Healed either of "evil spirits" or of some one of the "infirmities" here referred to—the ordinary diseases of humanity—she joins in the Saviour's train of grateful, clinging followers. Of "Susanna," next mentioned, we know nothing but the name, and that here only. But her services on this memorable occasion have immortalized her name. "Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached throughout the whole world, this also that she hath done," in ministering to the Lord of her substance on His Galilean tour, "shall be spoken of as a memorial of her" (Mr 14:9).
many others—that is, many other healed women. What a train! and all ministering unto Him of their substance, and He allowing them to do it and subsisting upon it! "He who was the support of the spiritual life of His people disdained not to be supported by them in the body. He was not ashamed to penetrate so far into the depths of poverty as to live upon the alms of love. He only fed others miraculously; for Himself, He lived upon the love of His people. He gave all things to men, His brethren, and received all things from them, enjoying thereby the pure blessing of love: which is then only perfect when it is at the same time both giving and receiving. Who could invent such things as these? It was necessary to live in this manner that it might be so recorded" [Olshausen].
Lu 8:4-18. Parable of the Sower.
(See on Mr 4:3-9, Mr 4:14-20.)
16. No man, &c.—(see on Mt 5:15, of which this is nearly a repetition).
17. For nothing, &c.—(See on Lu 12:2).
18. how ye—in Mr 4:24, "what ye hear." The one implies the other. The precept is very weighty.
seemeth to have—or, "thinketh that he hath" (Margin). The "having" of Mt 13:12 (on which see), and this "thinking he hath," are not different. Hanging loosely on him, and not appropriated, it is and is not his.
Lu 8:19-21. His Mother and Brethren Desire to Speak with Him.
(See on Mt 12:46-50).
Lu 8:22-25. Jesus Crossing the Lake, Stills the Storm.
(See on Mt 8:23-27, and Mr 4:35-41).
23. filled—literally, "were getting filled," that is, those who sailed; meaning that their ship was so.
Lu 8:26-39. Demoniac of Gadara Healed.
(See on Mt 8:28-34; and Mr 5:1-20).
Lu 8:40-56. Jairus' Daughter Raised and Issue of Blood Healed.
(See on Mt 9:18-26; and Mr 5:21-43).
40. gladly received him, for … all waiting for him—The abundant teaching of that day (in Mt 13:1-58; and see Mr 4:36), had only whetted the people's appetite; and disappointed, as would seem, that He had left them in the evening to cross the lake, they remain hanging about the beach, having got a hint, probably through some of His disciples, that He would be back the same evening. Perhaps they witnessed at a distance the sudden calming of the tempest. Here at least they are, watching for His return, and welcoming Him to the shore. The tide of His popularity was now fast rising.
45. Who touched me?—"Askest Thou, Lord, who touched Thee? Rather ask who touched Thee not in such a throng."
46. Somebody hath touched—yes, the multitude "thronged" and pressed Him—"they jostled against Him," but all involuntarily; they were merely carried along; but one, one only—"Somebody Touched" Him, with the conscious, voluntary, dependent touch of faith, reaching forth its hands expressly to have contact with Him. This and this only Jesus acknowledges and seeks out. Even so, as the Church Father Augustine long ago said, multitudes still come similarly close to Christ in the means of grace, but all to no purpose, being only sucked into the crowd. The voluntary, living contact of faith is that electric conductor which alone draws virtue out of Him.
47. declared … before all—This, though a great trial to the shrinking modesty of the believing woman, was just what Christ wanted in dragging her forth, her public testimony to the facts of her case—both her disease, with her abortive efforts at a cure, and the instantaneous and perfect relief which her touch of the Great Healer had brought her.
55. give her meat—(See on Mr 5:43).