3 And G2532 Joanna G2489 the wife G1135 of Chuza G5529 Herod's G2264 steward, G2012 and G2532 Susanna, G4677 and G2532 many G4183 others, G2087 which G3748 ministered G1247 unto him G846 of G575 their G846 substance. G5224
Now G1161 Herod G2264 the tetrarch G5076 heard G191 of all G3956 that was done G1096 by G5259 him: G846 and G2532 he was perplexed, G1280 because G1223 that it was said G3004 of G5259 some, G5100 that G3754 John G2491 was risen G1453 from G1537 the dead; G3498 And G1161 of G5259 some, G5100 that G3754 Elias G2243 had appeared; G5316 and G1161 of others, G243 that G3754 one G1520 of the old G744 prophets G4396 was risen again. G450 And G2532 Herod G2264 said, G2036 John G2491 have G607 I G1473 beheaded: G607 but G1161 who G5101 is G2076 this, G3778 of G4012 whom G3739 I G1473 hear G191 such things? G5108 And G2532 he desired G2212 to see G1492 him. G846
So G3767 Jesus G2424 came G2064 again G3825 into G1519 Cana G2580 of Galilee, G1056 where G3699 he made G4160 the water G5204 wine. G3631 And G2532 there was G2258 a certain G5100 nobleman, G937 whose G3739 son G5207 was sick G770 at G1722 Capernaum. G2584 When he G3778 heard G191 that G3754 Jesus G2424 was come G2240 out of G1537 Judaea G2449 into G1519 Galilee, G1056 he went G565 unto G4314 him, G846 and G2532 besought G2065 him G846 that G2443 he would come down, G2597 and G2532 heal G2390 his G846 son: G5207 for G1063 he was at the point G3195 of death. G599 Then G3767 said G2036 Jesus G2424 unto G4314 him, G846 Except G3362 ye see G1492 signs G4592 and G2532 wonders, G5059 ye will G4100 not G3364 believe. G4100 The nobleman G937 saith G3004 unto G4314 him, G846 Sir, G2962 come down G2597 ere G4250 my G3450 child G3813 die. G599 Jesus G2424 saith G3004 unto him, G846 Go thy way; G4198 thy G4675 son G5207 liveth. G2198 And G2532 the man G444 believed G4100 the word G3056 that G3739 Jesus G2424 had spoken G2036 unto him, G846 and G2532 he went his way. G4198 And G1161 as he G846 was now G2235 going down, G2597 his G846 servants G1401 met G528 him, G846 and G2532 told G518 him, saying, G3004 G3754 Thy G4675 son G3816 liveth. G2198 Then G3767 enquired he G4441 of G3844 them G846 the hour G5610 when G1722 G3739 he began G2192 to amend. G2866 And G2532 they said G2036 unto him, G846 G3754 Yesterday G5504 at the seventh G1442 hour G5610 the fever G4446 left G863 him. G846 So G3767 the father G3962 knew G1097 that G3754 it was at G1722 the same G1565 hour, G5610 in G1722 the which G3739 Jesus G2424 said G2036 unto him, G846 G3754 Thy G4675 son G5207 liveth: G2198 and G2532 himself G846 believed, G4100 and G2532 his G846 whole G3650 house. G3614
Now G1161 there was G2258 at G1722 Joppa G2445 a certain G5100 disciple G3102 named G3686 Tabitha, G5000 which G3739 by interpretation G1329 is called G3004 Dorcas: G1393 this woman G3778 G846 was G2258 full G4134 of good G18 works G2041 and G2532 almsdeeds G1654 which G3739 she did. G4160 And G1161 it came to pass G1096 in G1722 those G1565 days, G2250 that she was sick, G770 and died: G599 whom when G1161 they G846 had washed, G3068 G846 they laid G5087 her in G1722 an upper chamber. G5253 And G1161 forasmuch as G5607 Lydda G3069 was nigh G1451 to Joppa, G2445 and the disciples G3101 had heard G191 that G3754 Peter G4074 was G2076 there, G1722 G846 they sent G649 unto G4314 him G846 two G1417 men, G435 desiring G3870 him that he would G3635 not G3361 delay G3635 to come G1330 to G2193 them. G846 Then G1161 Peter G4074 arose G450 and went with G4905 them. G846 When he G3739 was come, G3854 they brought him G321 into G1519 the upper chamber: G5253 and G2532 all G3956 the widows G5503 stood by G3936 him G846 weeping, G2799 and G2532 shewing G1925 the coats G5509 and G2532 garments G2440 which G3745 Dorcas G1393 made, G4160 while she was G5607 with G3326 them. G846
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).