4 And G1161 when much G4183 people G3793 were gathered together, G4896 and G2532 were come G1975 to G4314 him G846 out of every G2596 city, G4172 he spake G2036 by G1223 a parable: G3850
And G2532 great G4183 multitudes G3793 were gathered together G4863 unto G4314 him, G846 so that G5620 he G846 went G1684 into G1519 a ship, G4143 and sat; G2521 and G2532 the whole G3956 multitude G3793 stood G2476 on G1909 the shore. G123 And G2532 he spake G2980 many things G4183 unto them G846 in G1722 parables, G3850 saying, G3004 Behold, G2400 a sower G4687 went forth G1831 to sow; G4687 And G2532 when G1722 he G846 sowed, G4687 some G3739 G3303 seeds fell G4098 by G3844 the way side, G3598 and G2532 the fowls G4071 came G2064 and G2532 devoured G2719 them G846 up: G2719 Some G1161 G243 fell G4098 upon G1909 stony places, G4075 where G3699 they had G2192 not G3756 much G4183 earth: G1093 and G2532 forthwith G2112 they sprung up, G1816 because G1223 they had G2192 no G3361 deepness G899 of earth: G1093 And G1161 when the sun G2246 was up, G393 they were scorched; G2739 and G2532 because G1223 they had G2192 no G3361 root, G4491 they withered away. G3583 And G1161 some G243 fell G4098 among G1909 thorns; G173 and G2532 the thorns G173 sprung up, G305 and G2532 choked G638 them: G846 But G1161 other G243 fell G4098 into G1909 good G2570 ground, G1093 and G2532 brought forth G1325 fruit, G2590 some G3739 G3303 an hundredfold, G1540 G1161 some G3739 sixtyfold, G1835 G1161 some G3739 thirtyfold. G5144 Who G3588 hath G2192 ears G3775 to hear, G191 let him hear. G191
And G2532 he began G756 again G3825 to teach G1321 by G3844 the sea side: G2281 and G2532 there was gathered G4863 unto G4314 him G846 a great G4183 multitude, G3793 so that G5620 he G846 entered G1684 into G1519 a ship, G4143 and sat G2521 in G1722 the sea; G2281 and G2532 the whole G3956 multitude G3793 was G2258 by G4314 the sea G2281 on G1909 the land. G1093 And G2532 he taught G1321 them G846 many things G4183 by G1722 parables, G3850 and G2532 said G3004 unto them G846 in G1722 his G846 doctrine, G1322 Hearken; G191 Behold, G2400 there went out G1831 a sower G4687 to sow: G4687 And G2532 it came to pass, G1096 as G1722 he sowed, G4687 some G3739 G3303 fell G4098 by G3844 the way side, G3598 and G2532 the fowls G4071 of the air G3772 came G2064 and G2532 devoured G2719 it G846 up. G2719 And G1161 some G243 fell G4098 on G1909 stony ground, G4075 where G3699 it had G2192 not G3756 much G4183 earth; G1093 and G2532 immediately G2112 it sprang up, G1816 because G1223 it had G2192 no G3361 depth G899 of earth: G1093 But G1161 when G393 the sun G2246 was up, G393 it was scorched; G2739 and G2532 because G1223 it had G2192 no G3361 root, G4491 it withered away. G3583 And G2532 some G243 fell G4098 among G1519 thorns, G173 and G2532 the thorns G173 grew up, G305 and G2532 choked G4846 it, G846 and G2532 it yielded G1325 no G3756 fruit. G2590 And G2532 other G243 fell G4098 on G1519 good G2570 ground, G1093 and G2532 did yield G1325 fruit G2590 that sprang up G305 and G2532 increased; G837 and G2532 brought forth, G5342 some G1520 thirty, G5144 and G2532 some G1520 sixty, G1835 and G2532 some G1520 an hundred. G1540 And G2532 he said G3004 unto them, G846 He that hath G2192 ears G3775 to hear, G191 let him hear. G191
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).