Worthy.Bible » STRONG » Luke » Chapter 8 » Verse 9-15

Luke 8:9-15 King James Version with Strong's Concordance (STRONG)

9 And G1161 his G846 disciples G3101 asked G1905 him, G846 saying, G3004 What G5101 might G1498 this G3778 parable G3850 be? G1498

10 And G1161 he said, G2036 Unto you G5213 it is given G1325 to know G1097 the mysteries G3466 of the kingdom G932 of God: G2316 but G1161 to others G3062 in G1722 parables; G3850 that G2443 seeing G991 they might G991 not G3361 see, G991 and G2532 hearing G191 they might G4920 not G3361 understand. G4920

11 Now G1161 the parable G3850 is G2076 this: G3778 The seed G4703 is G2076 the word G3056 of God. G2316

12 Those G1161 by G3844 the way side G3598 are G1526 they that hear; G191 then G1534 cometh G2064 the devil, G1228 and G2532 taketh away G142 the word G3056 out of G575 their G846 hearts, G2588 lest G3363 they should believe G4100 and be saved. G4982

13 G1161 They on G1909 the rock G4073 are they, which, G3739 when G3752 they hear, G191 receive G1209 the word G3056 with G3326 joy; G5479 and G2532 these G3778 have G2192 no G3756 root, G4491 which G3739 for G4314 a while G2540 believe, G4100 and G2532 in G1722 time G2540 of temptation G3986 fall away. G868

14 And G1161 that which fell G4098 among G1519 thorns G173 are G1526 they, G3778 which, when they have heard, G191 go forth, G4198 and G2532 are choked G4846 with G5259 cares G3308 and G2532 riches G4149 and G2532 pleasures G2237 of this life, G979 and G2532 bring G5052 no G3756 fruit to perfection. G5052

15 But G1161 that on G1722 the good G2570 ground G1093 are G1526 they, G3778 which G3748 in G1722 an honest G2570 and G2532 good G18 heart, G2588 having heard G191 the word, G3056 keep G2722 it, and G2532 bring forth fruit G2592 with G1722 patience. G5281

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).