Luke 8

Summary. In this chapter, the Lord Jesus continues to preach the good news to the people and to show His mercy to them. He heals many and shows His power and authority over nature, sickness, the seen and the unseen world. Luke 8:1-15. Jesus and His disciples traveled throughout the cities and villages preaching the good news to the people. He speaks the parable of the sower to a great multitude. He tells us that the mysteries of the kingdom of God are given only to His disciples who have faith in their heart. Then the Lord explains the parable to His disciples. Luke 8:16-21. Jesus speaks the parable of the lamp under a vessel or a bed. Then He tells us who His brothers and mother are. Luke 8:22-25. Jesus calms a great windstorm by rebuking the wind and the waves of the sea, showing that He has power and authority over nature. Luke 8:26-39. Jesus heals a man with demons and shows that He is the Lord not only of humans, but the Lord of the unseen world as well. Luke 8:40-56. Jesus heals a woman who had a flow of blood for twelve years. The woman is healed just by touching the fringe of Jesus' garment. Then Jesus heals the daughter of Jairus, a ruler of the synagogue. The Lord can command by His word the spirit of this girl to come and join the soul and body, showing His power and authority over the seen and the unseen world.

[1] And it came to pass soon afterwards, that He journey city by city and village by village, preaching and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God, and with Him the twelve,

[2] and certain women who had been healed of wicked spirits and sicknesses: Mary who was called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out,

Comments Luke 8:2 The evil activity related to this verse will not be happening again (See Comment Mark 5:1-13). After the Lord's Ascension to heaven, the Holy Spirit covers the whole earth; the evil spirit's possession, as this verse infers, no longer exists. But the evil spirits still have power when the human heart is seeking them.
In those times, the human mind was seeking for help and felt that the Lord delayed working, and they wanted sudden help and the evil spirits had a chance to act their own power, a power that does not last long but was pleasing to the human mind.

[3] and Joanna wife of Chuza Herod's steward, and Susanna, and many others, who were ministering to them out of their own means.

Comments Luke 8:3 See Comments Matthew 27:55-56.

[4] And a great multitude assembled, and those of every city gathered to Him. He spoke by a parable:

Comments Luke 8:4 For verses 4 to 10, see Comments Matthew 13:1-15 and Comments Mark 4:1-12.

[5] The sower went out to sow his seed. And as he sowed, some indeed fell by the wayside; and it was trampled underfoot, and the birds of the heaven devoured it.

[6] And some fell on the rock; and as soon as it grew, it withered, because it had no moisture.

[7] And some fell among the thorns; and the thorns having sprung up together, the thorns choked it.

[8] And some fell into the good soil, and having sprung up, produced fruit a hundredfold. As He said these things, He cried, He that has ears to hear, let him hear.

Comments Luke 8:4-8 For this portion of Scripture see Comparison Analysis Mark 4:1-9 as part of Comments Mark 4:1-9.

[9] And His disciples asked Him what this parable means.

[10] And He said, To you has been given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God; but to the rest in parables; so that seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand.

Comments Luke 8:9-10 See Comments Matthew 13:10-16 and Comments Mark 4:10-12b. Another way of looking to this verse is to take this as it is written. For the one that has faith in the heart, when they read simple words that have been said, the word that is written will impact the heart in a different way. But for those that read for finding mistakes, the heart that is darkened will not get the understanding. Even if they see what the word says they will never be able to understand, their heart cannot link the word to the Lord because the darkness in their heart will be as a curtain covering their understanding.

[11] Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.

Comments Luke 8:11 For verses 11 to 15, see Comments Matthew 13:18-23 and Comments Mark 4:13-20.

[12] And those by the wayside are those that have heard; then comes the devil, and takes away the word from their heart, that they may not believe and be saved.

[13] And those on the rock are those who, when they have heard, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, who for a time believe, and in time of testing fall away.

[14] And those that fell among the thorns, these are those that have heard, and as they go on their way are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and do not mature.

[15] And those into the good soil, these are those in a virtuous and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit by endurance.

Comments Luke 8:11-15 For the comments on the understanding of the parable see Comment Matthew 13:18-23 and the Comparison Analysis Mark 4:13-20.

[16] And no one, when has lighted a lamp, covers it with a vessel, or puts it under a bed; but puts it on a lampstand, so that those that enter in may see the light.

[17] For nothing is hidden, which will not become manifest; nor nothing is secret, which will not be known and come to light.

Comments Luke 8:16-17 For verses 16 and 17 see Comments Matthew 5:15-16, Comments Matthew 10:26 and Comments Mark 4:21-23. This parable has similarities with both parables of Matthew 5:15-16 and Mark 4:21-23.

[18] Take heed therefore how you hear; for whoever may have, to him will be given; and whoever may have not, from him will be taken away even that which he seems to have.

Comments Luke 8:18 See Comments Matthew 13:12.

[19] And came to Him, His mother and brothers, and they were not able to meet with Him because of the crowd.

[20] And it was told Him, Thy mother and Thy brothers are standing outside, wishing to see Thee.

[21] But He answered and said to them, My mother and My brothers are those who the word of God are hearing and doing.

Comments Luke 8:19-21 For verses 19 to 21, see Comments Matthew 12:46-50 and Comments Mark 3:31-35. Each gospel records this event slightly differently, but all convey the same meaning. Here, think carefully, who were those that came to see the Lord, His entire earthly family, as the verse has told, the mother and siblings, those are the humans that relate to the beloved Son of God as a Man on earth, but the Lord also, has told who His true family is.
"standing outside". Many people were surrounding the Lord, and His earthly family had been further away from the Lord, and it was impossible for them to go through the crowd. They could only spread the word to the Lord, that they were outside seeking to see Him.

[22] Then it came to pass on one of those days, that He entered into a boat with His disciples; and He said to them, Let us go over to the other side of the lake. And they launched out.

Comments Luke 8:22 For verses 22 to 25, see Comments Matthew 8:23-27 and Comments Mark 4:35-41. For comments on this portion of Scripture see the verse-by-verse comparison analysis given in Comments Mark 4:35-41.

[23] And as they sailed, He fell asleep. And came down a windstorm on the lake; and they were filling with water and were in peril.

[24] Then having come near they awoke Him, saying, Master, Master, we are perishing. And He awoke and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water, and they ceased, and there was a calm.

[25] Then He said to them, Where is your faith? And being afraid they marveled, saying one to another, Who then is this, that He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey Him?

[26] And they arrived at the region of the Gerasenes, which is opposite Galilee.

Comments Luke 8:26 For verses 26 to 39, see Comments Mark 5:1-20. The healing case described in Mark 5:1-20 is the same healing case as Luke 8:26-39 but not the same healing case as Matthew 8:28-34. Gerasenes here refers to a village name. There are some minor differences between the verses in Luke 8:26-39 and Mark 5:1-20, but the stories in both gospels are the same, and they complement each other; the meaning is the same in both gospels. This story shows that the Lord Jesus is not only the Lord of humans, but the Lord of the unseen world as well.

[27] Then when He came out upon the land, met a certain man out of the city, having demons, and for a long time was not wearing clothes, and had not lived in any house, but in the tombs.

[28] Then having seen Jesus, he cried out, and fell down before Him, and in a loud voice said, What to me and to Thee, Jesus, Thou Son of the Most High God? I beg Thee, torment me not.

Comments Luke 8:28 "What to me and to Thee". This is begging for mercy to have pity on themselves.

[29] For He was commanding the unclean spirit to come out from the man. For many times it had seized him, and he was bound being kept with chains and shackles; and breaking the bonds apart, he was driven by the demon into the deserts.

[30] And Jesus asked him, What is your name? And he said, Legion; for many demons were entered into him.

[31] And they begged Him that He would not command them to go away into the abyss.

[32] Now there was there a herd of many swine feeding on the mountain, and they begged Him that He would allow them to enter into them. And He allowed them.

[33] And the demons came out from the man, and entered into the swine, and rushed the herd down the steep bank into the lake, and were drowned.

[34] And when the herdsmen saw what had come to pass, they fled, and told it in the city and in the country.

[35] Then they went out to see what took place; and they came to Jesus, and found the man, from whom the demons had gone out, sitting, clothed and in his right mind, at the feet of Jesus. And they were afraid.

[36] Then those that saw told them how he that was possessed with demons was healed.

[37] And all the multitude of the region around Gerasenes asked Him to depart from them, for they were held with great fear. And He entered into the boat and returned.

[38] But the man from whom the demons had gone out begged Him to go with Him. But He sent him away, saying,

[39] Return to your family, and declare all that God has done for you. And he departed, proclaiming throughout the whole city all that Jesus had done for him.

[40] Then as Jesus returned, the multitude welcomed Him; for they were all waiting for Him.

Comments Luke 8:40 For verses 40 to 56 see Comments Matthew 9:18-26 and Comments Mark 5:22-43. For this portion of Scripture see Comparison Analysis in Comments Mark 5:25-34 and
Comparison Analysis in Comments Mark 5:21-43.

[41] And behold, came a man named Jairus, and he was a ruler of the synagogue, and he fell at the feet of Jesus, and begged Him to come into his house;

[42] for an only daughter was to him, about twelve years, and she was dying. But as He went the multitudes were pressing around Him.

[43] And a woman being with a flux of blood for twelve years, who had spent all her living on physicians, and could not be healed by anyone,

Comments Luke 8:43 "who had spent all her living on physicians". This portion of the verse is part of the original gospel.

[44] having come behind, touched the fringe of His tunic, and immediately the flux of her blood stopped.

Comments Luke 8:44 The second part of the verse should be translated "Peter said, Master, the people press in and you say, Who was that touched Me?" instead of "Peter said, Master, the people press Thee and crush Thee".

[45] And Jesus said, Who was that touched Me? And all denied; Peter said, Master, the people surround You and press in and You say, Who was that touched Me?

[46] But Jesus said, Someone touched Me; for I know that power had gone out from Me.

[47] And when the woman saw that she was not hidden, she came trembling, and falling down before Him declared in the presence of all the people for what cause she touched Him, and how she was healed immediately.

[48] And He said to her, Daughter, your faith has made you whole; go in peace.

Comments Luke 8:43-48 For this portion of Scripture see Comparison Analysis in Comments Mark 5:25-34.

[49] While He yet spoke, came one from the synagogue ruler, saying, Your daughter is dead; trouble not the Teacher.

[50] But Jesus hearing it, answered him, Fear not; only believe, and she will be made whole.

[51] And when He came to the house, He allowed no one to enter in with Him, except Peter, and John, and James, and the father of the child and the mother.

[52] And all were weeping and mourning for her. But He said, Weep not; for she is not dead, but sleeps.

[53] And they laughed at Him, knowing that she was dead.

[54] But He, taking hold of her hand, cried, saying, Child, arise!

[55] And her spirit returned, and she arose immediately; and He gave order to give her to eat.

[56] And her parents were amazed; but He commanded them to tell no one what had happened.

Comments Luke 8:49-56 For verses, 40 to 42 and 49 to 56 see
Comparison Analysis in Comments Mark 5:21-43.

Life and Faith Applications. 1) Tell others about the mercy and the grace of the Lord that has been shown to you and sow the seed of trust in the Lord in their hearts. 2) Read and listen to the Bible, and believe in the Word of God by hearing, as the woman in this chapter did and was healed. 3) Keep yourself away from evil influence by reading and meditating on the Word of the Lord. And always keep yourself in prayer and begging for mercy for your life. 4) Be confident that the Lord has power and authority over the seen and the unseen world, and He always protects us.