Bible Commentaries
Luke 8

Introduction

LUKE CHAPTER 8

Luke 8:1-3 Christ preacheth through the cities, attended by his disciples, and ministered unto by devout women of their substance.

Luke 8:4-8 The parable of the sower.

Luke 8:9,Luke 8:10 Why Christ taught in parables.

Luke 8:11-15 The parable expounded.

Luke 8:16-18 Light is given to be improved and communicated.

Luke 8:19-21 Christ showeth whom he regardeth as his nearest relations,

Luke 8:22-25 stilleth a tempest on the sea with his word,

Luke 8:26-40 casteth out the legion of devils, and suffereth them to enter into the herd of swine; is entreated by the Gadarcades to depart, and refuseth the attendance of him whom he had healed,

Luke 8:41,Luke 8:42 is besought by Jairus to go and heal his daughter.

Luke 8:43-48 By the way he healeth a woman of an inveterate issue of blood.

Luke 8:49-56 He raiseth Jairus’s daughter to life.

Verses 1-3

Still I cannot but observe, that preaching the gospel, and thereby showing the glad tidings of salvation, (the principal means to bring men to the kingdom of God, whether that in this life, or the kingdom of glory in the life which is to come), was Christ’s great work. His working miracles was but subservient to this, and for the confirmation of the doctrine which he preached; hence, when a people showed a contempt of his word, he refused to work any miracles before them. How any one can dream, that either praying, or government, or administering sacraments, or any thing else, should be more the work of a minister of Christ than preaching, may justly amaze any thinking soul that ever read the gospel.

Christ went every where about preaching, and the twelve were with him, sometimes hearing, (as his disciples), sometimes preaching; some women also were with him, such as had been healed of evil spirits and other diseases. Mary Magdalene was one, out of whom he had cast seven devils, that is, many devils. Most think she had her name from Magdala, a city in Galilee, where she was bred, or dwelt. It is a great error to think she was the Mary mentioned John 11:1-57, the sister of Lazarus; she lived in Bethany, near to Jerusalem. Yet it is plain from Mark 16:1-20 that she was at Jerusalem at the time of Christ’s death and resurrection; but so were many that followed him from Galilee, Mark 15:41; Luke 23:49.

And Joanna the wife of Chuza, Herod’s steward. Christ hath his elect in all places, his Joseph in Pharaoh’s court, his Daniel and three children in Nebuchadnezzar’s court, his saints in Nero’s household, Philippians 4:22, his Joanna in Herod’s family. This was that Herod Antipas, tetrarch of Galilee, he who put John the Baptist to death, and himself with his soldiers mocked Christ; possibly his steward was as bad, but his wife was one that followed Christ, knowing that though her husband had power over her body, he had none over her soul.

And they ministered to him of their substance. They were not ashamed to be seen following of Christ, though doubtless they met with scoffs enough. Nor were they ashamed to be reproached for their former failing; nor was Christ, because of their former lives, or the life of some of them, to have them following him. It is a glory to Christ, and to the church of Christ, to have great sinners brought to him, and brought into it; the only shame is to such as, being in the church, or pretending at least to be Christians, are debauchees still. Christ did not give himself for a people that were pure and holy, without spot or wrinkle, but that he might sanctify them and cleanse them, with the washing of water by the word, Ephesians 5:25-27. Following Christ they ministered to him. This was according to Christ’s doctrine, Matthew 10:10, and his apostles after him, 1 Corinthians 9:11; 2 Corinthians 8:9; Galatians 6:6. Some of them might be virgins, some widows, some wives, who had an allowance for themselves from their husbands; however, it could be no robbery to give of what was their husbands’ to him who was the Lord of all, which either their husbands or they possessed. Nor was Christ ashamed to live upon the baskets of others, while he was providing spiritual food for the souls of all, 2 Corinthians 8:9.

Verses 4-15

We have had this parable, See Poole on "Matthew 13:1", See Poole on "Mark 4:1". See the notes on both these chapters.

Verse 16

See Poole on "Matthew 5:15", See Poole on "Mark 4:21".

Verse 17

This we have also met with twice before. See Poole on "Matthew 5:15", See Poole on "Mark 4:22".

Verse 18

See Poole on "Mark 4:24", See Poole on "Matthew 13:12", See Poole on "Matthew 25:29".

Verse 19

See Poole on "Matthew 12:46", and following verses to Matthew 12:50. See Poole on "Mark 3:31" and following verses to Mark 3:35.

Verse 20

See Poole on "Luke 8:19"

Verse 21

See Poole on "Luke 8:20"

Verses 22-25

This whole history we have also before met with, both in Matthew 8:23-27, and Mark 4:35-41. See Poole on "Matthew 8:23", and following verses to Matthew 8:27, also See Poole on "Mark 4:35", and following verses to Mark 4:41.

Verses 26-40

We have had this whole story Matthew 8:28-34, and Mark 5:1-21. See Poole on "Matthew 8:28", and following verses to Matthew 8:34, and See Poole on "Mark 5:1" and following verses to Mark 5:21.

Verses 41-56

We had both these pieces of history twice before related, by Matthew, Matthew 9:18-26, and by Mark, Mark 5:22-43, with some further circumstances. See Poole on "Matthew 9:18", and following verses to Matthew 9:26 also See Poole on "Mark 5:22", and following verses to Mark 5:43. Christ’s saying, Luke 8:45,

Who touched me? and again, Luke 8:46,

Somebody hath touched me; for I perceive that virtue is gone out of me; doth not argue that Christ knew not of the woman’s coming and touching him, or did not voluntarily send out that virtue that healed her; far be any such thoughts from any pious, intelligent souls: she was not healed by her touch of the border of his garment, but by his powerful will, commanding such a miraculous effect: he only spake this to bring forth the miracle into light, which was wrought secretly, so as the people took no notice of it. Healing virtue went out of Christ upon an act of his will, not necessarily. From Luke 8:55 is confuted the atheism of those who would make the soul to be merely the crasis, or some affection of the body; and it is proved to be a being that can subsist of itself, in a state of separation from the body.

It is said,

her spirit came again; not, Christ gave her a new spirit. Christ did not here exert a creating power; only sent forth that power with which he was clothed to raise the dead. For other things observable from this story, see the notes before mentioned upon the parallel texts.