Bible Commentaries
Luke 8

Verse 1

1 Shewing the glad tidings all comes from the Greek word EUACCE-LIZO which occurs many times in the New Testament, and the universal meaning is to tell any good news. The connection has to be noticed to learn what particular good news is meant in any given case, and in the present one it is the news that the kingdom of God is at hand. The twelve means the apostles (Mat 10:2-4; Mar 3:14-19).

Verse 2

2 The closing sentence of the preceding verse is continued in this to include certain women, etc. One of them was Mary Magdalene who had been possessed of seven devils until Jesus relieved her of them. She was present at the cross when Jesus was crucified (Mat 27:56).

Verse 3

3 The women had been favored by Jesus miraculously, and they showed their appreciation by ministering to him of their substance, which means necessities of life.

Verse 4

4 These parables were spoken to the people, not his disciples. The reason for teaching them in this manner is explained at Mat 13:11.

Verse 5

5 This is the beginning of the parables, and the full explanation is given in Matthew 13 which will not be repeated in detail here. However, a few of the items of this passage will be noticed. Thorns means a bramble, and is the same plant of which the soldiers made a crown and placed upon the head of Jesus in mockery (Mat 27:29). Devil is from DIABOLOS which is applied to Satan as the chief of demons. Good ground is defined as an honest heart that causes good fruit to be produced.

Verse 16

6 The teaching of this verse is that a man should not hinder the influence of righteous deeds by some unwise action otherwise. (See Rom 14:16.)

Verse 17

7 As a candle is not supposed to be covered, so the good things learned from Jesus should be permitted to go out for the benefit of others.

Verse 18

8 That which he seemeth to have. (See Mat 13:12; Mat 25:29.)

Verse 19

9 The press means the crowd that pressed about the door.

Verse 20

0 The brethren means the same as the word ordinarily denotes. Had Luke meant his spiritual brethren (as the Romanists teach), there would have been no reason for mentioning his mother, for that is a fleshly relationship.

Verse 21

1 See the comments at Mat 12:47-48.

Verse 22

2 This lake means the Sea of Galilee which Jesus wished to cross, where he was going to do more teaching and perform his great deeds.

Verse 23

3 Filled with water is explained by the closing words, were in jeopardy. We know that if the boat had been literally filled they would have perished then, but instead of that they were in danger of perishing.

Verse 24

4. We perish means the same as the preceding verse about being in great danger. Rebuked the wind indicates control over inanimate objects by miraculous power.

Verse 25

5 They had heard him command intelligent creatures such as the demons, but were astonished to see him control things that have no consciousness.

Verse 26

6 Gadarenes (also called Gergesenes) was situated near the eastern shore of the Sea of Galilee, and that is where Jesus went ashore.

Verse 27

7 These tombs were cavities in the rocks, such as were sometimes used as burial places. This man was possessed with devils, which made him abnormally strong. h.

Verse 28

8 The devils knew Christ because they were fallen angels and had seen him before they were cast out of heaven. (See 2Pe 2:4; Jud 1:6.) Torment me not. The devils knew that if they had to leave this world they would have to go back to the place of torment into which they were cast when they first sinned.

Verse 29

9 The man was under the control of the devils. (See the note at Mat 8:28.) It explains the condition of being possessed with the devil.

Verse 30

0 Legion means an indefinite but great number of beings. But one of the devils was spokesman for the others Is why the pronoun is in singular number sometimes.

Verse 31

1 Deep is from ABUSSOS which is defined by Thayer as follows: "Bottomless, unbounded; the pit; the abyss." He also explains it to mean, "The immeasurable depth; a very deep gulf or chasm in the lowest of the earth; the common receptacle of the dead, Rom 10:7, and especially as the abode of demons, Luk 8:31; Rev 9:1; Rev 11:7; Rev 17:8; Rev 20:1; Rev 20:3."

Verse 32

2 The devils did not know the swine would perish, so they requested to be let go into them rather than go back to this deep where they had been tormented.

Verse 33

3 The possession of devils made the swine mad and induced them to destroy themselves by drowning, thus forcing the spirits out of the world.

Verse 34

7 It will be well to read the comments on Mat 8:28-34.

Verse 38

9 Gratitude prompted the man to wish for the privilege of accompanying Jesus, but the Lord preferred to make a messenger of him among the people of his own house. He did so and even extended his report throughout the whole city.

Verse 40

0 After the miracle of casting out these devils, Jesus entered the boat again and recrossed the sea, when he found people waiting for him with joy.

Verse 41

6 For detailed comments on this paragraph see the ones on Mat 9:18-26. For the reader's convenience, I shall make some remarks on various specific items in the present paragraph. A ruler was one presiding over a synagogue. The woman had a chronic hemorrhage of twelve years' standing. She was cured immediately which was always the case with miraculous healing. Not dead but sleepeth is explained in the passage cited above at Mat 9:24.