LUKE—NOTE ON LUKE 8:1 Luke has more references to the role of women in Jesus’ ministry than any other Gospel. Here he mentions several by name. The women come from many social levels. See Luke 23:49; Luke 24:1; Acts 1:14. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagNam [ Continue Reading ]
LUKE—NOTE ON LUKE 8:2 MARY was CALLED MAGDALENE because she was from Magdala, on the western shore of Galilee. Later writers in church history connected Mary Magdalene to the sinful woman of Luke 7:37, calling her a former prostitute. Jesus healed Mary of demonic possession, and she gratefully follo... [ Continue Reading ]
LUKE—NOTE ON LUKE 8:3 MANY OTHERS and WHO are both feminine in Greek, referring to women who supported Jesus and his disciples. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
LUKE—NOTE ON LUKE 8:4 The focus of this parable is on the various kinds of soil on which the sower sows his seed. PARABLE. A story that teaches a moral or spiritual lesson. SOME FELL ON THE ROCK lying beneath a thin layer of soil. EARS TO HEAR. An encouragement to understand and obey the parable. HU... [ Continue Reading ]
LUKE—NOTE ON LUKE 8:10 TO YOU IT HAS BEEN GIVEN TO KNOW. For the disciples’ unique access to Jesus’ teachings, see Luke 10:21; Luke 12:32; Luke 22:29. SECRETS. Jesus’ parables hide the truth from the “crowd” (Matthew 13:2), who remained uncommitted to him, while they communicated truth to his discip... [ Continue Reading ]
LUKE—NOTE ON LUKE 8:12 The seeds ALONG THE PATH (through the field) represent one group of hearers. SO THAT THEY MAY NOT BELIEVE AND BE SAVED assumes that faith is the means of salvation. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
LUKE—NOTE ON LUKE 8:13 BELIEVE. A few interpreters think this is saving faith because these people “believe.” Though they “fall away” (from fellowship?), this is not an ultimate rejection of Christ. But it is more likely that this is merely intellectual “faith” (compare James 2:17), not saving faith... [ Continue Reading ]
LUKE—NOTE ON LUKE 8:14 CARES. Compare Luke 12:22; Luke 21:34. RICHES. Compare Luke 12:15; Luke 16:1. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = [ Continue Reading ]
LUKE—NOTE ON LUKE 8:15 WITH PATIENCE can also be translated “with perseverance” (compare Luke 21:19). Fruit-bearing in God’s kingdom often requires much work before significant results are seen. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
LUKE—NOTE ON LUKE 8:16 HIDDEN... BE MADE MANIFEST... SECRET... COME TO LIGHT. Jesus is ultimately speaking about the final judgment, but gospel proclamation and ministry in this age are like a “lamp” (v. Luke 8:16) that exposes and drives away dark areas of sin before the final judgment. THE ONE WHO... [ Continue Reading ]
LUKE—NOTE ON LUKE 8:19 The BROTHERS of Jesus are most likely the sons born to Joseph and Mary after Jesus’ birth. MY MOTHER AND MY BROTHERS ARE THOSE. For Jesus, spiritual relationships were more important than physical ones. Thus his real family is made up of those WHO HEAR THE WORD OF GOD AND DO I... [ Continue Reading ]
LUKE—NOTE ON LUKE 8:22 WINDSTORM. The Sea of Galilee is 696 feet (212 m) below sea level, resulting in sudden storms. Jesus REBUKED THE WIND AND... WAVES, revealing that he has authority over nature, just as the Lord God does. WHERE IS YOUR FAITH? implies a deficiency rather than an absence of faith... [ Continue Reading ]
LUKE—NOTE ON LUKE 8:27 MAN... WHO HAD DEMONS. The use of “he” (vv. Luke 8:27) and “they” (vv. Luke 8:31) is determined primarily by whether the demons are seen as acting in unity with the man or apart from him. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length... [ Continue Reading ]
LUKE—NOTE ON LUKE 8:28 WHEN HE SAW JESUS, HE... FELL DOWN BEFORE HIM. See note on Mark 5:6–7. I BEG YOU reveals Jesus’ authority over the demons. DO NOT TORMENT ME. See Luke 8:31. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
LUKE—NOTE ON LUKE 8:29 HE HAD COMMANDED indicates that the demon did not come out the first time Jesus commanded it to (see note on Mark 5:8). ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
LUKE—NOTE ON LUKE 8:30 LEGION indicates thousands of demons but may be an intentional overstatement. See note on Mark 5:9. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
LUKE—NOTE ON LUKE 8:31 ABYSS. The final destination of Satan and his angels; compare Matthew 25:41; 2 Peter 2:4; Revelation 20:3. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, [ Continue Reading ]
LUKE—NOTE ON LUKE 8:32 A LARGE HERD OF PIGS shows that this is a Gentile region, since pigs were forbidden for Jews (Deuteronomy 14:8; see note on Matt. 8:30–34). ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
LUKE—NOTE ON LUKE 8:35 The drowning of so many pigs verifies that a large number of demons were in the man. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
LUKE—NOTE ON LUKE 8:36 HEALED can also be translated “saved.” ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
LUKE—NOTE ON LUKE 8:37 SO HE... RETURNED. Luke completes the story of the townspeople before completing the story of the demoniac. FOR THEY WERE SEIZED WITH GREAT FEAR. The townspeople seem to have had a superstitious fear of Jesus’ mysterious power. Perhaps they were also afraid of losing more of t... [ Continue Reading ]
LUKE—NOTE ON LUKE 8:38 DECLARE HOW MUCH GOD HAS DONE.... PROCLAIMING... HOW MUCH JESUS HAD DONE. Jesus has the same status as God (compare Luke 9:42). ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
LUKE—NOTE ON LUKE 8:40 THE CROWD WELCOMED HIM refers back to vv. Luke 8:1 and the “crowd” of vv. Luke 8:4 and Luke 8:19. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
LUKE—NOTE ON LUKE 8:41 A RULER OF THE SYNAGOGUE. See note on Mark 5:22. A board member of the synagogue, or more likely the official in charge of arranging services (see Acts 13:15). ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
LUKE—NOTE ON LUKE 8:43 DISCHARGE OF BLOOD. Her situation is difficult because of its duration (TWELVE YEARS) and hopelessness (SHE COULD NOT BE HEALED BY ANYONE). Moreover, her hemorrhaging would also have made her ceremonially unclean, which would have cut her off from many social and religious rel... [ Continue Reading ]
LUKE—NOTE ON LUKE 8:47 TREMBLING. Fear is appropriate when experiencing God’s presence (v. Luke 8:35). The woman DECLARED... WHY SHE HAD TOUCHED HIM. Compare Mark 5:33. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
LUKE—NOTE ON LUKE 8:48 Jesus’ addressing her as DAUGHTER probably reassures the woman, as does his statement that YOUR FAITH HAS MADE YOU WELL. This seems to mean both physical and spiritual healing (see note on v. 36). Also, Jesus’ final words to her, GO IN PEACE, suggest that she has been saved.... [ Continue Reading ]
LUKE—NOTE ON LUKE 8:49 WHILE HE WAS STILL SPEAKING marks a change back to the story of Jairus. DO NOT TROUBLE THE TEACHER ANY MORE assumes that while Jesus could heal the sick, the girl’s death placed her beyond his ability to heal. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var... [ Continue Reading ]
LUKE—NOTE ON LUKE 8:51 PETER AND JOHN AND JAMES. This is Luke’s first mention of this inner group of disciples. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
LUKE—NOTE ON LUKE 8:52 WEEPING AND MOURNING. Professional mourners and flutists were often hired to attend funerals. SHE IS NOT DEAD BUT SLEEPING must be understood in light of vv. Luke 8:49, Luke 8:53. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len= [ Continue Reading ]
LUKE—NOTE ON LUKE 8:54 SHE GOT UP AT ONCE. Along with the fact of her eating, this offers immediate proof of the miracle. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
LUKE—NOTE ON LUKE 8:56 HE CHARGED THEM TO TELL NO ONE. A sharp contrast to v. Luke 8:39. Jesus is now back in a Jewish region where mistaken expectations about a political and revolutionary messiah could make Jesus’ ministry much more difficult. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img... [ Continue Reading ]