Lucas 8
Warren Wiersbe · Citado em PreceptAustin
Lucas 8
Wiersbe - This soil illustrates the person who does not repent and "weed out" the things that hinder the harvest. There is enough soil so the roots can go down, but not enough room for the plant to grow up and produce fruit. The plant is crowded out and the fruit is choked. "Cares, riches, and the pleasures of this life" are like weeds in a garden that keep the soil from being fruitful. The person with the "crowded heart" comes closest to salvation, but he still does not bring forth "fruit to perfection (maturity)." (Borrow Be compassionate) John
Lucas 8
Wiersbe - The seed without the soil is fruitless, and the soil without the seed is almost useless. The human heart is like soil: if it is prepared properly, it can receive the seed of the Word of God and produce a fruitful harvest. Jesus described four different kinds of hearts, three of which did not produce any fruit. The proof of salvation is fruit and not merely hearing the Word or making a profession of faith in Christ. Jesus had already made that clear in His “Sermon on the Mount” (Luke 6:43–49; also note Matt. 7:20). (See The Bible Exposition Commentary or borrow Be Compassionate ) MacArthur on the first soil, beside the road - In Israel the fields basically were divided into long, narrow strips for cultivation. And between those long, narrow strips of field there were beaten paths about three feet wide, so that people could move around the countryside and go between the fields, going from place to place. Even the farmer with his responsibilities would need paths to walk on to move within the various fields in his own area. No fences existed, no walls existed. The only thing that separated the fields were these beaten paths....Now that would be...a path unplowed, dry in the semi-arid climate of Israel, hard, beaten down, baked by the sun...virtually like concrete. When the sower threw the seed, he couldn't always throw it in exactly the way he wanted....but some of it would fall upon the hard ground. It had no hope of getting into the soil. You know seed basically has an end that has a point on it and that's there in order that the seed can work its way down into the soil and die and then bring forth life (cf Jn 12:24). There would be no possible way for that little seed to penetrate that hard ground. It would just lie there. And Jesus said when that happens it's trampled underfoot because that's a thoroughfare, that's where people walk and they would just crush it under their feet and what wasn't crushed the birds of the air ate. (Receptivity to the Gospel) As he sowed, some fell beside the road - This would be one of the many footpaths through the field. The footpaths were the thoroughfare intended for use by men and their mules or horses, but not other forms of traffic (such as horse drawn wagons, etc). And generally people would walk on this paths along the edge of a ploughed field. Vincent quotes a traveler in Israel who saw and described all the soils of Jesus' parable noting "the undulating cornfield descending to the water’s edge. There was the trodden pathway running through the midst of it, with no fence or hedge to prevent the seed from falling here and there on either side of it or upon it; itself hard with the constant tramp of horse and mule and human feet. There was the ‘good’ rich soil which distinguishes the whole of that plain and its neighborhood from the bare hills elsewhere descending into the lake, and which, where there is no interruption, produces one vast mass of corn. There was the rocky ground of the hillside protruding here and there through the cornfields, as elsewhere through the grassy slopes. There were the large bushes of thorn—the nabk, that kind of which tradition says that the crown of thorns was woven—springing up, like the fruit-trees of the more inland parts, in the very midst of the waving wheat (picture).” (“Sinai and Palestine”). Alfred Edersheim - The first Parable is that of Him Who sowed. We can almost picture to ourselves the Saviour seated in the prow of the boat, as He points His hearers to the rich plain over against Him, where the young corn, still in the first green of its growing, is giving promise of harvest. Like this is the Kingdom of Heaven which He has come to proclaim. Like what? Not yet like that harvest, which is still in the future, but like that field over there. The Sower has gone forth to sow the Good Seed. If we bear in mind a mode of sowing peculiar (if we are not mistaken) to those times, the Parable gains in vividness. According to Jewish authorities there was twofold sowing, as the seed was either cast by the hand ({hebrew}) or by means of cattle ({hebrew}). In the latter case, a sack with holes was filled with corn and laid on the back of the animal, so that, as it moved onwards, the seed was thickly scattered. Thus it might well be, that it would fall indiscriminately on beaten roadway, on stony places but thinly covered with soil, or where the thorns had not been cleared away, or undergrowth from the thorn-hedge crept into the field, as well as on good ground. The result in each case need not here be repeated. But what meaning would all this convey to the Jewish hearers of Jesus? How could this sowing and growing be like the Kingdom of God? Certainly not in the sense in which they expected it. To them it was only a rich harvest, when all Israel would bear plenteous fruit. Again, what was the Seed, and who the Sower? or what could be meant by the various kinds of soil and their unproductiveness? (Life and Times) The sower...to sow ("the sower" - ho speiron)(4687)(speiro from spao = draw out, pull) literally means to scatter (seed) and the opposite of reaping or gathering. Speiro is used figuratively to describe the sowing of the "seed" of the Word of God, the Gospel (="the word of the kingdom" - Mt13:19, cp Mk 4:14 15, 16, 18), "the ideas and precepts that have been implanted like seed in their hearts, ie, received in their hearts (Mk 4:18)." (Thayer). Jesus used speiro repeatedly in His parables (Mt 13:3, 18, 24, 31) Classic Greek - Speiro means “to sow”, especially to sow seed in planting; see also the related noun sperma (4543), “seed”. In classical Greek usage speirō can mean “to sow” or “plant” seed, “to sow” ideas, “to scatter” or “disperse” things or people, and even “to beget” (Schulz, “speirō,” Kittel, 7:537). Gilbrant on uses of speiro in Septuagint - Speirō appears more than 50 times in the Septuagint, mostly for sowing the seed of plants, as in Ge 47:23; Ex 23:10; etc. It is also used metaphorically, as to “sow” righteousness in Pr 11:21 (where the Septuagint has “the one sowing righteousness” [participle] instead of “the seed of the righteous”). See also Pr 11:24 where generous persons are (literally) “they who sow (or disperse) their own things” (cf. Jer 4:3). In Hos 2:23 Israel was “sown” in Canaan; in Zechariah 10:9 Israel was “sown/scattered” among the nations. (Complete Biblical Library Greek-English Dictionary) Two uses of speiro in Septuagint of Hosea metaphorically speak of a "harvest" of evil (Hos 8:7) or righteousness... Hos 8:7 For they sow the wind And they reap the whirlwind. The standing grain has no heads; It yields no grain. Should it yield, strangers would swallow it up. Hos 10:12 Sow with a view to righteousness, Reap in accordance with kindness; Break up your fallow ground, For (EXPLAINS HOW TO "SOW" RIGHTEOUSNESS!) it is time to seek the LORD Until He comes to rain righteousness on you. THOUGHT - Hard hearts can be plowed up! Did the Lord have to plow up some things in your life to get your attention right before you got saved? (He did in mine! My Testimony) Let’s pray this for our friends who have hard hearts.And for our own hearts when they go through calloused times. Seed (4703)(sporos from speiro = to sow)means literally seed (Lk 8:5, Mk 4.26) and metaphorically refers to God's Word, which like literal seed is also able to "germinate" and produce spiritual life (Lk 8.11). Figuratively sporos refers to the reciprocal benefits from generosity ( results of good deeds, much good brought about by what one does energized by the Spirit and abiding in the Vine) (2 Cor 9.10). Sporos - 6x in 5v - seed Mark 4:26 And He was saying, "The kingdom of God is like a man who casts seed upon the soil; Mark 4:27 and he goes to bed at night and gets up by day, and the seed sprouts and grows-- how, he himself does not know. Luke 8:5 "The sower went out to sow his seed; and as he sowed, some fell beside the road, and it was trampled under foot and the birds of the air ate it up. Luke 8:11 "Now the parable is this: the seed is the word of God. 2 Corinthians 9:10 Now He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness; Sporos - 10x in 10v in the Septuagint - Ex. 34:21; Lev. 26:5; Lev. 26:20; Lev. 27:16; Deut. 11:10; Job 21:8; Job 39:12; Isa. 28:24; Isa. 32:10; Amos 9:13 Was trampled (2662)(katapateo from kata = down + pateo = to step) means to trample under foot, tread down ( to tread so heavily as to injure). Figuratively to treat contemptuously, despise, look with scorn, show disdain for Katapateo - 4x in 4v - Usage: stepping(1), trample...under(1), trampled under foot(3). Matthew 5:13 "You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men. Matthew 7:6 "Do not give what is holy to dogs, and do not throw your pearls before swine, or they will trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces. Luke 8:5 "The sower went out to sow his seed; and as he sowed, some fell beside the road, and it was trampled under foot and the birds of the air ate it up. Luke 12:1 Under these circumstances, after so many thousands of people had gathered together that they were stepping on one another, He began saying to His disciples first of all,"Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. Hebrews 10:29 How much severer punishment do you think he will deserve who has trampled under foot the Son of God, and has regarded as unclean the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has insulted the Spirit of grace? Katapateo in Septuagint - Jdg. 5:21; Jdg. 9:27; Jdg. 20:43; 1 Sam. 14:48; 1 Sam. 17:53; 1 Sam. 23:1; 2 Chr. 25:18; Job 39:15; Ps. 7:5; Ps. 56:1; Ps. 56:2; Ps. 57:3; Ps. 91:13; Ps. 139:11; Isa. 10:6; Isa. 16:4; Isa. 16:8; Isa. 16:9; Isa. 18:2; Isa. 18:7; Isa. 25:10; Isa. 28:3; Isa. 28:28; Isa. 41:25; Isa. 63:3; Isa. 63:6; Isa. 63:18; Ezek. 26:11; Ezek. 32:2; Ezek. 32:13; Ezek. 34:18; Dan. 7:7; Dan. 7:19; Dan. 8:10; Hos. 5:11; Amos 4:1; Amos 5:12; Zech. 12:3 Ate (2719)(katesthio from kata = down + esthio = to eat) means to eat up, consume, devour (Lk 8:5). Figuratively katesthio means to destroy by fire (consume, burn up) (Rev 11.5), by illegal exploitation (rob, take complete advantage of )(Mk 12.40) or by strife within a group which cause great division (destroys division)(Gal 5.15). Gilbrant on katesthio - Classical Greek the verb means “to eat, to partake, to take nourishment.” The compound word in classical Greek means literally “to eat down, to eat up.” It is used both literally (of food) and figuratively (of persons and property) to mean “to consume, to swallow, to devour.” In a purely figurative sense it means “to destroy.” IN THE SEPTUAGINT - The term is found extensively in the Septuagint with essentially the same meanings, though the figurative usage is dominant: (1) “to consume” by locusts (Dt 28:38; Ps 105:35]), by fire kindled in God’s mouth (Deuteronomy 32:22; Ps 21:9), by the sword (Dt 32:42); (2) “to devour” by a wild beast (Genesis 37:20), like a roaring lion (Ezek 22:25), like bread (Psalm 14:4); (3) “to destroy” by enemies (Leviticus 26:38). The Septuagint also employs katesthiō for the Hebrew term in Ge 31:15 which means “to spend” or “to waste” money.(Ibid) Katesthio - 15x in 15v - Usage: ate(4), consume(1), devour(5), devoured(2), devours(2), eat(1). Matthew 13:4 and as he sowed, some seeds fell beside the road, and the birds came and ate them up. Mark 4:4 as he was sowing, some seed fell beside the road, and the birds came and ate it up. Mark 12:40 who devour widows' houses, and for appearance's sake offer long prayers; these will receive greater condemnation." Luke 8:5 "The sower went out to sow his seed; and as he sowed, some fell beside the road, and it was trampled under foot and the birds of the air ate it up. Luke 15:30 but when this son of yours came, who has devoured your wealth with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him.' Luke 20:47 who devour widows' houses, and for appearance's sake offer long prayers. These will receive greater condemnation." John 2:17 His disciples remembered that it was written, "ZEAL FOR YOUR HOUSE WILL CONSUME ME." 2 Corinthians 11:20 For you tolerate it if anyone enslaves you, anyone devours you, anyone takes advantage of you, anyone exalts himself, anyone hits you in the face. Galatians 5:15 But if you bite and devour one another, take care that you are not consumed by one another. Revelation 10:9-note So I went to the angel, telling him to give me the little book. And he said to me, "Take it and eat it; it will make your stomach bitter, but in your mouth it will be sweet as honey." Revelation 10:10-note I took the little book out of the angel's hand and ate it, and in my mouth it was sweet as honey; and when I had eaten it, my stomach was made bitter. Revelation 11:5-note And if anyone wants to harm them, fire flows out of their mouth and devours their enemies; so if anyone wants to harm them, he must be killed in this way. Revelation 12:4-note And his tail swept away a third of the stars of heaven and threw them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was about to give birth, so that when she gave birth he might devour her child. Revelation 20:9-note And they came up on the broad plain of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city, and fire came down from heaven and devoured them. Katesthio - 136x in 122v - Gen. 31:15,38; 37:20,33; 40:17; 41:4,20; 43:2; Exod. 10:5,12,15; 15:7; Lev. 9:24; 10:2; 26:22,38; Num. 11:1; 12:12; 16:35; 21:28; 26:10; Deut. 28:38-39,51,57; 32:22,42; Jdg. 6:21; 9:15,20; 2 Sam. 2:26; 18:8; 22:9; 1 Ki. 12:24; 16:4; 18:38; 21:23; 2 Ki. 1:10,12,14; 9:10,36; 2 Chr. 7:1,13; Est. 1:1; Job 1:16; 18:13; 20:26; 22:20; Ps. 14:4; 21:9; 69:9; 78:45,63; 79:7; 105:35; Prov. 30:14,17; Isa. 1:7,20; 9:12; 10:18; 29:6; 30:30; 31:8; 33:11; 50:9; 61:6; Jer. 2:30; 5:14,17; 8:16; 10:25; 12:12; 17:27; 46:10,14; 49:27; 50:32; 51:34; Lam. 2:3; 4:11; Ezek. 3:1; 15:7; 19:14; 20:47; 22:25; 23:25; 28:18; 36:8; Dan. 7:5,19; Hos. 2:12; 5:7; 7:7,9; 8:7,14; 13:8; Joel 1:4,20; 2:5,25; Amos 1:4,7,10,12,14; 2:2,5; 4:9; 5:6; 7:2,4; Obad. 1:18; Mic. 3:3; Nah. 2:13; 3:13,15; Zech. 11:1,9,16; 12:6; Daniel 7:19 “Then I desired to know the exact meaning of the fourth beast (REVIVED "ROMAN" EMPIRE IN THE LAST DAYS), which was different from all the others, exceedingly dreadful, with its teeth of iron and its claws of bronze, and which devoured, crushed and trampled down the remainder with its feet, Zech 12:6 (DESCRIBING GOD'S EMPOWERMENT OF ISRAEL IN THE END TIMES TO CONSUME HER ENEMIES) “In that day I will make the clans of Judah like a firepot among pieces of wood and a flaming torch among sheaves, so they will consume on the right hand and on the left all the surrounding peoples, while the inhabitants of Jerusalem again dwell on their own sites in Jerusalem (THIS DESCRIBES THE Millennium FOLLOWING THE FINAL BATTLE AT THE END OF THIS AGE).. Luke 8:6 "Other seed fell on rocky soil, and as soon as it grew up, it withered away, because it had no moisture. KJV And some fell upon a rock; and as soon as it was sprung up, it withered away, because it lacked moisture. Lk 8:13; Jeremiah 5:3; Ezekiel 11:19; 36:26; Amos 6:12; Matthew 13:5,6,20,21; Mark 4:5,6,16; Mark 4:17; Romans 2:4,5; Hebrews 3:7,8,15 Luke 8:4-15 Receptivity to the Gospel, Part 1 - John MacArthur Luke 8 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Parallel Passages: Mt 13:5, 6+ “Others fell on the rocky places, where they did not have much soil; and immediately they sprang up, because they had no depth of soil. But when the sun had risen, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away. Mark 4:5, 6+ “Other seed fell on the rocky ground where it did not have much soil; and immediately it sprang up because it had no depth of soil. And after the sun had risen, it was scorched; and because it had no root, it withered away. PARABLE OF THE SOILS: THE SHALLOW SOIL See Jesus' explanation in Luke 8:13+. (Parallel passages in Matthew 13:5,6,20,21+; Mark 4:5,6,16, 17+) Other seed fell on rocky soil, and as soon as it grew up, it withered away (xeraino), because it had no moisture - Rocky soil is not a few rocks in the soil which is common with all soils. The other two synoptic accounts help us understand describing it as "no depth of soil." Much of the farmland in Israel has only a thin layer of soil over limestone base and this is only discovered by plowing which is not always done prior to sowing seed.
Lucas 8
Wiersbe - This parable shows that Jesus was not impressed by the great crowds that followed Him. He knew that most of the people did not really "hear" the Word and receive it in their hearts. He gave this story to encourage the disciples in their future ministry, and to encourage us today. When you consider how much teaching, preaching, and witnessing goes on in the course of a month or a year, you wonder why there is such a small harvest. The fault does not lie with the sower or the seed. The problem is with the soil. The human heart will not submit to God, repent and receive the Word, and be saved.....Faith is not a matter of IQ or education; it is a matter of humbly preparing the heart to receive God's truth (James 1:19-21). The wise and prudent are blind to truths that are easy for the babes to understand (Matt. 11:20-26). (See The Bible Exposition Commentary) Spurgeon rightly said "There are many, who have ears, who do not hear to any real purpose. There is the physical act of hearing, but they do not hear in the heart and the mind. It is a very different thing to have an impression on the drum of the ear and to have an impression on the tablet of the heart. “He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.” Mark Hitchcock - One of my favorite lines from the lips of Jesus is His oft-repeated statement, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear." Jesus is saying, "Look, if you have a set of ears on your head you'd better use them and listen up to what I'm about to say." It's a direct challenge to us to be spiritually sensitive to the words of Jesus. The responsibility to listen carefully to Him is serious. As we move into a careful study of Jesus' forecast for the future, I can't think of a better reminder. Let's listen carefully and willingly to the mighty Master as He leads us down the corridors of time to the end of the age. And be ready to follow His instructions about how to live while we wait for that day to come. (See What Jesus Says about Earth's Final Days) John
Lucas 8
Wiersbe concludes that "This soil alone is fruitful. It illustrates the individual who hears the Word, understands it, receives it within, is truly saved, and proves it by patiently producing fruit (see 1 Th. 2:13; 1 Pe 1:22-25). Not everybody produces the same amount of fruit (Mt. 13:8), but all true believers will produce some fruit as evidence of spiritual life. That fruit may include winning others to Christ (Ro 1:13), money given to God's work (Ro 15:25-28), good works (Col 1:10), Christian character (Gal 5:22-23), and praise to the Lord (Heb. 13:15). (Borrow Be compassionate) J
Lucas 8
Wiersbe - The disciples were perplexed because Jesus taught in parables, so they asked Him for an explanation (Luke 8:9–10; also see Matt. 13:10–17). His reply seems to suggest that He used parables in order to hide the truth from the crowds, but just the opposite is true, and Luke 8:16–18 makes that clear. His teaching is a light that must be allowed to shine so that sinners may be saved....A parable starts off as a picture that is familiar to the listeners. But as you carefully consider the picture, it becomes a mirror in which you see yourself, and many people do not like to see themselves. This explains why some of our Lord’s listeners became angry when they heard His parables, and even tried to kill Him. But if we see ourselves as needy sinners and ask for help, then the mirror becomes a window through which we see God and His grace. To understand a parable and benefit from it demands honesty and humility on our part, and many of our Lord’s hearers lacked both. (Borrow Be compassionate) Tell it again! Tell it again! Salvation’s story repeat o’er and o’er. Till none can say of the children of men, Nobody ever has told me before. (True story behind this song) Ancient Lampstand But He puts it on a lampstand so that those who come in may see the light. - Mk 4:21 says "A lamp is not brought to be put under a basket." So what is the light? In context of the parable of the sower/soils it would seem to be another metaphorical picture of the Word of God. First Jesus said it was a seed to be planted in soil and now He says it is a light to shine into dark places. NET agrees writing that "Jesus is comparing revelation to light, particularly the revelation of His ministry. (cf Lk 1:78-79+)" Life Application Study Bible says "When the light of the truth about Jesus illuminates us, we have the duty to shine that light to help others. Our witness for Christ should be public, not hidden. We should not keep the benefits for ourselves alone but pass them on to others. In order to be helpful, we need to be well placed. Seek opportunities to shine your light when unbelievers need help to see." The highest form of selfishness is that of the man who is content to go to heaven alone. The truest charity is to endeavor to share with others every spark of religious light we possess ourselves -- J C Ryle David
Lucas 8
Wiersbe - Jesus took this as an opportunity to teach another spiritual lesson: being a part of His spiritual family is much more important than any human relationship and is based on obedience to the Word of God. It is not enough to “hear” the Word of God; we must also “keep it” (Luke 8:15+). In one of my radio series, I emphasized the importance of doing the Word of God, putting it into practice in daily life (James 1:22–25+). I warned listeners that it is easy to think we are “spiritual” because we listen to one preacher after another, take notes, mark our Bibles, but never really practice what we learn. We are only fooling ourselves. A listener wrote that my words had made her angry, but then she faced up to the fact that she was indeed guilty of being an “auditor” and not a doer of the Word. She began to listen to fewer radio preachers, to listen more carefully, and to practice what she heard. “This new approach to Bible study has transformed me!” she wrote. “The Bible has become a new Book to me and my life has changed!” (Borrow Be compassionate) J
Lucas 8
Wiersbe - God will hold us accountable. Listening to the wrong things, or listening to the right things with the wrong attitude, will rob us of truth and blessing. If we are faithful to receive the Word and share it, God will give us more; but if we fail to let our light shine, we will lose what we have. It is a solemn thing to hear the Word of God. (Borrow Be compassionate) My mother and My brothers are these who hear the word of God and do it - Hearers who are doers. Stated simply, Jesus makes it very clear that spiritual relationship is far more important to Him then is physical relationship. And that genuine relationship to Him is shown by loving obedience to His commands and instructions. Genuine believers obey because the CAN obey, not in their own fleshly strength, but because we are enabled by His indwelling Spirit. This truth does not absolve us of responsibility to obey, but now we obey because we can, not because we must. The former is grace obedience, the latter legalistic obedience. Of course this does not indicate we will obey perfectly. What do it in the present tense means is that as our habitual practice we "do it." In short, we are not talking about perfection (that's called glorification!) but about direction! This begs the simple question of every reader - are you related to Jesus? Are you in the family of God? Are you traveling in a "heavenward" direction, as shown by your Spirit enabled earthly obedience? As Paul explained... for if you are living according to the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death (present tense - as the general habit of your life enabled by the Spirit) the deeds of the body, you will live. 14 For (TERM OF EXPLANATION - EXPLAINS HOW TO IDENTIFY A BELIEVER) all who are being led (present tense and divine passive) by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. 15 For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, "Abba! Father!" The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him in order that we may also be glorified with Him. (Ro 8:13-17+) He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. (John 1:11-13+) Do it - This is equivalent to obey. Do it is an indication a person is a believer... 1 John 2:29+ If you know that He is righteous, you know that everyone also who practices (present tense - as habit of their life) righteousness is born of Him. 3 John 1:11 Beloved, do not imitate (present imperative with a negative see our need to depend on the Holy Spirit to obey) what is evil, but what is good. The one who does good (present tense - as habit of their life) is of God (CHILD OF GOD, BORN AGAIN); the one who does evil (present tense - as habit of their life) has not seen God (SPIRITUALLY DEAD IN THEIR TREPASSES AND SINS). Darrell Bock - To drive the point home even more (Ed: The need to hear and heed the Word - Lk 8:18), Jesus contrasts his biological family with his real family. Hearing that his mother and brothers desire to see him, Jesus remarks, “My mother and brothers are those who hear God’s word and put it into practice.” Jesus affirms kinship with those who have heeded his authority and responded to his message. As he has said in Luke 6:47–49 (and as his brother notes in James 1:22–25), we should hear and do what the word calls for. James apparently learned from the Lord’s remark here. Kinship with Jesus means responsiveness to his message. (The Parable of the Seed and the Importance of the Word Luke 8:4-21) Jon Courson - Thinking He was so involved in ministry that He was losing His mental stability, Jesus' family came to check on Him (Mark 3:21). Upon hearing this, Jesus identified His family as anyone who hears the Word of God and does it. And the three events that follow will give His disciples the opportunity to do just that as they discover that the key to calming storms is faith; the dynamic to defeat the devil is faith; the prescription for painful problems is faith... (See Jon Courson's Application Commentary)
Lucas 8
Wiersbe - faith must be tested before it can be trusted. It is one thing to learn a new spiritual truth, but quite something else to practice that truth in the everyday experiences of life....The disciples failed this test of faith because they did not lay hold of His word that He was going to the other side. It has well been said that faith is not believing in spite of circumstances; it is obeying in spite of feelings and consequences. The disciples looked around and saw danger, and looked within and saw fear; but they failed to look up by faith and see God. Faith and fear cannot dwell together in the same heart. A woman said to D.L. Moody, “I have found a wonderful promise!” and she quoted Psalm 56:3, “What time I am afraid, I will trust in Thee.” “Let me give you a better one,” said Moody; and he quoted Isaiah 12:2, “Behold God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid.” (Borrow Be compassionate) Life Application Study Bible - Problems occur in every area of life. The disciples needed rest, but they encountered a terrible storm. The Christian life may have more stormy weather than calm seas. As Christ's follower, be prepared for the storms that will surely come. Do not surrender to the stress, but remain resilient and recover from setbacks. With faith in Christ, you can pray, trust, and move ahead. When a squall approaches, lean into the wind and trust God. The disciples lived with Jesus, but they underestimated him. They did not see that his power applied to their very own situation. Jesus has been with his people for 20 centuries, and yet we, like the disciples, underestimate his power to handle crises in our lives. The disciples did not yet know enough about Jesus. We cannot make the same excuse. (Luke Application Study Notes) They were fearful (phobeo) and amazed (thaumazo) - We don't need to fear the storm with Jesus as our anchor but the 12 had not yet come to fully understand this truth. A variation of "shock and awe." In Matthew and Mark Jesus asked "Why are you afraid" (Matthew 8:26, Mark 4:40). Compare a similar reaction by Jesus to the disciples in Mark 8:17-21; 9:19. Timidity was their frequent response - Mark 5:15, 33; 6:50; 9:32; 10:32; 11:18; 16:8. Their lack of faith thus made them fearful in the crisis. They were afraid before the storm and now they were afraid after the storm! They were suddenly conscious that they were in the presence of the One Who had miraculously stilled the storm. And so they reacted much like Isaiah in Isa 6:5 "“Woe is me, for I am ruined! Because I am a man of unclean lips, And I live among a people of unclean lips; For my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts” or like Peter in Luke 5:8 who when he "saw that (the catch of fish as a result of Jesus' direction), he fell down at Jesus’ feet, saying, “Go away from me Lord, for I am a sinful man!”" WHO IS THIS MAN? Notice that all 3 synoptic Gospels leave this question unanswered at this juncture. It is as if the Holy Spirit by fixing attention of Jesus the Messiah, is calling on everyone who reads these words to give his own answer, express his own faith and add his own doxology! Dear reader, What saith YOU? Who is this Man Jesus? Saying to one another, "Who then is this, that He commands (epitasso) even the winds and the water, and they obey (hupakouo) Him - This is in a sense really a rhetorical question for they knew that it was God "Who establishes the mountains by His strength, Being girded with might; Who stills the roaring of the seas, The roaring of their waves, And the tumult of the peoples.) (Ps 65:6-7) Clearly the implication is that Jesus is the Lord over Creation. One can picture this little band of disciples buzzing over this miracle. And remember Judas Iscariot witnessed this and yet refused to believe in Jesus! Miracles of Jesus have never saved anyone! Only faith in Jesus saved then and now and forever. Amen Their question in a sense shows some ignorance of their own Psalms for "Psalm 89:8-9 would have given them a clear answer to what king of a man Jesus was - "O LORD God of hosts, who is like You, O mighty LORD? Your faithfulness also surrounds You. You rule the swelling of the sea; When its waves rise, You still them."
Lucas 8
Wiersbe - Satan is the thief (John 10:10) who robs his people of everything good and then tries to destroy them. No amount of man-made authority or restraint can control or change the devil's servants. Their only hope is in the Saviour. (Borrow Be compassionate) Legion (3003)(legion is related to a Latin loanword: legio) is literally, a Roman military unit of about 6,000 foot soldiers and 120 on horse, plus auxiliaries. Figuratively in the NT, as powerful supernatural forces, whether angels ( MT 26.53) or demons. " The underlying idea is that of extremely powerful demonic or angelic forces. But Jesus, as the Son of God, can drive out the demonic legion and has the angelic legions at his command." (TDNT) Vine - otherwise spelled legeon, "a legion," occurs in Matthew 26:53 , of angels; in Mark 5:9,15 , and Luke 8:30 , of demons. Among the Romans a "legion" was primarily a chosen (lego, "to choose") body of soldiers divided into ten cohorts, and numbering from 4,200 to 6,000 men (Gk. speira, see BAND). In the time of our Lord it formed a complete army of infantry and cavalry, of upwards of 5,000 men. The "legions" were not brought into Judea till the outbreak of the Jewish war (A.D. 66), as they were previously employed in the frontier provinces of the Empire. Accordingly in its NT use the word has its other and more general significance "of a large number." Legion - 4x in 4v - Matt. 26:53; Mk. 5:9; Mk. 5:15; Lk. 8:30. No uses in the Septuagint. Related Resources on Legion: What does it mean that the name of the demon was Legion? American Tract Society Legion Easton's Bible Dictionary Legion Fausset Bible Dictionary Legion Holman Bible Dictionary Legion Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible Legion Hastings' Dictionary of the NT Legion Kitto - Legion Wikipedia Roman Legion Luke 8:31 They were imploring Him not to command them to go away into the abyss. KJV And they besought him that he would not command them to go out into the deep. they Lk 8:28; Job 1:11; 2:5; Philippians 2:10,11 the deep "The abyss," says Dr. Doddridge, "the prison in which many of these fallen spirits are detained; and to which some, who may, like these, have been permitted for a while to range at large, are sometimes by Divine justice and power remanded." Matthew 25:41; Revelation 9:2; 19:20; 20:2,3,14,15 Luke 8:30-39 The Maniac Who Became a Missionary, Part 2 - John MacArthur Luke 8:26-39 - Steven Cole Luke 8 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Parallel Passages: Mark 5:10+ And he began to implore Him earnestly not to send them out of the country. DEMONS KNOW THEIR DESTINY They were imploring (parakaleo) Him not to command (epitasso) them to go away into the abyss (abussos) - Parakaleo in the imperfect tense pictures them begging him again and again. Note they knew Jesus had the authority to command them at that very moment to go to the abyss! They never question His authority. Some think country and abyss are synonymous, but country more likely refers to the country of the Gerasenes. The demons had experienced "success" in this country! To send them there makes no sense whatsoever.
Lucas 8
Wiersbe - Demons have faith (James 2:19), but it is not saving faith. They believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God with authority to command them. They believe in a future judgment (Matt. 8:29) and in the existence of a place of torment to which Jesus could send them ("the abyss," Luke 8:31). They also believe in prayer, for the demons begged Jesus not to send them to the abyss. They asked to be sent into the pigs, and Jesus granted their request. (Borrow Be compassionate) To command (to order)(2004)(epitasso from epí = upon, over + tasso = arrange, appoint or place appropriately) literally means to arrange upon, i.e. order. To appoint over, put in charge; put upon one as a duty. Epitasso was a Greek military term, the noun form used of an “orderly array.” Abyss (12)(abussos from a = an intensifier + buthós = deep) refers to an extremely deep place, a bottomless pit. Transliterated into English (see English definition). It refers to the abode of the dead (Ro 10:7) and in Luke 8:31, the prison destined for demons. In Rev. 9:1, 2; 11:7; 17:8; 20:1, 3, abussos is a prison in which evil powers are confined and out of which they can at times be let loose. Note that the abyss does not equate with the lake of fire (Rev. 20:2, 10+). While the abyss is the place where Satan will be cast into for one thousand years (Rev. 20:1, 2), his final destination is "the lake of fire and brimstone" (Rev 20:10+). The abyss is the final destiny of the devil and his angels (cf Matt 25:41; 2 Pet 2:4).
Lucas 8
Wiersbe - What a transformation in these two men! You would have expected the people who saw the miracle to ask Jesus to stay and heal others who were sick and afflicted. Apparently money was more important to them than mercy, and they asked Jesus to leave. (Borrow Be compassionate) Kent
Lucas 8
Wiersbe - “Return to your own house, and tell what great things God has done for you.” And he went his way and proclaimed throughout the whole city what great things Jesus had done for him. LUKE 8:39 There are five prayers in this remarkable event in the cemetery, three from the demons (Luke 8:28, 31, 32), one from the local residents (v. 37), and one from the healed demoniac (v. 38). The demons got what they asked for and so did the residents, but not the healed demoniac, and his request was a good one. All he wanted to do was go with Jesus, but Jesus told him to go home and tell everybody what the Lord had done for him. It’s clear that he was a new man, for he was clothed, sitting at the feet of Jesus, and in his right mind. Why, then, didn’t Jesus grant his request and allow him to be one of his personal followers? To begin with, Jesus didn’t “exhibit” new believers like entertainers at a sideshow. A few years ago, there was an epidemic of so-called celebrity conversions in the United States, the thrust of which was “you should trust Christ because these famous people have trusted Christ.” A. W. Tozer called this “the Wheaties approach to evangelism” because celebrities, especially winning athletes, were often pictured on cereal boxes. But sinners should turn to Christ no matter what the famous people might do, and the fact that they are rich and famous is a guarantee of nothing. Paul reminded us that “not many mighty, not many noble, are called” (1 Cor. 1:26). I have personally met some of these people and they gave every evidence that their salvation was genuine, but, sad to say, many others have fallen by the wayside and been forgotten. Note that Paul wrote “many,” not “any.” The rich and famous are saved by that letter m! Jesus sent the man home because the people there knew him best and his testimony would have a greater impact. They knew the sad history of his becoming demonized, the reality of it and the agony of it, and they would have to admit that he was a different man. It’s interesting that Jesus told the healed leper not to say anything to anybody (Mark 1:43) but commanded the healed demoniac to tell everybody. The word translated “proclaimed” in our text refers to the pronouncements of the herald of a king. Jesus had commissioned him to carry the good news and he obeyed. Would that more of us followed his example! This leads to a third reason he was sent home: he may have had some damage to repair. Was he married? Did he have a family? Or was he living with his parents? The way he behaved at home and the way he left home (or was asked to leave) may have hurt family relationships, and the Lord would help him make things right. One of our first responsibilities after trusting Christ is to “mend fences,” or perhaps “take down fences.” I’m sure the Lord arranged for believers in his neighborhood to help him feed on God’s truth and grow in grace. Every new Christian needs to fellowship with other believers who can explain the basics of the Christian life. I recall a well-known Midwest singer who phoned to tell me he had trusted Christ. “What do I do next?” he asked. We met for lunch and I urged him to get into a good church and have the pastor involve him in a discipleship program. Instead, he started a new organization, made recordings of his new songs, and went from performance to performance—but never developed spiritually. Then he passed from the scene and we never saw him again, though I tried to locate him. I wish he had heeded my advice. (New Testament Words for Today: 100 Devotional Reflections) John Butler - Commission for Service “Return to thine own house, and show how great things God hath done unto thee. And he went his way, and published throughout the whole city how great things Jesus had done unto him.” (Luke 8:39) AFTER a man had been freed of demon possession by Christ, he “besought” (Luke 8:38) Christ to travel with Him. But Christ refused the request and told him to return home and serve there. Our verse contains the commission Christ gave this man. It speaks of the place of service, the proclamation in service, and the performance in service. Place of service. “Return to thine own house.” The home is where all service and witnessing should begin. If you cannot live your faith in your own home and community, you are not ready to testify for Christ elsewhere. Our faith ought to show up at home; and if it is real, it will show up at home. God puts us in a place of service where it will be the most effective. This man would have a bigger testimony at home than anywhere else because the people in his own home and town knew what this man was before Christ changed him. This would make his testimony more effective here than anywhere else. They would know that his testimony was true. In other cities, the people would not know if the man was really telling the truth or not; for they would not know about his past and so could not verify the change. Proclamation in service. “Show how great things God hath done unto thee.” The man was to speak about the great things God had done, not about the great things the man had done. A number of ministers would do well to ponder this part of the commission, for they seem prone to want to talk about themselves more than about the Lord. Performance in service. “And he went his way, and published throughout the whole city how great things Jesus had done unto him.” The man obeyed Christ’s commission and had a great ministry for the Lord. And note the man was earnest in his performance, for he “published throughout the whole city.” He may have been disappointed in the place of service, but he did not let that diminish his dedication. Luke 8:40 And as Jesus returned, the people welcomed Him, for they had all been waiting for Him. KJV And it came to pass, that, when Jesus was returned, the people gladly received him: for they were all waiting for him. that Matthew 9:1; Mark 5:21 the people Lk 5:1; 19:6,37,38,48; Mark 6:20; 12:37; John 5:35 waiting Proverbs 8:34; Acts 10:33 Luke 8:40-48 Jesus' Compassionate Power, Part 1 - John MacArthur Luke 8:40-48 Jesus’ Cleansing Power - Steven J. Cole The Fear Factor Luke 8:40-48 Vince Hefner Dwelling in the Land of Desperation Luke 8:41-56 Donald Cantrell Luke 8:40-42; 49-56 A Great Father - Don Robinson Luke 8:40–56 Jarius’ Daughter - R C Sproul Luke 8:40 A Welcome for Jesus - C H Spurgeon Luke 8:40. A Welcome for Jesus - Sermon Notes - C H Spurgeon Luke 8:42-48 Good Cheer from Grace Received - C H Spurgeon Luke 8:43, 44 Cured at Last! - C H Spurgeon Luke 8:46 Real Contact with Jesus - C H Spurgeon Luke 8:47 She Was Not Hid - C H Spurgeon Luke 8:40-48 Who Touched Me? - Chris Benfield Luke 8:40-56 - Healing and Resurrection - Gene Brooks Luke 8:40-48 The Hem of His Garment - W A Criswell Luke 8:49-55 Jesus Speaks to Us About Hopelessness - W A Criswell Luke 8:40-56 The Interrupted Miracle or Two Touching Miracles - Bob Deffinbaugh Are you Laughing or Amazed? Luke 8:40-56 - J Ligon Duncan Luke 8 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Parallel Passages: Matthew 9 - no clear parallel Mk 5:21+ When Jesus had crossed over again in the boat to the other side, a large crowd gathered around Him; and so He stayed by the seashore. A WELCOMING WAITING CROWD Luke 8:40-56 combines two miracles - The Woman Healed and the Daughter Resurrected. TWO MIRACLES TWO CONTRASTING PERSONALITIES TWO THINGS IN COMMON A DESPERATE NEED & FAITH IN JESUS A Man A Woman Wealthy Poor Respected Rejected Synagogue Ruler Anonymous "Nobody" Honored Ashamed Leader of synagogue Shut out of the synagogue Wealthy Bankrupt Came to Jesus submissively Came to Jesus secretly One with 12yo child One with 12 yr hemorrhage 12 years of Delight 12 years of Despair All His Needs Met At the Feet of Jesus All Her Needs Met At the Feet of Jesus DEAR READER: ALL YOUR NEEDS MET AT THE FEET OF JESUS! Hendicksen's Outline of Luke 8:40-56 The first miracle introduced Luke 8:40-42 The first miracle interrupted by the second miracle faith concealed Luke 8:43-44a faith rewarded Luke 8:44b The first miracle performed a word of encouragement Luke 8:49, 50 a word of love and power Luke 8:54-55a a word of tender concern Luke 8:55b-56 These stories are also recorded in Matt. 9:18-26 and Mark 5:21-43. Hendriksen gives us a collage of these three versions... The reports of the present double miracle vary: Matthew's is very brief, nine verses; Luke's covers seventeen verses; Mark's twenty-three. Matthew omits the ruler's request (see Mark and Luke) that Jesus heal the very sick child. In fact, Matthew in his very brief summary leaves out several items mentioned by one or both of the other synoptists. However, it is he alone who relates that the ruler asks Jesus to lay his hand upon the dead girl, adding "and she will live" (Mt 9:18+). Also, he alone mentions the flute-players in the house of mourning (Mt 9:23+). Several items are common to Mark and Luke, though not found in Matthew. Thus we are told that the name of the ruler was Jairus (Mark 5:22+; Luke 8:41), that Jairus made his first request before the child had died (Mark 5:23+; Luke 8:42), that she was about twelve years of age (Mark 5:42+; Luke 8:42), that Peter, James, and John, and also the child's parents were with Jesus when he performed the miracle (Mark 5:37, 40+; Luke 8:51), and that Jesus did not want the news of this miracle to spread (Mark 5:43+; Luke 8:56). It is Luke alone who reports that the daughter was an only child (Lk 8:42), and that Jesus did indeed hear the remark to which he paid no attention (Lk 8:50). In all the three accounts the story of the bringing back to life of the daughter of Jairus is interrupted by that of the healing of the woman who touched Christ's garment. (Exposition of the Gospel of Luke - can be borrowed) Brian Bell entitles Luke 8:40-56 "A Finger of Faith" (obviously referring to the woman touching Jesus' hem).
Lucas 8
Wiersbe notes that the woman's "witness (of her complete healing) was a rebuke to the multitude. You can be a part of the crowd and never get any blessing from being near Jesus! It is one thing to "press Him" and another thing to "touch Him" by faith. We may not have strong faith, but we do have a strong Saviour, and He responds even to a touch at the hem of His garment. When the inventor of chloroform, Sir James Simpson, was dying, a friend said to him, "You will soon be resting on His bosom." Simpson humbly replied, "I don't know as I can do that, but I think I have hold of the hem of His garment." (Borrow Be compassionate) Steven
Lucas 8
Wiersbe - Perhaps the woman's faith was a bit superstitious, but the Lord responded to it just the same. However, He would not permit her to steal away into the crowd and remain anonymous. Had she done that, she would never have glorified God by her testimony; and she would never have heard His special words of blessing (v. 48; and see 7:50). She had experienced the blessing of His power, but she also needed to experience the blessing of His Word. He called her "daughter," which suggests that she was now in the family. The phrase "made you whole" is a translation of the word that means "to be saved." (Healing is a symbol of salvation; see 5:20-26.) So, she had a healed body and a saved soul, and she went out in peace, all because of His word! (Borrow Wiersbe's Expository Outlines on the New Testament) Robert Stein - Your faith has healed you. “Healed you” is literally saved you. It was not simply the woman’s touching of Jesus’ garment that healed her, for others pressed against Jesus as well; it was the faith that caused her to touch Jesus that brought healing. Yet something more happened than the cessation of her bleeding. She experienced physical healing but even more. If Jesus’ concern for her involved physical healing only, what occurred in Luke 8:45–48 could have been omitted. Luke reported that Jesus sought out the woman because something greater than physical healing was taking place. Through faith the woman also received spiritual healing. (See Luke: An Exegetical and Theological Exposition) David Holwick - She is healed spiritually. Translating literally, Jesus says her faith has "saved" her. She has experienced more than physical healing - she has a new and eternal relationship with God! Salvation always requires faith, which she showed by approaching Jesus. Her explanation of what had happened to her is very much like a Christian testimony. "He touched me and I was healed." Every true Christian has a testimony of how they have been touched by Jesus. Daniel Hill - He called her DAUGHTER showing to everyone around a relationship existed. No longer an outcast, now a child of the King. Your faith has healed you. Faith must have an object and the object of her faith is the one she reached out to touch, the Lord Jesus Christ. G Campbell
Lucas 8
Wiersbe - Resurrection is a picture of the way Jesus Christ saves lost sinners and raises them from spiritual death (John 5:24; Eph. 2:1-10). The Gospels record three such resurrections, though Jesus probably performed more. In each instance, the person raised gave evidence of life. The widow's son began to speak (Luke 7:15), Jairus' daughter walked and ate food, and Lazarus was loosed from the graveclothes (John 11:44). When a lost sinner is raised from the dead, you can tell it by his speech, his walk, his appetite, and his "change of clothes" (Col. 3:1ff). You cannot hide life! Peter, James, and John accompanied Jesus on three special occasions; and this was the first. The second was on the Mount of Transfiguration (Luke 9:28ff), and the third was in the Garden of Gethsemane (Mark 14:33ff). G Campbell Morgan has pointed out that each of these events has something to do with death and that the three disciples learned from these experiences some valuable lessons about Jesus and death. In the home of Jairus, they learned that Jesus is victorious over death. On the Mount of Transfiguration, they discovered that He would be glorified in His death; and in the Garden, they saw that He was surrendered to death. James was the first of the Twelve to die (Acts 12:1-2), John the last to die, and Peter's death was predicted by Jesus (John 21:18-19; 2 Peter 1:13-21). All three men needed these lessons, and we need them today. (Borrow Be compassionate) (Bold added)