Luke 8NKJV
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Luke8

New King James Version

1Now it came to pass, afterward, that He went through every city and village, preaching and bringing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God. And the twelve were with Him,

2and certain women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities—Mary called Magdalene, out of whom had come seven demons,

3and Joanna the wife of Chuza, Herod’s steward, and Susanna, and many others who provided for Him from their substance.

4And when a great multitude had gathered, and they had come to Him from every city, He spoke by a parable:

5“A sower went out to sow his seed. And as he sowed, some fell by the wayside; and it was trampled down, and the birds of the air devoured it.

6Some fell on rock; and as soon as it sprang up, it withered away because it lacked moisture.

7And some fell among thorns, and the thorns sprang up with it and choked it.

8But others fell on good ground, sprang up, and yielded a crop a hundredfold.” When He had said these things He cried, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear!”

9Then His disciples asked Him, saying, “What does this parable mean?”

10And He said, “To you it has been given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God, but to the rest it is given in parables, that ‘Seeing they may not see, And hearing they may not understand.’

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

12Those by the wayside are the ones who hear; then the devil comes and takes away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved.

13But the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, who believe for a while and in time of temptation fall away.

14Now the ones that fell among thorns are those who, when they have heard, go out and are choked with cares, riches, and pleasures of life, and bring no fruit to maturity.

15But the ones that fell on the good ground are those who, having heard the word with a noble and good heart, keep it and bear fruit with patience.

16“No one, when he has lit a lamp, covers it with a vessel or puts it under a bed, but sets it on a lampstand, that those who enter may see the light.

17For nothing is secret that will not be revealed, nor anything hidden that will not be known and come to light.

18Therefore take heed how you hear. For whoever has, to him more will be given; and whoever does not have, even what he seems to have will be taken from him.”

19Then His mother and brothers came to Him, and could not approach Him because of the crowd.

20And it was told Him by some, who said, “Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside, desiring to see You.”

21But He answered and said to them, “My mother and My brothers are these who hear the word of God and do it.”

22Now it happened, on a certain day, that He got into a boat with His disciples. And He said to them, “Let us cross over to the other side of the lake.” And they launched out.

23But as they sailed He fell asleep. And a windstorm came down on the lake, and they were filling with water, and were in jeopardy.

24And they came to Him and awoke Him, saying, “Master, Master, we are perishing!” Then He arose and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water. And they ceased, and there was a calm.

25But He said to them, “Where is your faith?” And they were afraid, and marveled, saying to one another, “Who can this be? For He commands even the winds and water, and they obey Him!”

26Then they sailed to the country of the Gadarenes, which is opposite Galilee.

27And when He stepped out on the land, there met Him a certain man from the city who had demons for a long time. And he wore no clothes, nor did he live in a house but in the tombs.

28When he saw Jesus, he cried out, fell down before Him, and with a loud voice said, “What have I to do with You, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg You, do not torment me!”

29For He had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. For it had often seized him, and he was kept under guard, bound with chains and shackles; and he broke the bonds and was driven by the demon into the wilderness.

30Jesus asked him, saying, “What is your name?” And he said, “Legion,” because many demons had entered him.

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

32Now a herd of many swine was feeding there on the mountain. So they begged Him that He would permit them to enter them. And He permitted them.

33Then the demons went out of the man and entered the swine, and the herd ran violently down the steep place into the lake and drowned.

34When those who fed them saw what had happened, they fled and told it in the city and in the country.

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

36They also who had seen it told them by what means he who had been demon-possessed was healed.

37Then the whole multitude of the surrounding region of the Gadarenes asked Him to depart from them, for they were seized with great fear. And He got into the boat and returned.

38Now the man from whom the demons had departed begged Him that he might be with Him. But Jesus sent him away, saying,

39“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.

40So it was, when Jesus returned, that the multitude welcomed Him, for they were all waiting for Him.

41And behold, there came a man named Jairus, and he was a ruler of the synagogue. And he fell down at Jesus’ feet and begged Him to come to his house,

42for he had an only daughter about twelve years of age, and she was dying. But as He went, the multitudes thronged Him.

43Now a woman, having a flow of blood for twelve years, who had spent all her livelihood on physicians and could not be healed by any,

44came from behind and touched the border of His garment. And immediately her flow of blood stopped.

45And Jesus said, “Who touched Me?” When all denied it, Peter and those with him said, “Master, the multitudes throng and press You, and You say, ‘Who touched Me?’ ”

46But Jesus said, “Somebody touched Me, for I perceived power going out from Me.”

47Now when the woman saw that she was not hidden, she came trembling; and falling down before Him, she declared to Him in the presence of all the people the reason she had touched Him and how she was healed immediately.

48And He said to her, “Daughter, be of good cheer; your faith has made you well. Go in peace.”

49While He was still speaking, someone came from the ruler of the synagogue’s house, saying to him, “Your daughter is dead. Do not trouble the Teacher.”

50But when Jesus heard it, He answered him, saying, “Do not be afraid; only believe, and she will be made well.”

51When He came into the house, He permitted no one to go in except Peter, James, and John, and the father and mother of the girl.

52Now all wept and mourned for her; but He said, “Do not weep; she is not dead, but sleeping.”

53And they ridiculed Him, knowing that she was dead.

54But He put them all outside, took her by the hand and called, saying, “Little girl, arise.”

55Then her spirit returned, and she arose immediately. And He commanded that she be given something to eat.

56And her parents were astonished, but He charged them to tell no one what had happened.

Study Guide

Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Luke 8.

Full AI study →

Chapter Summary

In this chapter: The ministry of Christ. (1–3). The parable of the sower. (4–21). Christ stilleth the tempest and casteth out devils. (22–40). The daughter of Jairus restored to life. (41–56).

vv1-3

We are here told what Christ made the constant business of his life, it was teaching the gospel. Tidings of the kingdom of God are glad tidings, and what Christ came to bring. Certain women attended upon him who ministered to him of their substance. It showed the mean condition to which the Saviour humbled himself, that he needed their kindness, and his great humility, that he accepted it. Though rich, yet for our sakes he became poor.

vv4-21

There are many very needful and excellent rules and cautions for hearing the word, in the parable of the sower, and the application of it. Happy are we, and for ever indebted to free grace, if the same thing that is a parable to others, with which they are only amused, is a plain truth to us, by which we are taught and governed. We ought to take heed of the things that will hinder our profiting by the word we hear; to take heed lest we hear carelessly and slightly, lest we entertain prejudices against the word we hear; and to take heed to our spirits after we have heard the word, lest we lose what we have gained. The gifts we have, will be continued to us or not, as we use them for the glory of God, and the good of our brethren. Nor is it enough not to hold the truth in unrighteousness; we should desire to hold forth the word of life, and to shine, giving light to all around. Great encouragement is given to those who prove themselves faithful hearers of the word, by being doers of the work. Christ owns them as his relations.

vv22-40

Those that put to sea in a calm, even at Christ's word, must yet prepare for a storm, and for great peril in that storm. There is no relief for souls under a sense of guilt, and fear of wrath, but to go to Christ, and call him Master, and say, I am undone, if thou dost not help me. When our dangers are over, it becomes us to take to ourselves the shame of our own fears, and to give Christ the glory of our deliverance. We may learn much out of this history concerning the world of infernal, malignant spirits, which though not working now exactly in the same way as then, yet all must at all times carefully guard against. And these malignant spirits are very numerous. They have enmity to man and all his comforts. Those under Christ's government are sweetly led with the bands of love; those under the devil's government are furiously driven. Oh what a comfort it is to the believer, that all the powers of darkness are under the control of the Lord Jesus! It is a miracle of mercy, if those whom Satan possesses, are not brought to destruction and eternal ruin. Christ will not stay with those who slight him; perhaps he may no more return to them, while others are waiting for him, and glad to receive him.

Cross References

Luke 8
v41Matthew 9:18-25thematic

Parallel account of the raising of Jairus' daughter and healing of the woman's hemorrhage.

Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, John Calvin, JFB

v41Mark 5:21-43thematic

Parallel account providing the detailed name of Jairus and the healing miracles.

Supported by Matthew Henry, John Calvin, JFB

v21Matthew 12:46-50thematic

Parallel definition of Jesus' true family as those who hear and do His word.

Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB

v22Matthew 8:23-27thematic

Parallel account of Jesus sleeping in the ship and calming the raging storm.

Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB

v22Mark 4:35-41thematic

Parallel account of crossing the lake and commanding the wind and waves.

Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB

v26Matthew 8:28-34thematic

Parallel account of the healing of the Gadarene demoniac(s) and the swine.

Supported by Matthew Henry, John Calvin, JFB

v26Mark 5:1-20thematic

Detailed parallel account of the Gadarene demoniac, including his post-healing request.

Supported by Matthew Henry, John Calvin, JFB

v2Matthew 27:55thematic

Verifies that these ministering women followed Jesus from Galilee to his crucifixion.

Supported by Matthew Poole

Theological backdrop of Christ becoming poor, relying on others, to make us rich.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v11Mark 4:14-20thematic

Mark's parallel explanation of the parable of the sower and the seed.

Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB

v18Matthew 13:12thematic

Parallel teaching on spiritual stewardship: to him who has, more will be given.

Supported by JFB

Mosaic law concerning ceremonial uncleanness from a continuous flow of blood.

Supported by John Calvin

v10Isaiah 6:9quotation

Jesus quotes Isaiah's judicial blinding of those who refuse to hear.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v17Luke 12:2thematic

Parallels the warning that nothing hidden will not be brought to light.

Supported by JFB

v35Deuteronomy 33:3allusion

Old Testament picture of disciples sitting submissively at the feet of the Lord.

Supported by Matthew Henry