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Luke Chapter
Eight
Luke 8
In chapter 8 the Lord explains the import and the effect
of His ministry; and especially
I doubt not
its effect among the Jews.
However great the unbelief
Jesus carries on His work to the end
and
the fruits of His work appear. He goes to preach the good news of the kingdom.
His disciples (the fruit
and the witnesses by grace
in their measure
in the
same manner as Himself
of His mighty word) accompany Him; and other fruits of
this same word
witnesses also by their own deliverance from the power of the
enemy
and by the affection and devotedness flowing from thence by grace-a
grace which acted also in them
according to the love and devotedness that
attach to Jesus. Here women have a good place. [1] The work was strengthened and consolidated
and characterises itself by its effects.
The Lord explains its true nature. He did not take
possession of the kingdom
He did not seek for fruit; He sowed the testimony of
God in order to produce fruit. This
in a striking way
is the altogether new
thing. The word was its seed. Moreover it was the disciples only-who had
followed and attached themselves to His Person
by grace and by virtue of the
manifestation of the power and grace of God in His Person-to whom it was given
to understand the mysteries
the thoughts of God
revealed inChrist
of this
kingdom which was not being openly established by power. Here the remnant is
very clearly distinguished from the nation. To "others" it was in
parables
that they might not understand. For that the Lord Himself must be
received morally. Here this parable is not accompanied by others. Alone it
marks out the position. The warning
which we considered in Mark
is added.
Finally the light of God was not manifested in order to be hidden. Moreover
everything should be made manifest. Therefore they must take heed how they
heard
for
if they possessed that which they heard
they should receive more:
otherwise even that should be taken from them.
The Lord puts a seal upon this testimony
namely
that
the thing in question was the word
which drew to Him and to God those who were
to enjoy the blessing; and that the word was the basis of all relationship with
Himself
declaring
when they spoke to Him of His mother and brethren
by whom
He was related to Israel after the flesh
that He acknowledged as such none
others but those who heard and obeyed the word of God.
Besides the evident power manifested in His miracles the accounts
that follow-to the end of chapter 8-present different aspects of the work of
Christ
and of His reception
and of its consequences.
First the Lord-although
apparently
He takes no notice-is associated
with His disciples in the difficulties and storms that surround them
because
they have embarked in His service. We have seen that He gathered the disciples
around Himself: they are devoted to His service. As far as man's power to avert
it went
they were in imminent danger. The waves are ready to swallow them up.
Jesus
in their eyes
cares nothing about it; but God has permitted this
exercise of faith. They are there on account of Christ
and with Him. Christ is
with them; and the power of Christ
for whose sake they are in the storm
is
there to protect them. They are together with Him in the same vessel. If as to
themselves they might perish
they are associated in the counsels of God with
Jesus
and His presence is their safeguard. He permits the storm
but He is
Himself in the vessel. When He shall awake and manifest Himself
all will be
calm.
In the healing of the demoniac
in the country of the
Gadarenes
we have a living picture of what was passing.
As to Israel
the remnant-however great the enemy's
power-is delivered. The world beseeches Jesus to depart
desiring their own
ease
which is more disturbed by the presence and power of God than by a legion
of devils. He goes away. The man who was healed-the remnant-would fain be with
Him; but the Lord sends him back (into the world that He quitted Himself) to be
a witness of the grace and power of which he had been the subject. The herd of
swine
I doubt not
set before us the career of Israel towards their
destruction
after the rejection of the Lord. The world accustoms itself to the
power of Satan-painful as it may be to see it in certain cases-never to the
power of God.
The next two histories present the effect of faith
and
the real need with which the grace that meets it has to do. The faith of the
remnant seeks Jesus to preserve the life of that which is ready to perish. The
Lord answers it
and comes Himself to answer it. On the way (it is there He
was
and
as to final deliverance
He is still there)
in the midst of the
crowd that surrounded Him
faith touches Him. The poor woman had a disease
which no means at marl's disposal could heal. But power is found in the Man
Christ
and comes forth from Him for the healing of man
wherever faith exists
while waiting for the final accomplishment of His mission on earth. She is
healed
and confesses before Christ her condition and all that had happened to
her: and thus
by means of the effect of faith
testimony is rendered to
Christ. The remnant is manifested
faith distinguishes them from the multitude;
their condition being the fruit of divine power in Christ.
This principle applies to the healing of every believer
and
consequently
to that of the Gentiles
as the apostle argues. Healing
power is in the Person of Christ; faith-by grace and by the attraction of
Christ-profits by it. It does not depend on the relationship of the Jew
although
as to his position
he was the first to profit by it. It is a
question of what there is in the Person of Christ
and of faith in the
individual. If there is faith in the individual
this power acts; he goes away
in peace
healed by the power of God Himself. But
in fact
if we consider in
full the condition of man
it was not sickness merely which was in question
but death. Christ
before the full manifestation of the state of man
met it
so to speak
on the way; but
as in the case of Lazarus
the manifestation was
allowed; and to faith this manifestation took place in the death of Jesus.
Thus
here
it is permitted that the daughter of Jairus should die before the
arrival of Christ; but grace has come to raise from the dead
with the divine
power that alone can accomplish it; and Jesus
in comforting the poor father
bids him not to fear
but only to believe
and his daughter should be made
whole. It is faith in His Person
in the divine power in Him
in the grace that
comes to exercise it
which obtains joy and deliverance. But Jesus does not
seek the multitude here; the manifestation of this power is only for the
consolation of those who feel their need of it
and for the faith of those who
are really attached to Him. The multitude know
indeed
that the maiden is
dead; they bewail her
and do not understand the power of God that can raise
her up. Jesus gives back to her parents the child whose life He had restored.
Thus will it be with the Jews at the end
in the midst of the unbelief of the
many. Meantime by faith we anticipate this joy
convinced that it is our state
by grace; we live: only that for us it is in connection with Christ in heaven
the firstfruits of a new creation.
With respect to His ministry
Jesus will have this
hidden. He must be received according to the testimony which He bore to the
conscience and to the heart. On the way this testimony was not entirely
finished. We shall see His last efforts with the unbelieving heart of man in
the succeeding chapters.
[1] It
is exceedingly interesting to see the distinct place of the disciples and the
women. Nor
as said above
have the women a bad place. We find them again at
the cross and the sepulchre when-at any rate save John-the disciples had fled
or
even if called by the women to the sepulchre
gone home! when they saw He
was raised.
── John Darby《Synopsis of Luke》
Luke 8
Chapter Contents
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)
Commentary on Luke 8:1-3
(Read Luke 8:1-3)
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.
Commentary on Luke 8:4-21
(Read Luke 8:4-21)
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.
Commentary on Luke 8:22-40
(Read Luke 8:22-40)
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.
Commentary on Luke 8:41-56
(Read Luke 8:41-56)
Let us not complain of a crowd
and a throng
and a
hurry
as long as we are in the way of our duty
and doing good; but otherwise
every wise man will keep himself out of it as much as he can. And many a poor
soul is healed
and helped
and saved by Christ
that is hidden in a crowd
and
nobody notices it. This woman came trembling
yet her faith saved her. There
may be trembling
where yet there is saving faith. Observe Christ's comfortable
words to Jairus
Fear not
believe only
and thy daughter shall be made whole.
No less hard was it not to grieve for the loss of an only child
than not to
fear the continuance of that grief. But in perfect faith there is no fear; the
more we fear
the less we believe. The hand of Christ's grace goes with the
calls of his word
to make them effectual. Christ commanded to give her meat.
As babes new born
so those newly raised from sin
desire spiritual food
that
they may grow thereby.
── Matthew Henry《Concise Commentary on Luke》
Luke 8
Verse 4
[4] And
when much people were gathered together
and were come to him out of every
city
he spake by a parable:
Verse 15
[15] But that on the good ground are they
which in an honest and good heart
having heard the word
keep it
and bring forth fruit with patience.
Who —
keep it - Not like the highway side: And bring forth fruit - Not like the
thorny ground: With perseverance - Not like the stony.
Verse 16
[16] No
man
when he hath lighted a candle
covereth it with a vessel
or putteth it
under a bed; but setteth it on a candlestick
that they which enter in may see
the light.
No man having lighted a candle — As if ho had said
And let your good fruit appear openly. Matthew 5:15; Mark 4:21; Luke 11:33.
Verse 17
[17] For
nothing is secret
that shall not be made manifest; neither any thing hid
that
shall not be known and come abroad.
For nothing is hid —
Strive not to conceal it at all; for you can conceal nothing long. Matthew 10:26; Mark 4:22; Luke 12:2.
Verse 18
[18] Take heed therefore how ye hear: for whosoever hath
to him shall be
given; and whosoever hath not
from him shall be taken even that which he
seemeth to have.
The word commonly translated seemeth
wherever it occurs
does not weaken
but greatly strengthens the sense. Matthew 13:12; Mark 4:25; Luke 19:26.
Verse 19
[19] Then
came to him his mother and his brethren
and could not come at him for the
press.
Verse 22
[22] Now
it came to pass on a certain day
that he went into a ship with his disciples:
and he said unto them
Let us go over unto the other side of the lake. And they
launched forth.
Verse 26
[26] And
they arrived at the country of the Gadarenes
which is over against Galilee.
Verse 29
[29] (For
he had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. For oftentimes it
had caught him: and he was kept bound with chains and in fetters; and he brake
the bands
and was driven of the devil into the wilderness.)
For many times it had caught him — Therefore our compassionate Lord made the more haste to cast him out.
Verse 31
[31] And
they besought him that he would not command them to go out into the deep.
The abyss —
That is
the bottomless pit.
Verse 32
[32] And
there was there an herd of many swine feeding on the mountain: and they besought
him that he would suffer them to enter into them. And he suffered them.
To enter into the swine — Not that they were any easier in the swine than out of them. Had it been
so
they would not so soon have dislodged themselves
by destroying the herd.
Verse 37
[37] Then
the whole multitude of the country of the Gadarenes round about besought him to
depart from them; for they were taken with great fear: and he went up into the
ship
and returned back again.
Verse 40
[40] And
it came to pass
that
when Jesus was returned
the people gladly received him:
for they were all waiting for him.
Verse 52
[52] And
all wept
and bewailed her: but he said
Weep not; she is not dead
but
sleepeth.
She is not dead but sleepeth — Her soul is not separated finally from the body; and this short
separation is rather to be called sleep than death.
── John ‘Wesley《Explanatory Notes on Luke》
Chapter 8. Power of Deliverance
Throng and
Press Jesus
Touch Jesus
I. Service of a
Thankful Woman
II. Jesus'
Preaching of Parables
III. Jesus
Deals with Circumstances
── Chih-Hsin Chang《An Outline of The New Testament》