CLARITY EDITION · OLD TESTAMENT
Luke 8
Chapter 8 of 24
Chapter Overview
What happens in Luke 8
Jesus travels through cities and villages preaching the kingdom, accompanied by the twelve and several women who support His ministry. He teaches the Parable of the Sower about hearing God's word, then demonstrates His authority over nature, demons, disease, and death through four dramatic miracles: calming a storm, freeing a demon-possessed man, healing a woman with chronic bleeding, and raising Jairus' daughter.
Scripture
Luke 8
Women Who Supported Jesus' Ministry
Study note
Luke uniquely records that women traveled with Jesus and the twelve, supporting them out of their own resources. Among them are Mary Magdalene, from whom seven demons had been cast out, Joanna the wife of Herod's steward Chuza, and Susanna. This detail highlights Luke's emphasis on the important role of women in Jesus' ministry and the diverse backgrounds of those drawn to follow Him.
1 After this, Jesus went from one city and village to another, telling everyone the good news about God's kingdom. The twelve apostles traveled with him. And it came to pass afterward, that he went throughout every city and village, preaching and shewing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God: and the twelve were with him,
2 Several women also came along who had been set free from evil spirits and healed of sickness. One was Mary, known as Magdalene, who had been freed from seven demons. And certain women, which had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary called Magdalene, out of whom went seven devils,
3 Joanna, whose husband Chuza managed Herod's household, Susanna, and a number of other women. They all used their own money to help support Jesus and his group. And Joanna the wife of Chuza Herod's steward, and Susanna, and many others, which ministered unto him of their substance.
The Parable of the Sower
Study note
Jesus tells a large crowd the parable of a sower whose seed falls on four types of soil: the path, rocky ground, thorns, and good soil. He privately explains to His disciples that the seed is God's word and the soils represent different heart responses. Only the good soil -- those who hear with an honest and good heart, hold on to the word, and produce fruit with patience -- represents true, lasting faith. This parable is foundational for understanding how people respond to Jesus' teaching.
4 People kept coming from town after town until a great crowd had formed. Jesus told them a story: And when much people were gathered together, and were come to him out of every city, he spake by a parable:
5 "A farmer headed out to scatter seed in his field. As he tossed the seed, some of it landed on the hard path where people walked. It got stepped on, and birds swooped down and gobbled it up." A sower went out to sow his seed: and as he sowed, some fell by the way side; and it was trodden down, and the fowls of the air devoured it.
6 "Some seed landed on rocky ground. It sprouted quickly but then dried up and died because there was no moisture in the soil." And some fell upon a rock; and as soon as it was sprung up, it withered away, because it lacked moisture.
7 "Some seed dropped among thorn bushes. The thorns grew right up alongside it and choked the life out of it." And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprang up with it, and choked it.
8 "But some seed fell on rich, good soil. It grew strong and produced a harvest that was a hundred times more than what had been planted." After telling this story, Jesus said in a loud voice, "If you have ears to hear, then pay attention!" And other fell on good ground, and sprang up, and bare fruit an hundredfold. And when he had said these things, he cried, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.
9 His disciples came to him and asked what the story meant. And his disciples asked him, saying, What might this parable be?
10 He explained, "God has let you in on the secrets of his kingdom. But for other people, I use stories so that they look but do not truly see, and they listen but do not truly get it." And he said, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand.
11 "This is the meaning of the story: the seed stands for God's message." Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.
12 "The seed on the path stands for people who hear the message. But then the devil comes and snatches it right out of their hearts. So they do not believe and are not saved." Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved.
13 "The seed on rocky ground stands for people who hear the message and get excited about it. But it never takes deep root in them. They believe for a little while, but when life gets hard, they give up." They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away.
14 "The seed among thorns stands for people who hear the message but then get weighed down by worries, money, and the fun things of this life. They never grow up and produce anything useful." And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.
15 "But the seed on good soil stands for people who hear the message with an open and sincere heart. They hold on to it tightly and produce results by sticking with it no matter what." 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.
A Lamp and True Family
Study note
Jesus teaches that a lamp is meant to be visible, not hidden, and warns that what is secret will be made known. He redefines family when told His mother and brothers are outside, declaring that His true family consists of those who hear God's word and do it. This teaching connects directly to the Parable of the Sower: true discipleship means receiving and acting on God's word.
16 "Nobody turns on a lamp and then covers it up with a bowl or shoves it under a bed. They put it up on a stand where it gives light to everyone who walks in." 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.
17 "Everything hidden now will be brought out into the open someday. Every secret will be uncovered for all to see." For nothing is secret, that shall not be made manifest; neither any thing hid, that shall not be known and come abroad.
18 "So pay close attention to how you listen. People who already have understanding will be given even more. But people who do not truly have it will lose even the little bit they think they have." 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.
19 One day, Jesus's mother and brothers appeared wanting to see him, but the crowd was so packed that they could not get to him. Then came to him his mother and his brethren, and could not come at him for the press.
20 Someone passed along the message, "Your mother and brothers are outside and want to see you." And it was told him by certain which said, Thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to see thee.
21 Jesus said, "My mother and my brothers are the people who hear God's message and do what it says." And he answered and said unto them, My mother and my brethren are these which hear the word of God, and do it.
Jesus Calms a Storm
Study note
Crossing the lake, Jesus falls asleep while a fierce storm threatens to swamp the boat. The terrified disciples wake Him, and He rebukes the wind and waves, bringing instant calm. His question -- 'Where is your faith?' -- challenges the disciples to trust Him even when circumstances are frightening. Their amazed response, 'Who is this?', begins to grasp that they are dealing with someone who commands nature itself.
22 One day Jesus and his disciples climbed into a boat. He said, "Let us cross over to the far side of the lake." So off they went. 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.
23 During the trip, Jesus fell asleep. Then a violent windstorm swept down on the lake. Water started pouring into the boat, and they were in serious trouble. But as they sailed he fell asleep: and there came down a storm of wind on the lake; and they were filled with water, and were in jeopardy.
24 The disciples rushed over and shook him awake, yelling, "Teacher, Teacher, we are going to drown!" He stood up and spoke sternly to the wind and the crashing waves. Everything went still, and the water became perfectly calm. And they came to him, and awoke him, saying, Master, master, we perish. Then he arose, and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water: and they ceased, and there was a calm.
25 He looked at them and asked, "Where is your faith?" They were shaken and amazed, saying to one another, "Who is this man? He gives orders to wind and water, and they do what he says!" And he said unto them, Where is your faith? And they being afraid wondered, saying one to another, What manner of man is this! for he commandeth even the winds and water, and they obey him.
The Demon-Possessed Man of the Gadarenes
Study note
On the far shore, Jesus encounters a man long possessed by a legion of demons, living naked among tombs. Jesus commands the demons out, they enter a herd of pigs that rush into the lake and drown, and the man is found clothed and in his right mind. The townspeople, more afraid of Jesus' power than grateful for the man's healing, ask Him to leave. Jesus sends the restored man back to tell his community what God has done -- making him the first evangelist to a Gentile region.
26 They sailed on and reached the land of the Gadarenes. This was on the other side of the lake from Galilee. And they arrived at the country of the Gadarenes, which is over against Galilee.
27 When Jesus stepped onto shore, a man from the city came running toward him. This man had been tormented by demons for years. He wore no clothing and refused to live in a house, making his home among the burial caves instead. And when he went forth to land, there met him out of the city a certain man, which had devils long time, and ware no clothes, neither abode in any house, but in the tombs.
28 The moment he spotted Jesus, he screamed and collapsed in front of him. At the top of his lungs he shouted, "What do you want from me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? Please, I am begging you, do not torture me!" When he saw Jesus, he cried out, and fell down before him, and with a loud voice said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God most high? I beseech thee, torment me not.
29 (He said this because Jesus had already been commanding the evil spirit to leave the man. The spirit had taken control of him over and over. Even when people chained him up and kept him under guard, he would snap the chains and the demon would drive him out into the empty wilderness.) (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.)
30 Jesus asked the man, "What is your name?" He answered, "Legion" -- because a great number of demons had invaded him. And Jesus asked him, saying, What is thy name? And he said, Legion: because many devils were entered into him.
31 The demons begged Jesus desperately not to send them into the bottomless pit. And they besought him that he would not command them to go out into the deep.
32 A big herd of pigs happened to be feeding on the nearby hillside. The demons begged Jesus to let them go into the pigs instead, and he allowed it. 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.
33 So the demons left the man and went straight into the pigs. The entire herd stampeded down the steep hill and plunged into the lake, where they all drowned. Then went the devils out of the man, and entered into the swine: and the herd ran violently down a steep place into the lake, and were choked.
34 The men tending the pigs saw the whole thing. They took off running and spread the news all through the town and countryside. When they that fed them saw what was done, they fled, and went and told it in the city and in the country.
35 People came out to see for themselves what had happened. When they reached Jesus, they found the man who had been full of demons sitting calmly at Jesus's feet. He was dressed and thinking clearly. This terrified them. Then they went out to see what was done; and came to Jesus, and found the man, out of whom the devils were departed, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid.
36 The people who saw it told everyone how the man with demons had been completely healed. They also which saw it told them by what means he that was possessed of the devils was healed.
37 Then all the people from the area begged Jesus to go away because they were filled with fear. So he got back in the boat and headed off. 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.
38 The man who had been set free from the demons kept asking if he could go with Jesus. But Jesus told him to go home instead. Now the man out of whom the devils were departed besought him that he might be with him: but Jesus sent him away, saying,
39 "Go back home and share the story of everything God has done for you." So the man went all over town telling everybody what Jesus had done for him. Return to thine own house, and shew 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.
Jairus' Daughter and the Woman Healed
Study note
Two intertwined stories of faith unfold: synagogue ruler Jairus begs Jesus to save his dying twelve-year-old daughter, while a woman who has bled for twelve years secretly touches Jesus' garment and is healed. Jesus publicly commends her faith, and when news comes that Jairus' daughter has died, He tells Jairus not to fear but only to believe. Taking the girl by the hand, He raises her from the dead. Both stories demonstrate that faith in Jesus overcomes what appears hopeless.
40 When Jesus got back to the other side, a big crowd was there to welcome him. They had been waiting and hoping he would return. And it came to pass, that, when Jesus was returned, the people gladly received him: for they were all waiting for him.
41 A man named Jairus came forward. He was in charge of the local synagogue. He threw himself at Jesus's feet and pleaded with him to come to his house. And, behold, there came a man named Jairus, and he was a ruler of the synagogue: and he fell down at Jesus' feet, and besought him that he would come into his house:
42 His only daughter, who was about twelve years old, was on the verge of dying. As Jesus made his way there, the crowd kept pressing against him from every direction. For he had one only daughter, about twelve years of age, and she lay a dying. But as he went the people thronged him.
43 In the crowd was a woman who had been dealing with constant bleeding for twelve years. She had used up all her money on doctors, but none of them had been able to help her. And a woman having an issue of blood twelve years, which had spent all her living upon physicians, neither could be healed of any,
44 She came up behind Jesus and reached out to touch just the edge of his robe. The instant she did, her bleeding stopped completely. Came behind him, and touched the border of his garment: and immediately her issue of blood stanched.
45 Jesus asked, "Who touched me?" Nobody admitted it, so Peter said, "Teacher, there are people pushing and shoving you from every side. Why ask who touched you?" And Jesus said, Who touched me? When all denied, Peter and they that were with him said, Master, the multitude throng thee and press thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me?
46 But Jesus said, "Someone touched me on purpose. I felt healing power go out from me." And Jesus said, Somebody hath touched me: for I perceive that virtue is gone out of me.
47 Realizing she could not hide, the woman came forward shaking with fear. She fell at his feet and explained in front of the whole crowd why she had touched him and how she had been instantly healed. And when the woman saw that she was not hid, she came trembling, and falling down before him, she declared unto him before all the people for what cause she had touched him, and how she was healed immediately.
48 Jesus told her, "Dear woman, take heart. Your faith has healed you. Go and enjoy your life in peace." And he said unto her, Daughter, be of good comfort: thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace.
49 While Jesus was still talking to her, a messenger arrived from Jairus's house with terrible news: "Your daughter has died. There is no point in bothering the Teacher anymore." While he yet spake, there cometh one from the ruler of the synagogue's house, saying to him, Thy daughter is dead; trouble not the Master.
50 Jesus heard the message and turned to Jairus. "Do not give in to fear. Keep trusting me, and she will be okay." But when Jesus heard it, he answered him, saying, Fear not: believe only, and she shall be made whole.
51 When they arrived at the house, Jesus only allowed Peter, James, John, and the girl's parents to go inside with him. And when he came into the house, he suffered no man to go in, save Peter, and James, and John, and the father and the mother of the maiden.
52 Everyone there was sobbing and mourning for the girl. Jesus told them, "Stop crying. She is not dead -- she is only sleeping." And all wept, and bewailed her: but he said, Weep not; she is not dead, but sleepeth.
53 They laughed right in his face because they were sure she was dead. And they laughed him to scorn, knowing that she was dead.
54 But Jesus cleared everyone out of the room. He took the girl's hand and said in a clear voice, "Child, get up." And he put them all out, and took her by the hand, and called, saying, Maid, arise.
55 Her life came back into her, and she stood up right away. Jesus told them to give her something to eat. And her spirit came again, and she arose straightway: and he commanded to give her meat.
56 Her parents were stunned. But Jesus instructed them not to tell anyone what had just happened. And her parents were astonished: but he charged them that they should tell no man what was done.
Key Themes
Themes in Luke 8
Hearing and responding to God's wordFaith in the midst of fearJesus' authority over all creationWomen in Jesus' ministryPersistent faith rewardedThe power of Jesus over death
Prophetic Connections
How this chapter points to Christ
Luke 8:10 Isaiah 6:9-10
Jesus' explanation for speaking in parables -- so that seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand -- echoes Isaiah's commission about the hardness of Israel's heart.
Apply This Today
Living Luke 8
The four types of soil in the Parable of the Sower invite honest self-examination: what kind of hearer am I? The storm on the lake reminds us that Jesus' presence in our boat does not mean the absence of storms, but it does guarantee that we will not be overwhelmed. The woman with the bleeding condition teaches us that desperate, reaching faith -- even when it feels inadequate -- connects us to Jesus' power. And Jairus learns that even when the situation seems beyond hope, Jesus says, 'Don't be afraid. Only believe.'
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