Luke 8

Luke 8:1-3

Here is, 1. Christ’s preaching, and subsistence by the charitable contributions of good people, ver. 1—3. 2. The parable of the future, ver. 4—18. 3. The preference which Christ gave to his abiding disciples, before his warest relations according to the flesh, ver. 19—21. 4. His stilling a storm at sea with a word’s speaking, ver. 22—25. 5. His calling a legion of devils out of a man that was possessed by them, ver. 26—40. 6. His healing the woman that had the bloody issue, and raising fairest daughter to life, ver. 41—50.

1. 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. And certain women which had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary called Magdalene, out of whom went seven devils, 3. And Joanna the wife of Chuza, Herod’s steward, and Susanna, and many others, which manifested unto him of their substance.

With unwearied labours the divine Redeemer went about doing good.

1. He visited round all the cities and villages in Galilee, preached the glad tidings of the kingdom of God, and opened the natures, blethings, and privileges of that gospel-church which he came to erect. His twelve apostles attended him to be witnesses of his miracles, and to learn from his lips the destinies they were afterwards appointed to preach.

2. His support arose from the contributions of some pious women who followed him, who had experienced his healing grace both in their bodies and their souls. Among many others, there are particularly mentioned; Mary Magdalene, out of whom Jesus had cast seven devils; Joanna, the wife, perhaps some the widow, of Chuza, Herod’s steward, probably a person of considerable rank and fortune; and Susanna. These, with many others, furnished him with a subsistence; and he, in great humility, condescended to be thus supported, rather than by exerting his own miraculous power. Now, (1.) Christ lived upon done, to teach us never to delight the poor; not, if we are reduced, proudly to scorn being obliged to others for a maintenance. (2.) They who love the gospel, cannot but delight to contribute liberally for the support of it. (3.) If we have been truly healed by the grace of Jesus, we shall commence thenceforward his irreparable followers in all holy conversion and godliness.

3. And when much people were gathered together, and were come to him out of every city, he spake by a parable: 5. A Sower went out to sow his seed: and as he sowed, some fell by the way-fide, and it was troden down, and the fowls of the air devoured it. 6. And some fell upon a rock, and as soon as it was sprung up, it whitered away, because it lacked moisture. 7. And some fell among thorns, and the thorns sprung up with it, and cloaked it. 8. And other fell on good ground, and sprung up, and have fruit an hundred-fold. And when he had said these things, he cried, He that hath part to hear, let him hear. 9. And his disciples asked him, foring, What might this parable be? 10. And he said, ‘Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others in parables; that

feeling they might not die, and hearing they might not understand. 11. Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. 12. Those by the way-fide, 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. They on the rocks are they, which when they hear, remove the word with slyer; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away. 14. 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 brings no fruit to perfection. 15. But that on the good grounds are they which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit: with patience. 16. No man, which he hath lighted a candle, cometh it with a vessel, or puteth it under a bed: but seteth it on a candlestick, that they which enter in may see the light. 17. For nothing is secret, that shall not be made manifest: neither any thing hid, that shall not be known, and come abroad. 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 cometh to have. 19. Then came to him his mother and his brethren, and could not come at him for the press. 20. And it was said him by or near, which said, Thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to see thee. 21. And he answered and said unto them, My master and my-broaden are these which hear the word of God, and do it.

Luke 8:4-21

Great multitudes being collected together from all the neighbouring cities and villages, he took occasion to represent the nature of the gospel-disperdified by the parable of the Sower, which we had, Mat. 2:11. The explanation of which, he vouchsafes to give to his immediate disciples in private; it being their peculiar mercy, that what was left mysterious to others, should be explained to them. And a singular favour is this, if whilst others are left in darkness, we are brought unto the marvellous light of gospel-truth.

1. Concerning the parable, we may observe, (1.) How vigilant is our adversary the devil, in every place where the word of God is dispensed, to harden the heart against receiving it, lead us should believe and be saved; and this he doth, by distracting the attention, by suggesting some vain or worldly thoughts immediately after we have heard God’s word preached, by infilling prejudices against the Sower, or doubts about the scripture itself; and thus preventing the admittance of the truth in the minds of the hearers: the consequence of which is, that men neglect and dispute the great salvation of God. (2.) Among the auditorians who appear from time to time to be affected with the gospel, and make some profession, the greater number fall short of the kingdom; discouraged by the frowns, or induced by the limits of this present evil world, they grow cold and careless; the love of pleasure and ease, anxious cares, or inordinate love of riches, defting and shack the word; and they either openly apostarize, or in their hearts, at least, depart from the living God. Hence, out of many who are called, few are chosen. (3.) There is a remnant, according to the election of grace, to whom the seed of the gospel-word becomes the power of God unto salvation. They strongly hear, sedately weigh, and faithfully embrace the truth, as it is in Jesus: their hearts, by divine grace, are made honest and sincere; and patiently persevering in well-doing, they hold the beginning of their confidence desirably unto the end; not seduced by any enticements, nor deterred by any perfections, which for the word’s sake may arise. Thus their fruit abides and abounds, and they stand ready for the harvest of eternal glory.

2. By another parable of a lighted candle, Christ teaches his disciples, and others, what was expected from them, even to shine as lights in the world, holding forth the word of life. This being the great design of all the private instructions he gave them, that they should afterwards plainly and fully declare to the world, the great truths couched under these similitudes. As therefore they must give a solemn account for the particular advantages they enjoyed, they must take heed how they hear, when so much was hereby entrusted to them, and expected from them; which, if they improved, further affidences of spiritual light, and greater gifts should be given them: but if they neglected to profit by these means of wisdom and grace vouchsafed to them, the obedience would be, that the gifts and knowledge which they seemed to have, would delay, and be taken from them, and darkened and error-lacened.

3. Christ acknowledges those who truly hear the word of God, and do it, as his nearest and dearest relations. His mother and his brethren desired to see and speak with him; but unable to approach him, because of the crowd, some of those who

who lived around him, informed him of their request; but he was otherwise engaged in his Father’s work, and took occasion hence to encourage those who were his diligent attendants, affording them they shared his regards above the nearest relatives after the faith.

29. ¶ 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 rather side of the lake. And they launched forth. 23. But as they failed, 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. And they came to him, and awoke him, saying, Mafter, mafter, we perish. Then he arose, and I rebuked the wind, and the raging of the water: and they ceased, and there was a calm. 25. 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 commanded even the winds and water, and they obey him. 26. ¶ And they arrived at the country of the Gadarenes, which is over against Galilee. 27. And when he went forth to land, there met him out of the city a certain man which had devils long time, and were no clashes, neither abode in any house, but in the tombs. 28. 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 to torment me not. 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.) 30. And Jesus asked him, saying, What is thy name? And he said, Legion: because many devils were entred into him. 31. And they besought him that he would not command them to go out into the deep. 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. 33. Then went the devils out of the man, and entred into the swine; and the herd ran violently down a steep place into the lake, and were choked. 34. When they that fed them saw what was done, they fled, and went and told it in the city and in the country. 35. Then went they 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. They also which saw it, told them by what means he that was possessed of the devils was healed. 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. 38. 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. ¶ 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.

Luke 8:32-39

We had before an account of these two illustrious miracles, Mat. viii. We see.

1. Christ’s wonders in the deep. He, at whose word the stormy waves arise, can in a moment also restrain their rage, and silence their roaring. Christ sent his disciples by sea, on purpose to give them this fresh evidence of his omnipotence. They embarked at his word, and little expected danger; but oftentimes, when we are lulled into security, our peril is most imminent: they had him with them however, and therefore need not fear: but he was asleep; for so regardless he sometimes appears towards his people in their distress; and their danger triggered their faith, and filled their hearts with fears; as their boat was filled with water. The strongest believers are sometimes shaken; prayer was now their recourse; to Christ they fly, and awaken him with their cries. He slept with this design, to quicken their desires after him, to affect them with a deeper sense of their want of him, and testify towards them more abundantly his power and his love. When we feel ourselves undone and perishing, then is Christ truly precious to us; none ever perished who thus fled to him. He arose, and with a word filled the raging sea, and quieted their fears. He delights to

speak peace to the troubled conscience, and they who wait on him shall not be ashamed of their confidence. Their only shame will arise from their dishonorable distress of him; for these he justly reproves them, Where is your faith? Faith they had in habit, but not in exercise; their jeopardy for a moment suppressed its vigorous aching; their sudden deliverance amazed them; and filled with reverential fear at such a display of divine power, they could not but conclude he must be more than man, whom winds and waves obeyed.

2. Christ’s dominion over the powers of darkness; raging devils can no more resist his power, than raging winds; and this is an unspeakable comfort to all God’s people, that Satan is a vanquished foe, and cannot harm, even a heine, without permission. A legion here possessed one man; how numberless then these malignant spirits; how unequal a match must we be for them, if left to ourselves! No chains could hold this poor demoniac; in cold and nakedness, without clushes or covenants, he was driven to the tombs: so ungovernable are we when under the influence of Satanical tempers, a terror to others, a burden to ourselves. At the foot of Jesus he fell, whilst the foul spirit with a cried out in terror, dreaming to be dispossessed, and sent to the abyss, the place of torment. A Jewish fear of hell sometimes drawn once thus to their knees: they dread the punishment, but do not loath their sins; they cry for release from their pains, not for deliverance from their consignors. When the devil is compelled to quit his hold of the man, he said would be doing mischief, if but among the swine; and in correction to some, and as a warning to others, Christ permits this visitation on their property. But when they heard from the affrighted keepers the loss they had sustained, they defired him to depart out of their coats, dreaming the consequences of his stay; and he departed. The visitations which should humble, often serve but to harden the souls of sinners: instead of coming to Christ, they would get as far from him as possible. The poor man, however, who was now referred to his right mind, and sitting at Jesus’s feet, would fain have followed him; but he is sent back to proclaim the mercy he hath experienced. When by divine grace a right mind is restored to us, and the power of sin and Satan is broken, we are called upon to acknowledge the mercy to the praise of Jesus, and to tell what great things he hath done for our souls, inviting others to come and taste how gracious the Lord is.

3. And it came to pass, that when Jesus was returned, the people gladly received him: for they were all waiting for him. 41. ¶ And behold, there came a Man, a man named Jairus, and he was a ruler of the synagogue: 42. And he fell down at Jesus feet, and besought him that he would come into his house: 43. For he had one only daughter, about twelve years of age, and she lay a Man, a dying: But as he went, the people thronged him. 44. ¶ And a woman having an issue of blood twelve years, which had spent all her living upon physicians, 45. neither could be healed of any. 46. Came behind him, and touched the border of his garment: and immediately her issue of blood stanched. 47. And a Jesus said, Who touched me? When all denied, Peter, and 48. they that were with him, said, Mafter, the multitude throng thee, and press thee, and sayeth thou, Who touched me? 49. And Jesus said, Some body hath touched me: for I perceive that virtue is gone out of me. 50. 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. 51. And he said unto her, Daughter, be of good comfort: thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace. 52. ¶ 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 Mafter. 53. But when Jesus heard it, he answered him, saying, Fear not: believe only, and she shall be made whole. 54. 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. 55. And all wept, and bewailed her: but he said, Weep not; she is not dead, but a Seepeth. 56. And they laughed him to scorn, knowing that she was dead. 57. And he put them all out, and took her by the hand, and called, saying, Maid, arise. 58. And her spirit came again, and she arose straightway: and he commanded to give her meat. 59. And her parents were astonished: but he was charged them that they should tell no man what was done.

Luke 8:40-56

Though the Galaren was glad to get rid of Jesus, the men of Galilee with open arms received him, eagerly waiting for his return. If in one place the gospel be despised and expelled, another door of utterance shall be opened, and some will be glad to welcome the spoiled mischief of Christ.

No sooner was Jesus arrived, than we find an application made to him by a ruler, in behalf of his daughter at the point of death; and while he goes to perform one miracle, by the way he works another.

1. A poor diseased woman, who was ashamed to make a public application to him, persuaded that a touch of his garment would effect that which all her physicians had attempted in vain, came in secret among the crowd; and tending his garment, found, according to her faith, a perfect cure. But it was neither possible nor proper that it should be had: for the glory of Jesus, and the comfort of her own soul, she is called upon to make an acknowledgment of the men; 2. Persuaded, that he who felt virtue go out of him, and wrought the cure, could not be at a loss to find out the patient, no sooner did she hear his enquiries, than she felt trembling at his feet, acknowledged her boldness, and owned the blessing she had received. Far from being displeased, he who healed her body, now comforts her soul; and commending her faith, dismisses her in peace. Note, (1.) There is that fulness of grace in Christ, that whoever comes to him, shall be holiness. (2.) We cannot be hid from the eye of Jesus, and a gracious soul desires it not; he would tell him of all his wretchedness, and pour out his heart in simplicity before him. (3.) Christ delights to raise up the trembling sinner, and speaks comfort to his poor in spirit: such need not fear, the language of Jesus to them shall be the voice of peace and love.

2. The ruler’s daughter had now closed her eyes in death, and therefore his friends imagined it useless to trouble Jesus farther. In lesser trials many thus pretend to trust him, who, in greater, are ready to despair; but he, who by a word can heal the diseased, can by the same power raise the dead; he encourages, therefore, the ruler’s faith, not only which there is life there is hope, but even in death the case is not desperate; when he, who is the resurrection and the life, is the physician. With them of his disciples, and the parents of the child, he went into the room where the lay, fending forth those as unworthy to be spectators of his power, who, when he would dry up their tears with good words and comfortable, laughed at his saying that the only hope, because they knew the was dead; but knew not that to him it was as easy to call her from the arms of death, as to awaken her from sleep. The bed of death is the place of repose for those who fall asleep in Jesus; there they sweetly rest, till they are awakened in the resurrection more to rise in that eternal day, when sleep and death will be no more. At his word the damsis truly, his hand of grace, has word of power, communicated life, and brought back the spirit which had fled: in perfect health her afflicted parents behold her restored to their longing arms. He commanded them hereupon to give her some food, and charged them to conceal the miracle; he wanted not men to spread his fame, his works were sufficient heralds. By the eventual word of Jesus is the sinner, dead to redress, thus quickened to spiritual life; and when the union between the body and soul is dissolved, he takes care of both in their state of separation, and will bring the spirit again in the resurrection-day, and prepare for it a body glorified like his own.