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Luke 8

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,

And certain women, which had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary called Magdalene, out of whom went seven devils,

And Joanna the wife of Chuza Herod's steward, and Susanna, and many others, which ministered unto him of their substance.

And when much people were gathered together, and were come to him out of every city, he spake by a parable:

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.

And some fell upon a rock; and as soon as it was sprung up, it withered away, because it lacked moisture.

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

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.

And his disciples asked him, saying, What might this parable be?

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

For nothing is secret, that shall not be made manifest; neither any thing hid, that shall not be known and come abroad.

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.

Then came to him his mother and his brethren, and could not come at him for the press.

And it was told him by certain which said, Thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to see thee.

And he answered and said unto them, My mother and my brethren are these which hear the word of God, and do it.

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.

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.

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.

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.

And they arrived at the country of the Gadarenes, which is over against Galilee.

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.

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.

(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.)

And Jesus asked him, saying, What is thy name? And he said, Legion: because many devils were entered into him.

And they besought him that he would not command them to go out into the deep.

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.

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.

When they that fed them saw what was done, they fled, and went and told it in the city and in the country.

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.

They also which saw it told them by what means he that was possessed of the devils was healed.

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.

Now the man out of whom the devils were departed besought him that he might be with him: but Jesus sent him away, saying,

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.

And it came to pass, that, when Jesus was returned, the people gladly received him: for they were all waiting for him.

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:

For he had one only daughter, about twelve years of age, and she lay a dying. But as he went the people thronged him.

And a woman having an issue of blood twelve years, which had spent all her living upon physicians, neither could be healed of any,

Came behind him, and touched the border of his garment: and immediately her issue of blood stanched.

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?

And Jesus said, Somebody hath touched me: for I perceive that virtue is gone out of me.

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.

And he said unto her, Daughter, be of good comfort: thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace.

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.

But when Jesus heard it, he answered him, saying, Fear not: believe only, and she shall be made whole.

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.

And all wept, and bewailed her: but he said, Weep not; she is not dead, but sleepeth.

And they laughed him to scorn, knowing that she was dead.

And he put them all out, and took her by the hand, and called, saying, Maid, arise.

And her spirit came again, and she arose straightway: and he commanded to give her meat.

And her parents were astonished: but he charged them that they should tell no man what was done.

What does Luke 8:21 mean?

Explanation

Luke 8:21 is a verse where Jesus redefines the concept of family not in terms of blood relations, but in terms of spiritual kinship.

This statement is made in response to being told that His mother and brothers were seeking Him.

Jesus extends His definition of family to include all those who "hear the word of God, and do it." The literal meaning here is clear: Jesus acknowledges those who listen to God's teachings and act upon them as being His true family.

The deeper meaning implies that spiritual bonds can be as strong or stronger than biological ones.

It underscores the idea that obedience to God's will is paramount and central in the identity of the followers of Christ.

Top Rated Luke Books

Historical Context

This verse is part of the Gospel of Luke, which was written approximately around AD 80-110.

Luke was a companion of the Apostle Paul and wrote his Gospel for a primarily Gentile audience.

The statement from Jesus is situated in a period where He was teaching to a multitude of people.

In Jewish society, family ties were very important and had major social and religious implications.

Jesus' redefinition of family would have been radical and countercultural, challenging the norms of his society.

Theological Insights

Theologically, this verse touches upon several concepts:

The Family of God: Many theologians interpret this to mean that being part of the family of God involves active discipleship and living out one's faith.
Inclusivity: The verse is seen as an inclusive statement, as it moves away from ethnicity or lineage and instead focuses on faith and practice.
The Kingdom of God: It reflects the idea that the Kingdom of God is made up of those who are obedient to God's will, rather than any earthly institution or family.

Different denominations may emphasize this verse in varying ways, with some highlighting the importance of faith over works, while others stress the need for both hearing and doing God's word.

Practical Applications

In practical terms, Luke 8:21 suggests that believers should prioritize their spiritual commitments over their familial ones when there is a conflict.

It encourages Christians to consider their relationships with other believers as familial and to foster community and support within the church.

It also serves as a reminder that following Christ might sometimes mean facing opposition or misunderstanding from one's own family.

Cross-References

Matthew 12:48-50: "But he answered and said unto him that told him, Who is my mother? and who are my brethren?"
John 14:23: "Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him..."

Language Study

In the original Greek text, the word for "hear" is "ἀκούω" (akouo), which implies not just auditory reception but also understanding and heed.

The word for "do" is "ποιέω" (poieo), which involves making, creating, or acting upon. The translation thus captures the sense of active engagement with the word of God.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In the cultural context of ancient Judaism, family lineage and purity laws held significant meaning.

By contrast, many ancient myths and religions outside of Judaism often had a pantheon of gods with less emphasis on human kinship structures.

Jesus’ teaching would thus contrast with many contemporary religious perspectives by asserting a spiritual family based on faith and practice, a concept that would have been revolutionary at the time.

Scientific Perspectives

From a scientific perspective, the understanding of family has traditionally been based on genetic relationships.

While Jesus' statement doesn't contradict the biological basis for family, it does highlight a human capacity for forming social bonds and communities based on shared beliefs and practices, which is supported by research in sociology and psychology.

Commentaries

Commentators have widely reflected on this passage, with many agreeing on its radical nature.

William Barclay notes the subversive nature of Jesus’ redefinition of family, while the Pulpit Commentary emphasizes the intimacy of the relationship between Jesus and His followers.

John Gill comments on the necessity of both hearing and doing the word, comparing it to building a house on a rock.

Matthew Henry expands on the notion of spiritual kinship, indicating that doing the will of God is the truest sign of kinship with Christ.

Luke 8

Luke 8

What does Luke 8:21 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Luke Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?

What does Luke 8:21 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Luke Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?