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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 8:25 mean?

Explanation

Luke 8:25 is a verse from the Christian New Testament where Jesus Christ addresses his disciples after calming a storm on the Sea of Galilee.

The disciples were traveling with Jesus by boat when a fierce gale arose, threatening to sink the vessel.

In response to their panic, Jesus rebuked the wind and the raging waters, and they ceased, resulting in calm.

The verse captures his question to the disciples, "Where is your faith?" suggesting that they should have trusted in his divine power to protect them.

The disciples’ reaction, a mix of fear and awe, reflects their amazement at Jesus's command over natural forces, leading them to question what kind of man he was, recognizing something divine in Jesus, as even the elements obeyed him.

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Historical Context

This verse is part of the Gospel of Luke, written approximately between A.D. 60 and 80.

In the historical context of the Roman Empire, storms on the Sea of Galilee were common and could be very dangerous due to the sea's location below sea level and surrounded by hills, which created unique and sudden meteorological conditions.

Fishermen of that time, like some of the disciples, would have been familiar with this danger.

The portrayal of Jesus calming the storm would have been a powerful narrative to the early Christian community and others familiar with such perilous situations, as it underscored his divine authority.

Theological Insights

From a theological standpoint, this verse is significant for several reasons.

It illustrates Jesus's power over creation, affirming his divine nature for Christians.

The question posed by Jesus, "Where is your faith?" is seen as a challenge to his followers to trust in him completely, regardless of life's tempests.

The disciples' fear also symbolizes a common human reaction to the divine or inexplicable, while their wonder signifies the dawning recognition of Jesus's true identity.

Different faith traditions may emphasize various aspects of this incident.

For instance, some may focus on the miracle itself as an act of divine intervention, while others may emphasize the importance of faith in adversity.

Practical Applications

Practically speaking, this verse can encourage individuals to examine their faith, especially in times of trouble or uncertainty.

It reassures believers that they can turn to their faith in God for stability and protection.

It also serves as a reminder that fear and faith often go hand in hand, and that moments of doubt can lead to greater understanding and trust in the divine.

This can apply to personal crises as well as communal or societal challenges, encouraging the idea of seeking peace and calm through spiritual trust.

Cross-References

Mark 4:39-40: "And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still.

And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.

And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?"

Psalm 107:29: "He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still."
Matthew 8:26: "And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm."

Language Study

Key words in the original Greek text of this verse include:

"ποῦ" (pou): where, asking about the location or presence of something, here used to indicate the absence of faith.
"ἡ πίστις" (hē pistis): faith or belief, indicating trust in Jesus.
"φόβος" (phobos): fear, a common human emotion in response to danger.
"θαυμάζω" (thaumazō): to wonder or marvel, reflecting amazement or astonishment.
"ὑπακούω" (hypakouō): to obey or be subject to, in this context showing nature's response to Jesus's command.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

The motif of calming the storm is not unique to Christianity and can be found in various cultural mythologies, indicating a universal theme of divine beings having mastery over nature.

For instance, in Greek mythology, gods such as Poseidon had control over the sea.

In other religious traditions, such as Hinduism, gods like Indra have authority over the elements.

These stories often symbolize the divine control over chaos and the bringing of order, which can be seen in parallel with the Christian narrative of Jesus calming the storm.

Scientific Perspectives

From a scientific perspective, the calming of a storm by a single command is not explainable by natural laws as we understand them. Atmospheric and hydrodynamic processes influencing weather and wave patterns are complex and not subject to sudden shifts by verbal command.

Therefore, such an event would be considered a supernatural occurrence beyond the current scope of scientific explanation.

However, this does not undermine the spiritual or metaphorical importance such a miracle carries for believers.

Commentaries

Commentaries on this verse from various biblical scholars highlight several insights:

William Barclay notes the dual aspect of amazement and fear in the disciples' reaction, emphasizing that the presence of God can be both comforting and overwhelmingly awe-inspiring.
John Calvin comments on the suddenness of the change from danger to security, suggesting that the disciples failed to recognize the ever-present help of Christ until the moment of the miracle.
Matthew Henry reflects on the passage as an indication of Jesus's ability to deliver from the greatest dangers and the necessity of faith in his power to do so.

Scholars tend to agree that the event underlines the divine nature of Jesus, the importance of faith in his power, and his role as a source of peace and safety amidst life's storms.

Luke 8

Luke 8

What does Luke 8:25 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 8:25 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?