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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 8:37 mean?

Explanation

Luke 8:37 recounts the aftermath of Jesus' miracles in the region of the Gadarenes, where he cast out a legion of demons from a man and allowed them to enter into a herd of pigs, which then rushed down a steep bank into a lake and drowned.

The verse speaks about the reaction of the local people to this event.

They were overwhelmed by fear and asked Jesus to leave their region.

This request could suggest a mix of emotions, including awe at the power displayed by Jesus, but also a fear of further disruption to their lives and community.

It also indicates a possible prioritization of their economic concerns (the loss of the pigs) over the spiritual deliverance of the demon-possessed man.

Jesus complies with their request and departs, re-entering the boat to leave the area.

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Historical Context

The country of the Gadarenes, also referred to as the Gerasenes or Gergesenes in different gospel accounts, was a predominantly Gentile region located on the eastern side of the Sea of Galilee.

As the population was largely non-Jewish, the presence of a large herd of pigs, which are considered unclean animals in Jewish law, is historically plausible.

This event takes place within the broader context of Jesus' ministry in Galilee, characterized by his teaching, healing, and performing miracles.

Theological Insights

From a theological perspective, Luke 8:37 reveals several insights:

Sovereignty of Jesus: Jesus demonstrates his authority over the spiritual realm by expelling the demons.
Human Response to Divine Presence: The reaction of the Gadarenes is indicative of a common human response to the divine, fear and avoidance rather than worship and acceptance.
Value of Material over Spiritual: Their request for Jesus to leave may reflect a preference for economic stability over spiritual intervention, emphasizing the materialistic concerns.
Divine Respect for Human Will: Jesus does not impose himself on the Gadarenes; instead, he respects their choice and departs, showing God's respect for human agency.

Practical Applications

In today's context, Luke 8:37 can inspire several practical applications:

It can encourage individuals to reflect on their response to God's interventions in life.

Rather than responding with fear or resistance to change, believers are called to embrace God's work in their lives.

The verse prompts a reevaluation of one's priorities, challenging people to value spiritual well-being over material gain.
It serves as a reminder of the importance of welcoming God’s presence and work in communities, even when it is disruptive or unsettling.

Cross-References

Mark 5:14-17 – A similar account of the demon-possessed man and the response of the people.
Matthew 8:33-34 – Matthew's version of the events in the Gadarenes.
John 6:15 – Another instance where people react to Jesus' miracles in a way that is at odds with his mission.
1 Samuel 16:14-23 – Old Testament account highlighting fear of evil spirits.

Language Study

In the original Greek text, the key phrases include:

"whole multitude" (πᾶν τὸ πλῆθος), suggesting the collective community.
"besought" (παρεκάλουν), which implies an earnest pleading.
"taken with great fear" (ἔλαβον φόβον μέγαν), indicating a profound and overwhelming fear.
"to depart" (ἀπελθεῖν), which not only means to leave physically but also to remove one's presence.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Comparing this event with other ancient myths and religious interpretations, the presence of divine beings in human affairs often elicits fear or reverence.

For example, in Greco-Roman myths, gods would interact with humans, sometimes resulting in awe or terror.

The departure of a deity or divine figure in response to human request is less common, positing a unique aspect of the Christian narrative where the divine respects human will.

Scientific Perspectives

Science does not typically intersect directly with accounts of the supernatural found in religious texts.

However, in a broader sense, the human response to fear and its neurological and psychological components can be studied. The Gadarenes’ fear response can be examined through modern understanding of how humans react to events that challenge their worldview or threaten their socioeconomic status.

Commentaries

Commentators provide various insights on this verse:

Some suggest that the Gadarenes' request for Jesus to depart highlights their hard-heartedness and preference for material prosperity over spiritual freedom.
Others focus on the power of Jesus to command even the demonic forces, thus asserting his deity and the breadth of his authority.
Another perspective considers the human tendency to resist change and cling to the familiar, as seen in the Gadarenes’ fear of the unknown and the subsequent plea for Jesus to leave their territory.

Luke 8

Luke 8

What does Luke 8:37 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 8:37 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?