PrevLuke 8:4Next

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 8:4 mean?

Explanation

Luke 8:4 presents a snapshot of a moment in Jesus' ministry when He was drawing vast crowds. It specifically notes that these crowds were not just locally sourced but were comprised of people coming from various cities, indicating Jesus' broad appeal and growing influence.

The verse sets the stage for the parable of the sower, one of Jesus' most famous parables.

Here, Jesus chooses to teach the crowd through a parable, which is a simple story used to illustrate a moral or spiritual lesson.

Parables were a common method Jesus utilized to convey complex truths in a form that was relatable to the everyday experiences of His audience.

Top Rated Luke Books

Historical Context

During the time of Jesus, it was common for traveling teachers and philosophers to gather crowds and share their teachings. This was an era without mass media, so personal presence and word of mouth were critical for spreading a message.

It was also typical for Jewish rabbis to use parables; these stories from daily agricultural or domestic life encoded deeper meanings about God's kingdom and moral conduct.

By the time of Luke's writing, there was a need to convey the teachings of Jesus to a broader audience, possibly including Gentile converts to the faith.

Theological Insights

From a theological perspective, Luke 8:4 sets the stage for the parable of the sower, which has significant implications for understanding how different people receive the Word of God.

Some biblical scholars interpret the gathering crowd as symbolic of Israel and even the world, with individuals responding differently to Jesus' teachings.

The use of parables is also theologically significant; they both reveal and conceal truth, necessitating a willing and open heart for proper understanding.

Practical Applications

This verse can inspire contemporary readers to consider how open they are to spiritual teachings and to seek deeper insights into familiar stories or concepts.

It also encourages communicators of the Gospel to adapt their methods to their audience, just as Jesus did using parables.

The imagery of people coming from different cities underlines the importance of community and gathering with others to learn and grow.

Cross-References

Matthew 13:34 – "All these things spake Jesus unto the multitude in parables; and without a parable spake he not unto them:"
Mark 4:1-2 – "And he began again to teach by the sea side: and there was gathered unto him a great multitude, so that he entered into a ship, and sat in the sea; and the whole multitude was by the sea on the land.

And he taught them many things by parables, and said unto them in his doctrine,"

Matthew 13:3 – "And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow;"

Language Study

The phrase "much people were gathered together" translates from the Greek "συνηχθησαν πολυς ο οχλος" (synēchthēsan polys ho ochlos), which emphasizes the scale of the crowd.

The term "πολυς" (polys) means "much" or "many," and "οχλος" (ochlos) refers to a gathered multitude or crowd. Luke's use of "out of every city" illustrates the diverse nature of the crowd and the extent of Jesus' influence, likely implying not just a local movement but a broader, regional one.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Comparable figures in other ancient cultures, like the Greek philosophers, would also draw crowds as they taught through parables or stories. Such teaching methods were not unique to Jesus or Judaism.

However, within the Jewish tradition, parables were specifically tailored to impart wisdom about God and human behavior and were deeply rooted in the context of Jewish life and scriptures.

Scientific Perspectives

From a sociological or anthropological point of view, large gatherings for the sake of hearing teachings reflect the human need for social interaction, learning, and the search for meaning.

Studies in crowd psychology might look at such events in terms of how leaders like Jesus influenced and managed large groups of people, and how these gatherings could facilitate the spread of ideas and cultural movements.

Commentaries

Most biblical commentaries would agree on the significance of the setting before the parable of the sower in revealing Jesus' teaching methods and popularity.

Matthew Henry's Commentary, for example, might underline the readiness of the people to hear God's word and the duty of ministers to provide instruction accordingly.

Others, like the MacArthur Study Bible notes, focus on the various responses to Jesus' parables which are outlined in the subsequent passages.

Commentators like William Barclay might also delve into the uniqueness of Jesus' parables as teaching tools that stimulate the imagination and challenge the conscience.

Luke 8

Luke 8

What does Luke 8:4 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 8:4 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?