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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 8:51 mean?

Explanation

Luke 8:51 describes a moment when Jesus enters the house of Jairus, a ruler of the synagogue, whose daughter Jesus has been asked to heal.

Upon arriving at Jairus's house and finding the crowd mourning, Jesus limits the number of people who can come inside with Him.

He allows only Peter, James, and John, the three disciples often identified as His closest companions, and the girl's parents to enter the room where the child lay.

The verse suggests that Jesus is creating a private, controlled environment for the miracle He is about to perform, the raising of Jairus's daughter from the dead. This selectivity emphasizes the intensity and sacredness of the moment.

Furthermore, it indicates a level of intimacy and trust between Jesus and these three disciples, as well as respect for the girl's parents in allowing them to witness their daughter's miraculous recovery.

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Historical Context

This verse is set in the context of First Century Judea, during the active ministry of Jesus. At this time, Jewish beliefs and practices were deeply intertwined with daily life, and the synagogue ruler would have held a position of significant social and religious influence.

Mourning practices in the culture of the time would have typically involved the community, with expressions of grief being public and communal.

Jesus's decision to limit the crowd is indicative of a departure from normal social conventions, focusing instead on the power of faith and the importance of privacy in certain divine acts.

Theological Insights

From a theological standpoint, Jesus choosing only a few to witness the miracle has been interpreted in various ways.

Some Christian theologians suggest it signifies the importance of faith over spectacle. Jesus was not performing miracles to impress the masses but to teach about faith and to fulfill His Messianic role according to divine will.

Others see in Jesus's selectivity an intention to build the faith of these key disciples and prepare them for their future roles in the early Church.

Peter, James, and John are often referred to as the "inner circle" and experience several exclusive events in Jesus's ministry, which could be seen as part of their training to become pillars of the faith.

Practical Applications

This verse can be applied in daily life through the concept of discernment.

Individuals are reminded that sacred moments or challenging tasks may require careful selection of companions and a focus on privacy.

In times of prayer, healing, or significant life events, creating a respectful and controlled environment like Jesus did may be beneficial.

Additionally, one can draw a parallel to the importance of having a close-knit community or 'inner circle' of friends or family that can support one in times of need.

Cross-References

Matthew 17:1-3 - "And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart,"
Mark 5:37 - "And he suffered no man to follow him, save Peter, and James, and John the brother of James."
Matthew 18:20 - "For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them."

Language Study

The key terms used in this passage in the original Greek are:

"suffered no man to go in" (ouk afien - οὐκ ἀφῖεν), which literally means did not allow or permit.
"save" (ei me - εἰ μή), which translates to 'except' or 'only.'
"the maiden" (paidios - παιδίος), which refers to a child or young girl.

The language highlights an exclusion or limitation, an emphasis on selectivity, and the innocent state of the young girl.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In many ancient and modern cultures, there is significance given to the death and resurrection stories.

Comparably, in Egyptian mythology, there is the story of Isis and Osiris, where Isis resurrects Osiris.

The exclusivity of the witnesses in the biblical account may contrast with broader participation seen in other cultural rituals.

Scientific Perspectives

Modern science typically does not confirm resurrections from the dead as described in the Bible.

However, psychological studies indicate the importance of a controlled environment for healing and recovery.

The settings that promote privacy and intimacy, as Jesus established by limiting the attendees, can favor emotional and psychological healing.

Commentaries

Biblical scholars and theologians offer varied interpretations of this verse.

Matthew Henry's commentary highlights the faith and power displayed by Jesus in the face of death.

The Pulpit Commentary notes the significance of Jesus requiring faith in the presence of only a few witnesses.

According to William Barclay, the limitation of witnesses underscores the personal and compassionate nature of Jesus's miracles, focusing on the individual rather than public display.

Luke 8

Luke 8

What does Luke 8:51 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 8:51 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?