Luke 8

Many Women Support Christ’s Work

8Soon afterward He was traveling from one town and village to another, ^ypreaching and telling the good news of the kingdom of God. ^zThe Twelve were with Him, ²and also some women who had been healed of evil spirits and sicknesses: ^aMary, called Magdalene (seven demons had come out ^bof her); ³Joanna the wife of Chuza, Herod’s steward; Susanna; and many others who were supporting them from their possessions.

The Parable of the Sower

⁴As a large crowd was gathering, and people were flocking to Him from every town, He said in a parable: ^c5“A sower went out to sow his seed. As he was sowing, some fell along the path; it was trampled on, and the birds of the sky ate it up. ⁶Other seed fell on the rock; when it sprang up, it withered, since it lacked moisture. ⁷Other seed fell among thorns; the thorns sprang up with it and choked it. ⁸Still other seed fell on good ground; when it sprang up, it produced a crop: 100 times what was sown.” ^dAs He said this, He called out, “Anyone who has ears to hear should listen!” ^e

Why Jesus Used Parables

⁹Then His disciples asked Him, “What does this parable mean?” ^f10So He said, “The ^•secrets of the kingdom of God have been given for you ^gto know, but to the rest it is in parables, so that

Looking they may not see,

and hearing they may not understand. ^hi

The Parable of the Sower Explained

¹¹“This is the meaning of the parable: ^jkThe seed is the word of God. ^l12The seed along the path are those who have heard and then the Devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. ¹³And the seed on the rock are those who, when they hear, welcome the word with joy. Having no root, these believe for a while and depart in a time of testing. ^m14As for the seed that fell among thorns, these are the ones who, when they have heard, go on their way and are choked with worries, riches, and pleasures of life, ⁿand produce no mature fruit. ¹⁵But the seed in the good ground—these are the ones who, ^ohaving heard the word with an honest and good heart, hold on to it and by enduring, ^pbear fruit.

Using Your Light

¹⁶“No one, after lighting a lamp, ^qcovers it with a basket or puts it under a bed, but puts it on a lampstand so that those who come in may see its light. ^r17For nothing is concealed that won’t be revealed, and nothing hidden that won’t be made known and come to light. ^s18Therefore take care how you listen. For whoever has, more will be given to him; ^tand whoever does not have, even what he thinks he has will be taken away from him.”

True Relationships

¹⁹Then His mother and brothers ^ucame to Him, ^vbut they could not meet with Him because of the crowd. ²⁰He was told, “Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside, wanting to see You.”

²¹But He replied to them, “My mother and My brothers are those who hear and do the word of God.” ^w

Wind and Wave Obey the Master

²²One day He and His disciples got into a boat, ^xand He told them, “Let’s cross over to the other side of the lake.” ^ySo they set out, ²³and as they were sailing He fell asleep. Then a fierce windstorm came down on the lake; they were being swamped and were in danger. ²⁴They came and woke Him up, saying, “Master, Master, we’re going to die!” Then He got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waves. So they ceased, and there was a calm. ^z25He said to them, “Where is your faith?”

They were fearful and amazed, asking one another, “Who can this be? ^abHe commands even the winds and the waves, and they obey Him!”

Demons Driven Out by the Master

²⁶Then they sailed to the region of the Gerasenes, ^cdwhich is opposite Galilee. ²⁷When He got out on land, a demon-possessed man from the town met Him. For a long time he had worn no clothes and did not stay in a house but in the tombs. ²⁸When he saw Jesus, he cried out, ^efell down before Him, and said in a loud voice, “What do You have to do with me, ^fgJesus, You Son of the Most High God? ^hI beg You, don’t torment me!” ²⁹For He had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. Many times it had seized him, and though he was guarded, bound by chains and shackles, he would snap the restraints and be driven by the demon into deserted places.

³⁰“What is your name?” Jesus asked him.

“Legion,” ⁱhe said—because many demons had entered him. ³¹And they begged Him not to banish them to the abyss. ^j

³²A large herd of pigs was there, feeding on the hillside. The demons begged Him to permit them to enter the pigs, and He gave them permission. ³³The demons came out of the man and entered the pigs, and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and drowned. ³⁴When the men who tended them saw what had happened, they ran off and reported it in the town and in the countryside. ³⁵Then people went out to see what had happened. They came to Jesus and found the man the demons had departed from, sitting at Jesus’ feet, ^kdressed and in his right mind. And they were afraid. ³⁶Meanwhile, the eyewitnesses reported to them how the demon-possessed man was delivered. ^l37Then all the people of the Gerasene region ^masked Him to leave them, ⁿbecause they were gripped by great fear. So getting into the boat, He returned.

³⁸The man from whom the demons had departed kept begging Him to be with Him. But He sent him away and said, ³⁹“Go back to your home, and tell all that God has done for you.” And off he went, proclaiming throughout the town all that Jesus had done for him.

A Girl Restored and a Woman Healed

⁴⁰When Jesus returned, the crowd welcomed Him, ^ofor they were all expecting Him. ^p41Just then, a man named Jairus came. He was a leader of the synagogue. ^qHe fell down at Jesus’ feet and pleaded with Him to come to his house, ⁴²because he had an only daughter ^rabout 12 years old, and she was at death’s door. ^s

While He was going, the crowds were nearly crushing Him. ^t43A woman suffering from bleeding ^ufor 12 years, ^vwho had spent all she had on doctors ^wyet could not be healed by any, ⁴⁴approached from behind and touched the tassel of His robe. ^xInstantly her bleeding stopped.

⁴⁵“Who touched Me?” Jesus asked.

When they all denied it, Peter ^ysaid, “Master, ^zthe crowds are hemming You in and pressing against You.” ^a

⁴⁶“Someone did touch Me,” said Jesus. “I know that power has gone out from Me.” ^b47When the woman saw that she was discovered, ^cshe came trembling and fell down before Him. In the presence of all the people, she declared the reason she had touched Him and how she was instantly cured. ⁴⁸“Daughter,” He said to her, “your faith has made you well. ^dGo in peace.” ^e

⁴⁹While He was still speaking, ^fsomeone came from the synagogue leader’s house, saying, “Your daughter is dead. Don’t bother ^gthe Teacher ^hanymore.”

⁵⁰When Jesus heard it, He answered him, “Don’t be afraid. Only believe, and she will be made well.” ⁵¹After He came to the house, He let no one enter with Him except Peter, John, James, ⁱand the child’s father and mother. ⁵²Everyone was crying ^jand mourning for her. ^kBut He said, “Stop crying, for she is not dead but asleep.” ^l

⁵³They started laughing at Him, because they knew she was dead. ⁵⁴So He ^mtook her by the hand ⁿand called out, “Child, get up!” ^o55Her spirit returned, ^pand she got up at once. Then He gave orders that she be given something to eat. ⁵⁶Her parents were astounded, but He instructed them to tell no one what had happened. ^q