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Luke 8 – Let Your Light Shine
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This passage is as follows:
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Soon afterward he went on through cities and villages, proclaiming and bringing the good news of the kingdom of God. And the twelve were with him, and also some women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, and Joanna, the wife of Chuza, Herod's household manager, and Susanna, and many others, who provided for them out of their means.
And when a great crowd was gathering and people from town after town came to him, he said in a parable, “A sower went out to sow his seed. And as he sowed, some fell along the path and was trampled underfoot, and the birds of the air devoured it. And some fell on the rock, and as it grew up, it withered away, because it had no moisture. And some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up with it and choked it. And some fell into good soil and grew and yielded a hundredfold.” As he said these things, he called out, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”
And when his disciples asked him what this parable meant, he said, “To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of God, but for others they are in parables, so that ‘seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand.’ Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. The ones along the path are those who have heard; then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. And the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear the word, receive it with joy. But these have no root; they believe for a while, and in time of testing fall away. And as for what fell among the thorns, they are those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature. As for that in the good soil, they are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with patience.
“No one after lighting a lamp covers it with a jar or puts it under a bed, but puts it on a stand, so that those who enter may see the light. For nothing is hidden that will not be made manifest, nor is anything secret that will not be known and come to light. Take care then how you hear, for to the one who has, more will be given, and from the one who has not, even what he thinks that he has will be taken away.”
Then his mother and his brothers came to him, but they could not reach him because of the crowd. And he was told, “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, desiring to see you.” But he answered them, “My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and do it.”
One day he got into a boat with his disciples, and he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side of the lake.” So they set out, and as they sailed he fell asleep. And a windstorm came down on the lake, and they were filling with water and were in danger. And they went and woke him, saying, “Master, Master, we are perishing!” And he awoke and rebuked the wind and the raging waves, and they ceased, and there was a calm. He said to them, “Where is your faith?” And they were afraid, and they marveled, saying to one another, “Who then is this, that he commands even winds and water, and they obey him?”
Then they sailed to the country of the Gerasenes, which is opposite Galilee. When Jesus had stepped out on land, there met him a man from the city who had demons. For a long time he had worn no clothes, and he had not lived in a house but among the tombs. When he saw Jesus, he cried out and fell down before him and said with a loud voice, “What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you, do not torment me.” For he had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. (For many a time it had seized him. He was kept under guard and bound with chains and shackles, but he would break the bonds and be driven by the demon into the desert.) Jesus then asked him, “What is your name?” And he said, “Legion,” for many demons had entered him. And they begged him not to command them to depart into the abyss. Now a large herd of pigs was feeding there on the hillside, and they begged him to let them enter these. So he gave them permission. Then the demons came out of the man and entered the pigs, and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and drowned.
When the herdsmen saw what had happened, they fled and told it in the city and in the country. Then people went out to see what had happened, and they came to Jesus and found the man from whom the demons had gone, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind, and they were afraid. And those who had seen it told them how the demon-possessed man had been healed. Then all the people of the surrounding country of the Gerasenes asked him to depart from them, for they were seized with great fear. So he got into the boat and returned. The man from whom the demons had gone begged that he might be with him, but Jesus sent him away, saying, “Return to your home, and declare how much God has done for you.” And he went away, proclaiming throughout the whole city how much Jesus had done for him.
Now when Jesus returned, the crowd welcomed him, for they were all waiting for him. And there came a man named Jairus, who was a ruler of the synagogue. And falling at Jesus' feet, he implored him to come to his house, for he had an only daughter, about twelve years of age, and she was dying.
As Jesus went, the people pressed around him. And there was a woman who had had a discharge of blood for twelve years, and though she had spent all her living on physicians, she could not be healed by anyone. She came up behind him and touched the fringe of his garment, and immediately her discharge of blood ceased. And Jesus said, “Who was it that touched me?” When all denied it, Peter said, “Master, the crowds surround you and are pressing in on you!” But Jesus said, “Someone touched me, for I perceive that power has gone out from me.” And when the woman saw that she was not hidden, she came trembling, and falling down before him declared in the presence of all the people why she had touched him, and how she had been immediately healed. And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace.”
While he was still speaking, someone from the ruler's house came and said, “Your daughter is dead; do not trouble the Teacher any more.” But Jesus on hearing this answered him, “Do not fear; only believe, and she will be well.” And when he came to the house, he allowed no one to enter with him, except Peter and John and James, and the father and mother of the child. And all were weeping and mourning for her, but he said, “Do not weep, for she is not dead but sleeping.” And they laughed at him, knowing that she was dead. But taking her by the hand he called, saying, “Child, arise.” And her spirit returned, and she got up at once. And he directed that something should be given her to eat. And her parents were amazed, but he charged them to tell no one what had happened.
(End of passage)
In chapter 6, Luke told us about the teachings of Jesus. In chapter 7, Luke told us about who Jesus is using stories about things that Jesus did. Now in chapter 8, Luke is going to tell us more about the teachings and person of Jesus. Chapter 7 left off with the story about the woman that washed the feet of Jesus with her tears and anointed his feet with an expensive perfume. Jesus tells this woman, “Your sins are forgiven.” Then the people at the dinner exclaim, “Who is this that can forgive sins?” What kind of people accompanied Jesus? How did he manage to support his disciples as he went about preaching the gospel? Let’s find out.
Verses 1-3,
Soon afterward he went on through cities and villages, proclaiming and bringing the good news of the kingdom of God. And the twelve were with him, and also some women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, and Joanna, the wife of Chuza, Herod's household manager, and Susanna, and many others, who provided for them out of their means.
So, the twelve apostles were with Jesus as they were going from town to town spreading the gospel. Also, some women that had been healed were with him. Mary Magdalene, who was healed of seven demons was with him. The wife of Herod’s household manager was with them. No wonder that Herod knew about the things that Jesus did. There were many others. Now notice this: they provided for them out of their own means. The Greek word for “means” here is “hyparchontOn,” which means possessions. So, for whatever possessions they had, they were apparently selling and supporting Jesus and his disciples. Let’s see what he said to the crowds that came to see him.
Verses 4-8,
And when a great crowd was gathering and people from town after town came to him, he said in a parable, “A sower went out to sow his seed. And as he sowed, some fell along the path and was trampled underfoot, and the birds of the air devoured it. And some fell on the rock, and as it grew up, it withered away, because it had no moisture. And some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up with it and choked it. And some fell into good soil and grew and yielded a hundredfold.” As he said these things, he called out, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”
Do you think everyone in the crowd understood what this parable meant? I suspect that some people understood it. Jesus said, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.” This meant that Jesus was calling for people to understand what he was saying. The person hearing should identify with the growing seed and ask himself, “Will I be like the seed on the roadside, the seed on the rock, the seed in the thorns, or the seed on the good soil?” Yet even some of his disciples did not know what this parable meant. Jesus explains it in more detail.
Verses 9-15,
And when his disciples asked him what this parable meant, he said, “To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of God, but for others they are in parables, so that ‘seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand.’ Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. The ones along the path are those who have heard; then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. And the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear the word, receive it with joy. But these have no root; they believe for a while, and in time of testing fall away. And as for what fell among the thorns, they are those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature. As for that in the good soil, they are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with patience.
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Now, when it says “his disciples” here does that mean the 12 apostles? It could mean the crowd of disciples that followed him. Do you think that Luke might have been one of the disciples asking this? Luke is certainly explaining it here, isn’t he? The first thing that Jesus does before he explains this parable is to explain why he says things in parables. Why does Jesus say things in parables? Jesus says, “To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of God.” To “you” means who? Does this mean just the 12 apostles or all of his disciples? In this context, the ones to know the secrets of the kingdom of God are all the disciples of Jesus. This includes Luke, who is a gentile, but it following Jesus. Remember, back in Luke 1:3, Luke claims to have “followed all things closely.” Thus Luke was a follower of Jesus, a disciple. By mentioning this claim and including the crowd of disciples in these discussions, Luke is showing that this belief in Jesus is for the Gentiles as well. But there are others that are not his disciples. What does Jesus say about them? Jesus says, ‘seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand.’ Doesn’t that seem a bit cruel? Not allowing others to understand? If they really wanted to understand, they would be following Jesus as a disciple, and not just coming for the healings or novelty.
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Now, let’s understand the parable. What is the seed? The seed is not just the gospel. The seed is the word of God! In the parable, 4 different things happen to the seed. The first thing that happens is that some falls along the road, gets trampled or eaten by birds. Jesus says that the devil comes and takes the word away from their hearts. What in real life is like this? Isn’t this like false prophets? They come along and replace the word of God with something else. The second thing that happens to the seed is that it falls on rock, and is well received at first, but because it has no water, it withers away. Jesus says that these are like the people that fall away in times of testing. What in real life is like this? Someone is ridiculed for their faith, so they stop believing. The third thing that happens is that the seed falls in the thorns and the thorns grow and choke it. Jesus said that this is like those who let the cares, riches and pleasures in life control them, so they do not mature. The forth thing that happens to the seed is that it falls on good soil and it produces a hundred times the 1 seed. Jesus said, “They are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with patience.” The Greek word for “hold it fast” here is “katechousin,” which means “keep it.” What is a real life example of this? This is the Christian that keeps the faith his whole life, keeps the commands of Jesus, and bears fruit not only from his words, but with his actions and his patience.
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Thus we have the formula for the successful Christian through this one parable. If you have some successful Christians gathering in one place, what do you have? A successful church. See the chart below to see this represented in one place.
Now, whose responsibility is it to make sure the Christian receives all the right things to nourish his Christian life? It is both the responsibility of the individual Christian and the body of believers.
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Jesus then goes right into another parable. Verses 16-18,
“No one after lighting a lamp covers it with a jar or puts it under a bed, but puts it on a stand, so that those who enter may see the light. For nothing is hidden that will not be made manifest, nor is anything secret that will not be known and come to light. Take care then how you hear, for to the one who has, more will be given, and from the one who has not, even what he thinks that he has will be taken away.”
What is the meaning of this parable, and how does it go along with the parable Jesus just got done explaining? If you receive the word of God, you receive the light. Why hide it? Let it be manifest for others to see.
What does Jesus mean by saying, “Take care how you hear?” He means don’t hear and not listen, don’t hear and reject the light.
Notice that Jesus is showing that the ultimate responsibility is with the individual that hears the word of God.
There is one more object lesson that Jesus gives on this day. Verses 19-21,
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Then his mother and his brothers came to him, but they could not reach him because of the crowd. And he was told, “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, desiring to see you.” But he answered them, “My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and do it.”
Here Jesus is being told that his mother and brothers are standing outside waiting to see him, and instead of running out there to see them, what does he do? He uses this situation for an object lesson. What is the object lesson? More important than his own mother and brothers are those that hear the word of God and do it. Those people are like the close relatives of Jesus. That is what he truly desires – for people to hear the word of God, and not just hear it, but do it.
So far in Luke 8, Luke shows us what Jesus is teaching. Next, Luke gives us some events that tell us more about who Jesus is. The first one is in verses 22-25,
One day he got into a boat with his disciples, and he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side of the lake.” So they set out, and as they sailed he fell asleep. And a windstorm came down on the lake, and they were filling with water and were in danger. And they went and woke him, saying, “Master, Master, we are perishing!” And he awoke and rebuked the wind and the raging waves, and they ceased, and there was a calm. He said to them, “Where is your faith?” And they were afraid, and they marveled, saying to one another, “Who then is this, that he commands even winds and water, and they obey him?”
What does this even tell us about Jesus? Even the wind and the water obey him. What can we conclude about Jesus from this fact?
That he is God.
Let’s take a look at the next event that Luke records.
Verses 26-39,
Then they sailed to the country of the Gerasenes, which is opposite Galilee. When Jesus had stepped out on land, there met him a man from the city who had demons. For a long time he had worn no clothes, and he had not lived in a house but among the tombs. When he saw Jesus, he cried out and fell down before him and said with a loud voice, “What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you, do not torment me.” For he had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. (For many a time it had seized him. He was kept under guard and bound with chains and shackles, but he would break the bonds and be driven by the demon into the desert.) Jesus then asked him, “What is your name?” And he said, “Legion,” for many demons had entered him. And they begged him not to command them to depart into the abyss. Now a large herd of pigs was feeding there on the hillside, and they begged him to let them enter these. So he gave them permission. Then the demons came out of the man and entered the pigs, and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and drowned.
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When the herdsmen saw what had happened, they fled and told it in the city and in the country. Then people went out to see what had happened, and they came to Jesus and found the man from whom the demons had gone, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind, and they were afraid. And those who had seen it told them how the demon-possessed man had been healed. Then all the people of the surrounding country of the Gerasenes asked him to depart from them, for they were seized with great fear. So he got into the boat and returned. The man from whom the demons had gone begged that he might be with him, but Jesus sent him away, saying, “Return to your home, and declare how much God has done for you.” And he went away, proclaiming throughout the whole city how much Jesus had done for him.
Sometimes people use this passage to criticize Jesus because he sent the demons into the heard of pigs, who consequently ran into the lake and drowned. Shouldn’t Jesus have known that this would lead to the loss of these people’s livestock? Isn’t it cruel for Jesus to have wiped out these people’s livestock and livelihood? Actually, we have to give Jesus the benefit of the doubt. It is likely that the pigs were diseased and this action also benefited all the people in the region. Pigs are more susceptible to diseases, worms, and bacteria. The USDA requires that those that raise pigs give them regular antibiotics and other medications in their feed to eliminate these problems.
What does the healing of this man possessed by a Legion of demons tell us about Jesus? It tells us that Jesus has power over countless forces of evil. Who can do that? God can. What does the man call Jesus? Son of the Most High God. What is the significance of being the Most High God? There can only be one who has always existed and is creator but uncreated. What is the significance of Jesus being Son of the Most High God? Wouldn’t he have all the attributes of God?
What did the man that was healed from the demons do? He proclaimed throughout the whole city what Jesus had done for him. Did the man that was healed of the demons hide his light under a jar? Nope.
Now there is one more event in this chapter, but it is really 2 events in one.
Verses 40-56,
Now when Jesus returned, the crowd welcomed him, for they were all waiting for him. And there came a man named Jairus, who was a ruler of the synagogue. And falling at Jesus' feet, he implored him to come to his house, for he had an only daughter, about twelve years of age, and she was dying.
As Jesus went, the people pressed around him. And there was a woman who had had a discharge of blood for twelve years, and though she had spent all her living on physicians, she could not be healed by anyone. She came up behind him and touched the fringe of his garment, and immediately her discharge of blood ceased. And Jesus said, “Who was it that touched me?” When all denied it, Peter said, “Master, the crowds surround you and are pressing in on you!” But Jesus said, “Someone touched me, for I perceive that power has gone out from me.” And when the woman saw that she was not hidden, she came trembling, and falling down before him declared in the presence of all the people why she had touched him, and how she had been immediately healed. And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace.”
While he was still speaking, someone from the ruler's house came and said, “Your daughter is dead; do not trouble the Teacher any more.” But Jesus on hearing this answered him, “Do not fear; only believe, and she will be well.” And when he came to the house, he allowed no one to enter with him, except Peter and John and James, and the father and mother of the child. And all were weeping and mourning for her, but he said, “Do not weep, for she is not dead but sleeping.” And they laughed at him, knowing that she was dead. But taking her by the hand he called, saying, “Child, arise.” And her spirit returned, and she got up at once. And he directed that something should be given her to eat. And her parents were amazed, but he charged them to tell no one what had happened.
Now the Jews would wear these fringes on the corner of their garment. Here is an example of how they wear these fringes:
The fringes are these little tassels that hang down from their clothes. So this woman touches one of his tassels, power goes out from Jesus and heals her instantly! So Jesus passively healed this woman. What are the implications of that?
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In the Mosaic Law, God instructed His people regarding the corners, or fringes, of their garments. Jews were to “make tassels on the corners of their garments throughout their generations, and to put a cord of blue on the tassel of each corner” as a reminder that they were God’s people called to keep His commandments (Numbers 15:37-41). It seems like a strange instruction until we learn that in the Ancient Near East, the corner of a person’s garment represented his identity; it was a symbol of who he was and what he stood for. That’s why Ruth, when she was seeking marriage to Boaz, asked him to spread the corner of his garment over her (Ruth 3:9). It was a request for him to identify with her. (The same Hebrew word means “wing” or “corner of a garment.” Thus, many translations render Ruth’s request as, “Spread your wings over your servant.” The double meaning here seems intentional.)
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When God spoke of making a covenant with Israel, He pictured Himself as spreading the corner of His garment over her (Ezekiel 16:8)—a symbol of identifying with her as His bride. When David cut off a corner of King Saul’s robe, “afterward David’s heart struck him” (1 Samuel 24:5). These pangs of conscience seem strange unless we realize that he had defaced an important symbol of Saul’s identity and divinely authorized kingship.
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So important were the corners of a Jewish man’s garment in ancient Israel that the Old Testament closes with a prophecy of the Messiah that references the corners of His garment: “But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings” (Malachi 4:2 KJV. Again, the same word means both “wings” and “corners of a garment”). At the heart of the Messiah’s identity would be healing—spiritual and eventually physical—for all who trusted Him.
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The Jews in Jesus’ day were familiar with this Old Testament background. Indeed, the Pharisees wore elaborate tassels on the corners of their garments so that people would regard them as closely identified with God (Matthew 23:5). As a devout Jew, Jesus may well have worn tassels, though His would not have been elaborate showpieces like those of the Pharisees. When people reached for the corners of Jesus’ garment, it was in many cases more than a grab for the most accessible part of His person. It was a sign that they wanted to identify with Him.
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There was nothing magical about the cloth that brought healing. It came by faith as people publicly aligned themselves with Jesus. As He told the woman with a discharge of blood, “Your faith has made you well” (Matthew 9:22). Perhaps Malachi 4:2 was even in her mind as she reached out and thought, “This is finally the one with healing in His wings (https://biblemesh.com/blog/why-were-people-healed-from-touching-jesus-clothes/).” So, people were healed in this way because it was a fulfillment of prophecy. God had already decreed it would be done, people only needed to have faith that God was keeping his promises.
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After healing the woman that touched his fringe, Jesus goes on to heal Jairus’ daughter. Only Jairus’ servants come and tell him that his daughter is now dead. Jesus tells them not to worry, she will be well. People laugh at Jesus because they knew that she was dead. Jesus goes there and says, “Child arise.” Then she gets right up. What does this tell us about Jesus? He has power over death. How can he have power over death? He is God.
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Now, Jesus tells them not to tell about this to anyone. Is Jesus telling them to hide their light under a jar? No. Jesus is simply telling them not to tell about this one event. He made this request to others because it was more important for him to tell people about the way of salvation that can give eternal life. In Mark 1:45, it notes that a leper talked freely about his healing and it resulted in Jesus no longer being able to openly enter a town because of the crowds.
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So, are you going to let your light shine, or are you going to put it under a jar?
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How are you going to let your light shine this week?
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Song: This Little Light of Mine by Cedarmont Kids.