Bible Commentaries

Lu 8:1-3.

A GALILEAN CIRCUIT, WITH THE TWELVE AND CERTAIN MINISTERING WOMEN. (In Luke only).

1. went--travelled, made a progress.

throughout every city and village--through town and village.

preaching, &c.--the Prince of itinerant preachers scattering far and wide the seed of the Kingdom.

2. certain women . . . healed, &c.--on whom He had the double claim of having brought healing to their bodies and new life to their souls. Drawn to Him by an attraction more than magnetic, they accompany Him on this tour as His almoners--ministering unto Him of their substance. Blessed Saviour! It melts us to see Thee living upon the love of Thy ransomed people. That they bring Thee their poor offerings we wonder not. Thou hast sown unto them spiritual things, and they think it, as well they might, a small thing that Thou shouldst reap their material things

(1Co 9:11).

But dost Thou take it at their hand, and subsist upon it? "Oh, the depth of the riches"

(Ro 11:33)

--of this poverty of His!

Mary Magdalene--that is, probably, of Magdala (on which see

Mt 15:39;

see on

Mr 8:10).

went--rather, "had gone."

seven devils--

(Mr 16:9).

It is a great wrong to this honored woman to identify her with the once profligate woman of

Lu 7:37,

and to call all such penitents Magdalenes. The mistake has arisen from confounding unhappy demoniacal possession with the conscious entertainment of diabolic impurity, or supposing the one to have been afflicted as a punishment for the other--for which there is not the least scriptural ground.

3. Joanna, wife of Chuza, Herod's steward--If the steward of such a godless, cruel, and licentious wretch as Herod Antipas (see on

Mr 6:14,

&c.) differed greatly from himself, his post would be no easy or enviable one. That he was a disciple of Christ is very improbable, though he might be favorably disposed towards Him. But what we know not of him, and may fear he lacked, we are sure his wife possessed. Healed either of "evil spirits" or of some one of the "infirmities" here referred to--the ordinary diseases of humanity--she joins in the Saviour's train of grateful, clinging followers. Of "Susanna," next mentioned, we know nothing but the name, and that here only. But her services on this memorable occasion have immortalized her name. "Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached throughout the whole world, this also that she hath done," in ministering to the Lord of her substance on His Galilean tour, "shall be spoken of as a memorial of her"

(Mr 14:9).

many others--that is, many other healed women. What a train! and all ministering unto Him of their substance, and He allowing them to do it and subsisting upon it! "He who was the support of the spiritual life of His people disdained not to be supported by them in the body. He was not ashamed to penetrate so far into the depths of poverty as to live upon the alms of love. He only fed others miraculously; for Himself, He lived upon the love of His people. He gave all things to men, His brethren, and received all things from them, enjoying thereby the pure blessing of love: which is then only perfect when it is at the same time both giving and receiving. Who could invent such things as these? It was necessary to live in this manner that it might be so recorded" [OLSHAUSEN].

Lu 8:4-18.

PARABLE OF THE SOWER.

(See on

Mr 4:3-9,

Mr 4:14-20.)

16. No man, &c.--(see on

Mt 5:15,

of which this is nearly a repetition).

17. For nothing, &c.--(See on

Lu 12:2).

18. how ye--in

Mr 4:24,

"what ye hear." The one implies the other. The precept is very weighty.

seemeth to have--or, "thinketh that he hath" (Margin). The "having" of

Mt 13:12

(on which see), and this "thinking he hath," are not different. Hanging loosely on him, and not appropriated, it is and is not his.

Lu 8:19-21.

HIS MOTHER AND BRETHREN DESIRE TO SPEAK WITH HIM.

(See on

Mt 12:46-50).