Luke 8:8-28
8 "Other seed fell into the good soil , and grew up, and produced a crop a hundred times as great ." As He said these things , He would call out, " He who has ears to hear , let him hear ." 9 His disciples began questioning Him as to what this parable meant . 10 And He said , " To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God , but to the rest it is in parables , so that SEEING THEY MAY NOT SEE , AND HEARING THEY MAY NOT UNDERSTAND . 11 "Now the parable is this : the seed is the word of God . 12 "Those beside the road are those who have heard ; then the devil comes and takes away the word from their heart , so that they will not believe and be saved . 13 "Those on the rocky soil are those who , when they hear , receive the word with joy ; and these have no firm root ; they believe for a while , and in time of temptation fall away . 14 "The seed which fell among the thorns , these are the ones who have heard , and as they go on their way they are choked with worries and riches and pleasures of this life , and bring no fruit to maturity . 15 "But the seed in the good soil , these are the ones who have heard the word in an honest and good heart , and hold it fast , and bear fruit with perseverance .
A Light under a Vessel
16 "Now no one after lighting a lamp covers it over with a container , or puts it under a bed ; but he puts it on a lampstand , so that those who come in may see the light . 17 " For nothing is hidden that will not become evident , nor anything secret that will not be known and come to light . 18 "So take care how you listen ; for whoever e has , to him more shall be given ; and whoever e does not have , even what he thinks he has shall be taken away from him."
Jesus' Mother and Brethren
19 And His mother and brothers came to Him, and they were unable e to get to Him because of the crowd . 20 And it was reported to Him, "Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside , wishing to see You." 21 But He answered and said to them, "My mother and My brothers are these who hear the word of God and do it."
Jesus Calms a Storm
22 Now on one of those days Jesus and His disciples got into a boat , and He said to them, "Let us go over to the other side of the lake ." So they launched out. 23 But as they were sailing along He fell asleep ; and a fierce gale of wind descended on the lake , and they began to be swamped and to be in danger . 24 They came to Jesus and woke Him up, saying , " Master , Master , we are perishing !" And He got up and rebuked the wind and the surging waves , and they stopped , and it became calm . 25 And He said to them, "Where is your faith ?" They were fearful and amazed , saying to one another , "Who then is this , that He commands even the winds and the water , and they obey Him?"
The Gadarene Demoniac Healed
26 Then they sailed to the country of the Gerasenes , which is opposite Galilee . 27 And when He came out onto the land , He was met by a man from the city who was possessed with demons ; and who had not put on any clothing for a long time , and was not living in a house , but in the tombs . 28 Seeing Jesus , he cried out and fell before Him, and said in a loud voice , " What business do we have with each other, Jesus , Son of the Most High God ? I beg You, do not torment me."
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Luke 8:8-28
Commentary on Luke 8:4-21
(Read Luke 8:4-21)
There are many very needful and excellent rules and cautions for hearing the word, in the parable of the sower, and the application of it. Happy are we, and for ever indebted to free grace, if the same thing that is a parable to others, with which they are only amused, is a plain truth to us, by which we are taught and governed. We ought to take heed of the things that will hinder our profiting by the word we hear; to take heed lest we hear carelessly and slightly, lest we entertain prejudices against the word we hear; and to take heed to our spirits after we have heard the word, lest we lose what we have gained. The gifts we have, will be continued to us or not, as we use them for the glory of God, and the good of our brethren. Nor is it enough not to hold the truth in unrighteousness; we should desire to hold forth the word of life, and to shine, giving light to all around. Great encouragement is given to those who prove themselves faithful hearers of the word, by being doers of the work. Christ owns them as his relations.
Commentary on Luke 8:22-40
(Read Luke 8:22-40)
Those that put to sea in a calm, even at Christ's word, must yet prepare for a storm, and for great peril in that storm. There is no relief for souls under a sense of guilt, and fear of wrath, but to go to Christ, and call him Master, and say, I am undone, if thou dost not help me. When our dangers are over, it becomes us to take to ourselves the shame of our own fears, and to give Christ the glory of our deliverance. We may learn much out of this history concerning the world of infernal, malignant spirits, which though not working now exactly in the same way as then, yet all must at all times carefully guard against. And these malignant spirits are very numerous. They have enmity to man and all his comforts. Those under Christ's government are sweetly led with the bands of love; those under the devil's government are furiously driven. Oh what a comfort it is to the believer, that all the powers of darkness are under the control of the Lord Jesus! It is a miracle of mercy, if those whom Satan possesses, are not brought to destruction and eternal ruin. Christ will not stay with those who slight him; perhaps he may no more return to them, while others are waiting for him, and glad to receive him.