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THE GOSPEL OF LUKE
[“Where is Your Faith?”]
Key word: Faith
|| Matthew 4:23; 9:35;310
Mark 1:39311310
Matthew 4:23: For details see notes in Nazarene Commentary 2000 on Matthew. 311 Mark 1:39: For details
see notes in Nazarene Commentary 2000 on Mark.
LK8:1
Now it occurred later Jesus was traveling with his twelve apostles through every town and village, preaching and declaring as Good News the Kingdom of The God.
LK8:2
Also some women312
who had been healed from wicked demons and diseases – Mary Magdalene313
(from whom seven demons had been exorcised),314
312 Some women: Luke is the only one to name these women in this context. Nowhere in the Gospels is a woman called a “disciple.”
The first instance of that was with regard to Tabitha in Acts 9:36. These named ladies ministered to Jesus and his apostles from their own possessions. No doubt they were present during the festival of Pentecost in 33 AD. It is likely Luke interviewed these
women in his research. 313 Mary Magdalene: The first to witness the Risen Christ. For details see notes in Nazarene
Commentary 2000 on Mark 16:9.
LK8:3
Joanna315
the wife of Herod’s steward Chuza, as well as Susanna316
and many others.317
These women continued to minister318
to Jesus and his apostles from their own possessions.319314 Exorcised: Or, cast our, expelled. 315 Joanna: Only named by Luke and likely among the women who first visited Jesus’ tomb. [Luke 24:10] It seems likely she was well off as the wife of an important man. 316 Susanna: Only named here. 317
Many others: We are not told the amount but it would seem more than three, making the whole group at least six. 318
Minister: Or, RSV: provided for; NAS: contributing to their support; BAS: gave him of their wealth for his needs; BEC: they supported… with their property; PME: look after his comfort from their own resources. The Greek word is from DIAKONOS which
was later anglicized as “deacon.” For details see notes in Nazarene Commentary 2000 on 1 Timothy 3:11. 319
Possessions: On the subject of giving up private property compare Luke 12:32, 33 and Acts 2:44, 45.
|| Matthew 13:1-9;320
Mark 4:1-9321320
Matthew 13:1-9: For details see notes in Nazarene Commentary 2000 on Matthew. 321 Mark 4:1-9: For details
see notes in Nazarene Commentary 2000 on Mark.
LK8:4
Now people from every village made their way to Jesus and formed a large gathering, and so he began to speak to them by means of a parable:
LK8:5
“A sower went out to sow his seed. While he sowed some seed fell beside the road and it was trampled on. Also the birds of the sky devoured the seed.
LK8:6
Other seed fell upon rock and when it sprouted it dried up because of lacking any moisture.
LK8:7
Still other seed fell among thorns and when it sprouted the thorns choked it.
LK8:8
Finally, other seed fell into good soil and when it sprouted it produced fruitage a hundred-fold. Let the one with ears to hear – listen.”322322 Listen: Compare notes on Matthew 11:15 and Revelation 2:7.
|| Matthew 13:10-23;323
Mark 4:10-20324323
Matthew 13:10-23: For details see notes in Nazarene Commentary 2000 on Matthew. 324 Mark 4:10-20: For details see notes in Nazarene Commentary 2000 on Mark.
LK8:9
Then his disciples asked Jesus what the parable meant.
LK8:10 So Jesus told them:
“It has been granted to all of you disciples to know the mysteries of God’s Realm,325 but to the others I speak in parables so that
‘seeing they may not see and hearing they may not understand’.326
[Isaiah 6:9 LXX]
325 God’s Realm: For details see notes in Nazarene Commentary 2000 on Matthew 13:40-43. There are two kingdoms in the Nazarene’s
teachings: a] his own as the realm, domain, or territory of his rule [Ephesians 1:19-22]; and, b] the Father’s Kingdom. [Matthew 13:43]
LK8:11
Now this is the meaning of the parable: The Seed is God’s Word.327
326
Not understand: Jesus quotes Isaiah 6:9. For details see notes in Nazarene Commentary 2000 on Matthew 13:11 and Mark 4:11.
LK8:12
Now the seed beside the road are those who hear but the Devil comes and removes the Word from their hearts, lest having faith they might be saved.
LK8:13
Now the seed upon the rock are those who hear with joy and accept the Word but these do not have root. For a time they believe but during a period of testing they fall away.
LK8:14
Now the seed falling among the thorns, these are those who have heard, but as they continue anxieties, riches and life’s pleasures328 choke it and it never reaches maturity.329
327 God’s Word: Throughout the ministry of Jesus he often quoted from the Hebrew Bible. He called these the Scriptures and identified
them as “the truth.” [John 17:17] The Nazarene also suggested that some of his disciples would leave behind “their word” which would lead many to faith. [John 17:20] 328 Anxieties, riches and life’s pleasures: Or, choked with worries, care and wealth, passing cares. For details see notes in Nazarene
Commentary 2000 on 1 Timothy 6:7-10, 17-19. [1 John 2:15-17]
LK8:15
Now, the seed in the good soil, these are those who have heard with a good and honest heart,330 and having retained the Word331 they bear fruit with endurance.332329 It never reaches maturity: Or, KJV: bring no
fruit to perfection. A disease rampant throughout the Christian Church even in modern times. For details see notes in Nazarene Commentary 2000 on “maturity” and compare Ephesians 4:13-16 and Hebrews 6:1, 2. After receiving or accepting Christ as
Lord they do not progress to a mature understanding of discipleship. As a result they make little progress from their former personality and life-style. 330 Heard with
a good and honest heart: Or, good and true, well-disposed; WEY: open minds and in a right spirit. Jesus states five factors that may lead to Christian maturity: a good heart, an honest heart, retention of God’s Word, bearing fruitage, and endurance.
Those who claim to be Christians and yet maintain a bad and dishonest heart, and who spend little or no time in His Word, can never be expected to reach maturity. The Nazarene’s disciple must have a “good and honest heart.” That is a heart
with a good and clean motive without any hidden agendas. Another way to describe it is – guilelessness. 331 Retained
the Word: Or, keep it, hold it fast. The third attribute of the mature Christian. 332 Bear fruit with endurance:
Or, BEC: go on faithfully producing good things; KNX: endure and yield a harvest; RIE: in their constancy bear fruit. The last two factors are he production of fruitage and endurance. “Fruitage” may include personal traits, right conduct, increased
understanding, charity, and the production of other disciples. Compare notes on Romans 1:13; 7:4; 15:28; Galatians 5:19-23; Ephesians 5:9; Philippians 1:22; Colossians 1:6, 10; Hebrews 13:15, 16. Regarding “endurance” compare Luke 21:19.
|| Matthew 5:15; 10:26; 13:12;333
Mark 4:21-25334333
Matthew 5:15; 10:26; 13:12: For details see notes in Nazarene Commentary 2000 on Matthew. 334 Mark 4:21-25:
For details see notes in Nazarene Commentary 2000 on Mark.
LK8:16
“So no one with a lighted lamp335 covers it with a jar or puts
it under a bed. Rather it is placed on a lampstand so that everyone entering [the room] may see the light.
LK8:17
For there is nothing hidden that will not become visible, nor anything secret that will not surely become known and then come to the light.
LK8:18
Because of this be very careful how you listen.336 For whoever has, more will be given to him;337 and whoever does not have,338 even what he seems to have will be taken from him.”335 Lamp: In the context of bearing fruitage. 336 Be very careful how you listen: Or, RIE: be careful in what frame of mind you listen. 337 More will be given to him: Jesus will mention this again at Luke 19:26. [Matthew 13:12; 25:29] This is something “given” and likely includes increased responsibilities and rewards. 338 Whoever does not have: Unfortunately the vast bulk of present Christianity.
|| Matthew 12:46-50;339
Mark 3:31-35340339
Matthew 12:46-50: For details see notes in Nazarene Commentary 2000 on Matthew. 340 Mark 3:31-35: For details see notes in Nazarene Commentary 2000 on Mark.
LK8:19
Then Jesus’ mother and his brothers came to him but they were unable to get near him because of the crowd.
LK8:20
Jesus was told: “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside and wish to see you.”
LK8:21
However, Jesus responded to them:
“My mother and my brothers are these, the ones hearing God’s Word and doing it.”341341 The ones hearing God’s Word and doing it: The inference seems clear that Jesus’ own family were not doing so. During his life
none of them became his disciples, however afterward at least two of his brothers and his mother became devoted followers. For details see notes in Nazarene Commentary 2000 on Acts 1:14 and 1 Corinthians 15:7. [James 1:1; Jude 1] It is not enough to just hear
God’s Word. [James 1:22]
|| Matthew 8:18, 23-27;342
Mark 4:35-41343342
Matthew 8:18, 23-27: For details see notes in Nazarene Commentary 2000 on Matthew. 343 Mark 4:35-41: For
details see notes in Nazarene Commentary 2000 on Mark.
LK8:22 Now some time later Jesus boarded a boat with his disciples and told them: “Let us cross over to the other side of the lake.” And so they set out. LK8:23 While they were sailing away Jesus fell asleep. Now a squall came across the lake and they were in danger of being swamped. LK8:24 The disciples approached Jesus and woke him up, saying: “Master, Master! We are about to perish!” But upon being awakened Jesus rebuked the wind and rough water, and the storm stopped and it became calm. LK8:25 Jesus said to them: “Where is your faith?” And in fear they were awe-struck and said to one another: “Who really is this? Because he also orders the winds and the water and they obey him!”
|| Matthew 8:28-34;344
Mark 5:1-20345344
Matthew 8:28-34: For details see notes in Nazarene Commentary 2000 on Matthew. 345 Mark 5:1-20: For details
see notes in Nazarene Commentary 2000 on Mark.
LK8:26
Now they sailed to the region of the Gadarenes, which is on the opposite shore across Galilee.
LK8:27
After going ashore a certain man from the city met Jesus. He had been demon-possessed for a long time and was near naked, living not in a house, but among the tombs.
LK8:28
When he saw Jesus he screamed and fell down before him, and then in a loud voice he shouted: “What is there between us, Jesus, a son of the Most High God? I beg you, do not punish me!”
LK8:29
(For Jesus had ordered the unclean demon to come out of the man. Many times the demon had seized him and he had been bound with chains and guarded by shackles. But he would break apart his bonds and then be driven by the demon into the desert.)
LK8:30
So Jesus asked him:
“What is your name?”
And he said: “Legion,” because many demons had entered him.
LK8:31
And so these demons kept begging Jesus lest he command them to depart into the Abyss.
LK8:32
Now nearby there was a herd of many pigs feeding on the mountainside, and so these demons begged Jesus to permit them to enter the pigs. When Jesus permitted this
LK8:33
the demons came out of the man and after entering the pigs the herd rushed down the bank into the lake and then drowned.
LK8:34
Now when those tending the pigs saw this happen they fled and reported to the village and to the local farms.
LK8:35
So everybody went out to see what had happened, and approaching Jesus they discovered the man from whom the demons had departed sitting at the feet of Jesus, now clothed and sound of mind.
LK8:36 And they became frightened and went and reported how the man who had been demon-possessed was now healed.
LK8:37
So all the peoples in the surrounding countryside of Gadarenes asked Jesus to leave them because they were all overcome with great fear. Then Jesus boarded the boat to return across Galilee.
LK8:38
But the man from whom the demons had gone out kept begging Jesus to remain with him, but Jesus sent him away, saying:
LK8:39
“Return to your own family and tell them what The God did for you.”346
And so the man went away throughout the whole village preaching what Jesus had done for him.346 What The God did for you: Some may use
this with the next phrase as evidence Jesus was The God. However, elsewhere it is clear the power of the Nazarene to heal came from God, not of himself. Jesus himself gives credit to his Father – The God [here the Greek is HO THEOS].
|| Matthew 9:18-26;347
Mark 5:21-24348347
Matthew 9:18-26: For details see notes in Nazarene Commentary 2000 on Matthew. 348 Mark 5:21-24: For details
see notes in Nazarene Commentary 2000 on Mark.
LK8:40 Now when Jesus returned to Galilee he was welcomed by an expectant crowd. LK8:41 And, behold, a man arrived named Jairus who was an officer of the synagogue, and he fell at the feet of Jesus, pleading with him to visit his home, LK8:42 because his twelve year old only-begotten daughter was near death. Now on the way the crowds were gathered tightly around Jesus. LK8:43 And there was a woman with a flow of blood for twelve years. She had sold all her possessions to pay doctors but none were able to heal her. LK8:44 So she approached Jesus from behind as she touched the hem of his garment, and instantly her flow of blood stopped. LK8:45 But Jesus asked: “Who touched me?” Now as everyone was denying it, Peter said: “Master, the crowds surrounding you are pressing close against you.” LK8:46 Then Jesus said: “Someone touched me, for I was aware that power left me.” LK8:47 Now the woman realizing she had not escaped note came forward trembling, and falling down before Jesus, she explained to them all why she had touched him and how she was instantly healed. LK8:48 Then Jesus said to her: “Daughter, your faith has saved you. Go in peace.”
LK8:49 Now right as Jesus was speaking someone arrived from the home of the officer of the synagogue, saying: “Your daughter has died. Do not bother the teacher any more.” LK8:50 But when Jesus heard this he told him: “Do not be frightened. Just continue to believe and she will be healed.” LK8:51 After Jesus entered the home he would not permit others to come in except for Peter, John and James as well as the father and mother of the child. LK8:52 Now everyone was crying and mourning, but Jesus said: “Do not cry, for she did not die, but is sleeping.” LK8:53 As a result some began to ridicule Jesus for they were aware she had died. LK8:54 However, Jesus took the hand of the [dead] girl and calling out, said: “Child, get up!” LK8:55 Instantly she started breathing and as she rose Jesus gave orders to give her something to eat. LK8:56 The child’s parents were astonished, but Jesus told them to tell no one what had happened.
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Nazarene Commentary 2000© Mark Heber Miller ©2000 All Rights Reserved |
