Tyndale Open Study Notes

Verse 2

8:2-3 along with some women: Rabbis of Jesus’ day did not have women disciples, so this was unusual. Some of these women, like Joanna, were from wealthy families and contributed financially to Jesus’ ministry.

8:2 Magdalene means “from Magdala,” a village north of Tiberias on the western side of the Sea of Galilee. Mary figures prominently in the burial and resurrection accounts (24:10; Mark 15:40, 47; John 19:25; 20:1, 18). Some have said that Mary Magdalene was the woman of Luke 7:36-38, leading to the belief that she was a former prostitute. There is no basis for this speculation.

Verse 4

8:4-15 The parable of the farmer scattering seed depicts people’s varied responses to Jesus’ ministry of proclaiming God’s Kingdom.

Verse 5

8:5 The custom in planting was first to scatter seed and then to plow it into the soil. • The seed that fell on a footpath running through the fields would not be plowed in, so it was stepped on and eaten by birds.

Verse 6

8:6 fell among rocks: Often there was a limestone layer nine to twelve inches under the soil, so that the rain was trapped and seed sprouted quickly in the moist soil. But when the rain stopped, the sun evaporated the trapped moisture and the plant died.

Verse 7

8:7 fell among thorns: One type of weed looked very much like wheat as it grew, but it had larger roots and took away the moisture and nutrients that the wheat needed.

Verse 8

8:8 Anyone with ears to hear meant everyone who was willing to listen.

Verse 10

8:10 the secrets of the Kingdom of God: What was hidden in the past about God’s reign was now revealed through Jesus’ words and actions. • When they look . . . they won’t understand: This quote is from Isa 6:9 (Greek version), a passage repeatedly used in the New Testament to explain Israel’s rejection of the gospel (see also Matt 13:14-15; Mark 4:12; John 12:40; Acts 28:26-27). In its original context, the passage refers to God’s certain judgment of Israel at the hands of the Assyrians. Israel’s sin and rebelliousness had taken them beyond the point of no return, so God blinded them in preparation for judgment. Those who rejected Jesus’ message were blind to the truth.

Verse 11

8:11 The seed is God’s word: This refers to Jesus’ preaching of the Good News of the Kingdom.

Verse 12

8:12 to have the devil come and take it away: Satan seeks to prevent unbelievers from seeing the truth.

Verse 13

8:13 Deep roots indicate spiritual depth and maturity. The Greek word translated temptation can also mean “testing” or “trials.”

Verse 16

8:16-17 A small clay lamp was filled with olive oil and set in a wall alcove. Jesus’ message provides light for those who listen, and it reveals their heart attitudes.

Verse 18

8:18 those who listen: Cp. Prov 9:9.

Verse 19

8:19-20 Jesus had four brothers—James, Joseph, Judas, and Simon—and an unknown number of sisters (Matt 13:55; Mark 6:3). These children were probably born to Joseph and Mary after Jesus’ virginal conception and birth. (On the other hand, some believe that Mary remained a lifelong virgin and that Joseph was therefore a widower with children from a previous marriage when he married Mary.)

Verse 21

8:21 those who hear God’s word and obey it: Jesus was not rejecting his family but announcing that spiritual relationships—being part of God’s family—supersede family ties.

Verse 22

8:22-25 Jesus’ calming of the storm demonstrated his authority over nature and strongly indicated his deity, since God is master of the seas (see Pss 65:7; 89:9; 104:6-7; 107:23-32).

Verse 23

8:23 a fierce storm came down on the lake: Severe storms are common on the Sea of Galilee, which lies in a valley surrounded by high hills.

Verse 24

8:24 he rebuked the wind and the raging waves: As Jesus rebuked demons (4:41) and diseases (4:39), so now he revealed his authority by rebuking the sea (cp. 2 Sam 22:16; Pss 18:15; 104:7; 106:9; Isa 50:2; Nah 1:4).

Verse 26

8:26-39 This exorcism story demonstrated Jesus’ authority over spiritual forces. It also contrasted the faith and devotion of the freed man with the fear and rejection of the townspeople.

8:26 the region of the Gerasenes: Gerasa was a city of the Decapolis, thirty miles southeast of the Sea of Galilee. Jesus deliberately went to a predominantly Gentile region and ministered there.

Verse 27

8:27 living in the tombs outside the town: Touching a tomb or a dead body rendered a Jew unclean, or ceremonially defiled. Jesus willingly entered this unclean place to rescue a person enslaved by Satan.

Verse 28

8:28 Jesus, Son of the Most High God: See study notes on 4:34, 41.

Verse 29

8:29 evil (literally unclean) spirit: Unclean things are unfit for God’s presence (see also study note on 4:33).

Verse 30

8:30 A Roman legion had about 6,000 soldiers, so this man had a great many demons.

Verse 31

8:31 the bottomless pit: The Greek word abussos means “bottomless” and often refers to the underworld prison of evil spirits or fallen angels (Rev 9:1-2, 11; 11:7; 17:8; 20:1, 3; cp. 2 Pet 2:4). The metaphor is taken from the apparently bottomless depth of the ocean (the ancients had no means for sounding the ocean depths, so to them it was bottomless).

Verse 32

8:32 a large herd of pigs: Pigs were unclean animals for Jews, which shows that the people of this region were Gentiles. The unclean demons were fit only for pigs.

Verse 35

8:35 sitting at Jesus’ feet: The man sat in the position of a disciple, indicating his willingness to follow Jesus (see 8:37).

Verse 37

8:37 begged Jesus to go away: Jesus’ power over spiritual forces frightened the townspeople, and their loss of property (the pigs) angered them. Their rejection contrasts with the faith of the healed man.

Verse 39

8:39 go back to your family: The role of disciples is to proclaim to the world what Jesus has done for them.

Verse 40

8:40-56 These two accounts of healing demonstrate Jesus’ authority over disease and death, and illustrate the power of faith.

Verse 41

8:41 The leader of the local synagogue was the officer who maintained the local synagogue and organized services (see also 8:49; 13:14; Acts 13:15; 18:8, 17).

Verse 43

8:43 with constant bleeding: Perhaps it was a menstrual disorder. The tragedy was both physical and spiritual, for such bleeding rendered the woman ceremonially unclean and thereby precluded her participation in community worship (Lev 15:25-30).

Verse 44

8:44 The fringe of his robe probably refers to the tassels that pious Jews wore on the edges of their robes (see Num 15:38-39; Deut 22:12).

Verse 45

8:45 Who touched me? Jesus recognized the touch of faith by a needy person.

Verse 48

8:48 Your faith has made you well (literally your faith has saved you). Go in peace: Jesus said the same thing to the woman who had anointed his feet (7:50). The Greek word for “save” can indicate either spiritual or physical healing. Peace (cp. Hebrew shalom) refers to wholeness, not just lack of conflict (see 1:79; 2:14, 29; 7:50; 19:38, 42; 24:36).

Verse 51

8:51 Peter, John, and James became the inner circle of Jesus’ disciples (see 5:1-11; 9:28; Mark 14:32-33).

Verse 52

8:52 The house was filled with people weeping and wailing: See study note on 7:12. • she’s only asleep: Jesus emphasized the temporary nature of the girl’s state. For believers, death is only temporary “sleep” (cp. John 11:11; the same term is translated as “dead/died” in Acts 7:60; 13:36; 1 Cor 11:30; 15:6, 18, 20, 51; 1 Thes 4:14-15; 5:10).

Verse 55

8:55 her life returned: Like the raising of the widow’s son (7:15), the girl’s normal mortal life was restored. At the final resurrection, believers will receive immortal, glorified bodies (see study note on 24:39).

Verse 56

8:56 not tell anyone: See “The Secret of the Messiah” Theme Note.