THE last chapter broke out into the widest sphere, and brought in Divine power over human sickness and death―yea, more, Divine grace in presence of nothing but sin. Nevertheless moral ways are produced according to God’s own nature. Grace does not merely forgive. Those who are forgiven are born anew and manifest their new life in suitable ways, and this in due season by the, power of the Holy Ghost.
In this chapter we find how grace goes forth in service. “It came to pass afterward, that he went through [the country], city by city, and village by village.” How indiscriminate is His “preaching and announcing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God”!192 Anywhere and everywhere grace can go as to its sphere, but it distinguishes according to God’s will; because He must be sovereign. He pardons whom He will, and when) He will He hardens. The twelve were with Him; and not they only, but “certain women who had been healed of wicked spirits and infirmities, Mary, who was called Magdalene,193 from whom seven demons had gone cut, and Joanna, wife of Chula, Herod’s steward, and Susanna, and many others who ministered to him of their substance.” Thus we find grace produces fruits now, in this present life. I think it plain and certain that Mary Magdalene is not the person described in the last chapter as the woman who was a sinner. Tradition fluctuates, some supposing that the forgiven woman was Mary Magdalene, others. Mary the sister of Lazarus; but to my own mind the internal evidence is conclusive that she was neither the one nor the other. In fact, there is evident moral beauty in the absence of her name. Considering that she had been a notoriously sinful woman in the city, why name her? The story was not to inform anyone who she was, but what the name of Jesus had been to her. It is His name, not hers, that is the great matter. And hence all the effect produced in her by the Spirit of God is according to this. She does not go before His face, but behind Him. She is at His feet, weeping, washing His feet with tears and wiping them with the hairs of her head. The Spirit of God, therefore, casts a veil over her person. However much she might be the object of grace, there is no indulgence of human curiosity. It was a part of the very plan of the Spirit that her name should not be mentioned. Mary, sister of Lazarus, stands before us in Scripture (whatever legends feign) a character evidently and altogether different, and remarkable, I should judge, for moral purity, as well as for that insight into God’s mind which was brought about by the grace that gave it to her.
So also Mary Magdalene, although a desperate case, manifested evil of a wholly different nature. It was not corruption, but Satan’s power. She was possessed; as we are told here, “from whom seven demons had gone out.” This was her scriptural description, and uniformly so wherever she is brought before us. Never is moral looseness attributed to her.
But besides Mary Magdalene, one of those who ministered to the Lord of their substance was Joanna, the wife of Chuza, Herod’s steward.194 Thus God called where one might least expect it: and she who was connected with the Court of the false king rejoiced to be permitted to follow the despised but true King, Jesus of Nazareth.
But others were not wanting — “Susanna and many others,” but of whom We know nothing, save that which grace gave them, in honoring Jesus to find their everlasting honor. They were attracted by the Lord Jesus, and ministered to Him as they could.
“And a great crowd coming together, and those who were coming to Him out of each city, he spoke by parable.”195 He was not come to be a king, though the King. He was come to sow, not to gather in and reap. This He will do by and by at the end of the age. He was come to produce what cannot be found in man — to give a new life that should bear fruit for God. “The sower went out to sow his seed.” It is the activity of grace. “And as he sowed, some fell along the way; and it was trodden under foot, and the birds of the heaven devoured it up. And other fell upon the rock; and having sprung up, it was dried up, because it had not moisture; and other fell in the midst of the thorns; and the thorns having sprung up with [it] choked it; and other fell into the good ground, and having sprung up, bore fruit a hundredfold. As He said these things, he cried, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.”196a It is remarkable that we have not here, as in Matthew, “Some thirty, some sixty, some a hundredfold.” We have only the complete result of grace: the modifying causes are not taken into account. There was good seed sown upon good ground, as He afterward said, “That in the good ground, these are they who in an honest and good heart, having heard the Word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.” The other cases are cases, not of good seed producing fruit imperfectly borne, but we have the moral hindrances to any fruit at all. Luke brings out the sad and painful fact that it is not Satan’s power only that hinders souls from being saved and receiving the Word of God. The world hinders, flesh too, as well as, Satan. Those are the three enemies that are brought before us.
The first is the open and evident power of Satan: “As he sowed, some fell along the way.” There was no pretense of receiving it; it was simply dealt with contemptuously — “it was trodden under foot, and the birds of the heaven devoured it up.”
The next class is, “And other fell upon the rock.” There was an appearance here. It sprang up, but it was dried up, “because it had not moisture.” These represent the persons who, “when they hear, receive the Word with joy, but having no root they believe only for a while, and in time of temptation fall away” — a very serious description; because there is apparent reception, but there is no root. They receive, the Word with joy — not with repentance, but only joy. Now, there may be joy; but where there is no spiritual action in the conscience there is no root. This is exceedingly serious, especially in Christendom where people are apt to be taught the elements of Christian truth, and where they may be received on the faith of a parent — not of God’s Word, but of a father, or mother, or teacher; brother, sister or anybody, the prevalent religion of the country, the common creed of Christendom. All these things may operate, but it is mere nature. It is the seed sown upon a rock 197: there is no real root; for conscience is the real door. Without conscience the Word of God has no abiding effect. The Spirit of God does not make great scholars, but leads poor sinners to believe and be saved. It matters not who the person may be; scholar or not, he must come as a sinner, and if as a sinner, with repentance towards God. Nov, repentance in its own nature gives a chastened feeling, horror of self, judgment of the whole man, certainty that all one’s hope is in God, and the judgment of all that we are joy.198 Other things may gladden the heart, spite of and along with it. The mercy of God seen in Christ is most assuring; but “godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of.” They are mistaken who, suppose that repentance is sorrow; but, nevertheless, such is its effect, where according to God.
That which fell among thorns represents those who, “having heard, go away, and are choked under the cares and riches and pleasures of life, and bring no fruit to perfection.”199 Luke views the matter in its full result, not in an individual, not the new nature hindered, but the new nature producing its full results. It is the Word not received from one cause or another; and where it is received, it is said to be those Who, “in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.” Along with the Word of God, there is the operation of the Spirit. It is these that produce this honest and good heart.200 Thus the heart is purified by faith, and that, working by the feeling and, confession of our sinfulness. Luke, as always, brings out the moral roots, both of that which hinders and also of that which receives the Word. These “having heard the Word,201 keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.”202
There is another point I would just observe. Matthew speaks of understanding — that is the great point with him who speaks of the Word of the kingdom, Luke speaks of the Word of God (not so much of the Kingdom, though we know it was the kingdom of God). But it is the Word of God — “the seed is the Word of God;” that they who believe (not they who understand) should be saved. Matthew speaks of hearing and understanding, Luke of believing and being saved. This admirably suits the different objects of the Gospels. Matthew shows us already a people of God dealt with, put to the test by the Messiah proclaiming the kingdom of heaven; and those whose hearts were set on worldly objects did not understand the Messiah, nor care for the word of the Kingdom. But Luke shows us the Word of God dispersed; and although with in the limits of Israel as a matter of fact for the time being, yet in its own nature going out to every city and village in the world. In principle already they an tending towards it, and about to be sent out actually in God’s due time. Accordingly, it is not merely the Kingdom, but the Word of God. It is for man as such; and hence as the great mass of men Outside Israel were wholly ignorant of the Kingdom, it was a question of believing, not of understanding. It is not a word they had already, or knew things either, that they could not understand, but it is a question of believing what God was sending. It was a new testimony to those who had been wholly in the dark, and consequently it was a question to them of believing and being saved. Thus we find, even in the minutest particulars, Luke was inspired to hold to that great design which runs through his Gospel―deep moral principles, and at the same time the going forth of grace towards man from God. It is as it were the Gospel of God in the salvation of men — just what we find in the Epistle to the Romans; and Luke, we must remember, was pre-eminently the companion of the Apostle Paul.
Then there are some further moral principles added. “No one having lighted a lamp, covereth it with a vessel, or putteth it under a couch: but setteth it on a lampstand, that they who enter may see the light.” To receive a new nature by the operation of the Word of God is not enough. God raises up a testimony for Himself. Where a candle is lit, it is not meant to be covered: it is to shine, to give light, “that they who enter may see the light.” God loves that the light should be apparent. Is it not there to be seen?203 “For there is nothing hid which shall not become manifest.” Darkness shrinks from the light, and man is in the dark, and love, darkness rather than light, because his deeds are evil. But God’s resolve is that all shall appear. “For there is nothing hid which shall not become manifest; nor secret which shall not be known and come to light.204 fake heed therefore” not only what, but — “how ye hear.” The mingling of truth and error makes it of the greatest importance what we hear; and in Mark this is the warning: “Take heed what ye hear.”205 But Luke regards tut heart of man; and it is not only of importance what I hear from another, but how I hear it myself. My own state may expose me either to receive error or to reject truth. It is not always the fault of what hear, but my own. “Take heed therefore how ye hear: for whosoever hath, to him shall be given.” Having is a proof of valuing. “And whosoever hath not, even that which seemeth205a to have shall be taken from him.” Where any do not really possess, it is not for want of God sending, but because of the unbelief that either has not at all or only seems to have. Nothing but faith possesses: and if I possess a little really, God will vouchsafe me more. “He giveth more grace.”
Jesus was going everywhere preaching and evangelizing, followed by the twelve, and not without the worship of grateful hearts in the women who ministered of their substance. He came not a King as yet, but a Sower, and instead of governing in righteous power, was but creating a light of gracious testimony. He next disowns any association with Himself after the flesh, were it even His mother and His brethren. Whatever love to all, and even subjection to His mother, He owed, He most surely paid in full; but now it was a question of the Word of God, and nothing else would suffice. Thus even before His death and resurrection there was a complete moral break. Flesh does not understand the things of the Spirit. “That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.”/207 “It was told him [saying], Thy mother and thy brethren stand without, wishing to see thee. But he answering said to them, My mother and my brethren are those who hear the Word of God, and do [it].”/208 Natural links were proving themselves to be nothing now: all must be of God and grace; and this exactly falls in with the tone of our Evangelist.
Then we find the circumstances of those to whom the Word of God and the testimony of Christ was committed. Jesus goes into a ship with His disciples, and tells them to go over unto the other side of the lake. “And as they sailed he fell asleep; and a sudden squall of wind came down on the lake; and they were being filled [with water].” Humanly speaking, they “were in jeopardy.” This was ordered of the Lord, and the enemy was allowed to put forth all his resources; but it was impossible that man should overthrow God, impossible that the Christ of God should perish. All the blessedness of the servants, if wise, would be seen to be concentrated in the Master, and all their security derived from Him. There was therefore no ground to faith why they should be alarmed. He fell asleep; He allowed things to take their course: but whatever might happen, the ship in which Jesus was could not be unsafe for those with Him. Jesus might be tempted of the devil, and might encounter all storms; but He came to destroy the works of the devil and to deliver, not to perish. It is true that, when the time came, He went down Himself into depths of sorrow, suffering, and Divine judgment — far, far greater than anything that the winds or waves could do; but He went down to the death of the Cross, bearing the burden of our sins before God, and enduring all God felt against them, in order that, rising again, He might righteously deliver us to God’s glory. The disciples, knowing nothing as they ought, through unbelieving anxiety for themselves (for this it is that blinds the eyes of God’s people), come to Him and awake Him with the cry, “Master, master, we perish!” They told the secret. Had their eyes been upon the Master, according to what He was before God, impossible they could have spoken of perishing. Could He perish? No doubt, separated from their Master, they might, nay, must perish; but to say “Master, master” to Jesus, and “we perish” was nothing but unbelief. At the same time they showed, as unbelief always does, their intense selfishness. Their care was for themselves, not for Him. “Then he, rising up, rebuked the wind and the raging of the water,209 and they ceased, and there was a calm.” Any other would have first rebuked them. He rebuked the raging of the wind and water; and when there was a calm He asked them, “Where is your faith?” And, being afraid, they were astonished, saying to one another, “Who, then, is this! that he commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him?” It is evident that all depended upon the Master. The disciples were to be sent forth on a most perilous mission; but the strength was in Him, not in them; and they from the very beginning had to learn that even Jesus inquired, “Where is your faith?”
Then we find another scene: not the enemy’s power shown in stirring up what we may call nature against Christ and His disciples, but the direct presence of demons filling a man. We have this desperate case set forth in one who had been thus possessed for a long time. He had broken with all social order; he “put on no clothes, and did not abide in a house, but in the tombs.” A more dreadful picture of human degradation through the possession of demons could not be. “But seeing Jesus, he cried out, and fell down before him, and with a loud voice said, What have I to do with Thee, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beseech thee, torment me not.”210 The demons had the consciousness of the presence of their Conqueror, the Conqueror of Satan. They dreaded to be bruised under His feet; for Christ “had commanded the unclean spirit to go out from the man”; and then we have a further description of this power of Satan: “For very often it had seized him; and he had been bound, kept with chains and fetters; and breaking the bonds, he was driven by the demon into the deserts.” Jesus was led of the Spirit there, but the devil led this man in misery; whereas Christ went in Divine grace, and in order righteously to break the power of Satan.
That the awfulness of the case might be more fully brought out, Jesus asks him, “What is thy name? And he said, Legion: for many demons had entered into him. And they besought him that he would not command them to go away into the bottomless pit.”211 They dreaded their hour. There was the instinctive sense in these demons that Jesus would commit them to the abyss. “And there was there a herd of many212 swine feeding on the mountain; and they besought him that he would suffer them to enter into those; and he suffered them. And the demons, going out from the man, entered into the swine; and the herd rushed down the precipice into the lake, and were choked.” This at once roused those who had the charge of them. “But they that fed [them], seeing what, had happened, fled, and told [it] to the city and to the country.” They come out, and find the man from whom the demons had gone out, “sitting, clothed and sensible, at the feet of Jesus.”213 “They were afraid.” Now the state, of the people discloses itself. Had there been one particle of right feeling, they would have given thanks to God; they would have been in the presence of One Who, though to be bruised by him, was to break Satan’s power forever. But though they saw “the man from whom the demons had gone out, sitting, clothed and sensible, at the feet of Jesus, they were afraid,” though they knew how the demoniac had been healed; still, their own hearts were not won, but the very reverse appeared. “All the multitude of the surrounding country of the Gadarenes asked him to depart from them.” Ah, foolish Gadarenes! who bewitched you? They all had, alas! a common interest; but the common interest of men was to get rid of Jesus. That was their one desire. After the certainty of His gracious power, after the plain overthrow of Satan’s energy before their eyes, after the deliverance of their fellow, restored now, and sitting, clothed and sensible, all their thought was to beseech Jesus to depart from them, “for they were possessed with great fear.” What a proof of the delusion of men! Whatever might be their terrors in presence of the man possessed with a legion of demons, they had greater fear of Jesus, and their hope and object was to get rid of Him as fast as possible. He brought in all that was holy, true, loving. He fed, He healed, He delivered; but man had no heart for God, and consequently sought only how to get rid of Him Who brought in the power of God. Any other person was more welcome. What is man! Such is the world.
Not so with him that was healed. He besought Jesus that he might be with Him, and thus stood in moral contrast with the whole multitude which besought Him to depart from them. He had been in far more awful circumstances than they. But such is the power of God’s grace. It creates and forms what we should be. If any one, according to natural antecedents, might have been expected to keep far away from Jesus, it was this demoniac, so completely had he been led captive of Satan at his will. But he was delivered, and so perfectly from the first hour, that his one desire was to be with Jesus. This was the first-fruit of the Spirit’s action in a man whom grace had delivered — the untutored instinct of the new man to enjoy the presence of Jesus. The simplest soul that is born of God has this wish.
“But he sent him away, saying, Return to thine house, and relate how great things God hath done for thee.” He will have his desire later; meanwhile “Return to thine house.” This is of price with the Lord, to show God’s wonderful works, not merely to strangers, but to one’s own house. Such as they would know best the shame, and sorrow, and degradation to winch he had been reduced. Therefore Jesus says, “Return to thine house, and show how great things God hath done for thee.” The man in faith bows and understands; whatever might be his heart’s desire, he is now to do the good; holy, and acceptable will of the Lord. “He went away through the whole city,214 publishing how great things Jesus had done for him.” Mark, it is of Jesus he speaks. Jesus would have him to tell what God had done; and God would have him to tell what Jesus had done. This could not have been had Jesus not been the Son of God Himself. Though the lowliest servant of God, He was none the less also God. The man was right. He was not contravening the will of God, nor breaking the command of Jesus. Its spirit was the more kept, even if in the letter it might sound somewhat differently. God is honored best when Jesus is most shown forth.
Two other scenes (interwoven, it is true) close the chapter. The Lord is appealed to by Jairus, the ruler of the synagogue. “He, falling at the feet of Jesus, besought him to come to his house.” This was the way in which a Jew expected to be healed — by the coming of Messiah to his place. “Because he had an only daughter about twelve years old, and she was dying.”215 Such was the condition of the daughter of Zion now. Israel was proving that there was no life in them; but Christ is entreated, and He goes for the purpose of healing Israel.
While He is on the way, a woman crosses His path, having a most urgent need — “a flux of blood”216 twelve years, who having spent all her living on physicians, could not be cured by anyone. It was therefore a hopeless case, humanly speaking. Nevertheless she comes behind Him in the desperate sense that now was her opportunity, and “touched the hem217 of His garment. And immediately her flux of blood stopped.” The Lord was, of course, conscious of that which was done. If faith feels the grace and power of Jesus in any measure, and applies ever so feebly, hesitatingly, and tearfully, Jesus knows it well, and yearns over that soul. His heart was towards her, and He would have her know it. She touched Him from behind. Jesus would bring her into His presence, face to face, and would have her to know that His hearty consent went with the blessing which she had seemed to steal but really acquired by the touch of faith. Hence He says, “Who has touched me?” It was in vain that Peter or the others sought to explain it away, when all denied. It was in vain to say that the multitude thronged, and therefore why ask who touched Him. The Lord stood to it: somebody had touched Him. It was not a crowd’s pressure: it was not an accident. It was distinctly one who had touched Him. There was the real recourse of faith, however weak. “Jesus said, Someone hath touched me, for I have known that power hath gone out from me.” The multitude thronging could extract no virtue: not thus did Jesus heal. No such external pressure is of avail to bring blessing out of Him. But the soul that finds itself near to Jesus, and touches, however timorously, never fails to gather blessing from Him. “And the woman, seeing that she was not hid [this was not the state in which the Lord would leave her, nor any who are blessed], came trembling, and, falling down before him, declared [unto him] before all the people for what cause she had touched him, and how she was immediately healed.” The glory of God was thus secured, and a bright testimony to Him was rendered; but her heart needed also to be thoroughly restored. She must learn what love God has, and how completely Jesus would give her communion with Himself in the blessing conferred. Thus is the Giver known, and the gift enhanced infinitely. It was not something stolen, but freely imparted. Therefore says He, “Be of good courage, daughter.” He uses the term of affection expressly to banish all terror and uneasiness. “Be of good courage, daughter; thy faith hath healed thee; go in peace.” What a joy it would be to her ever afterward to know that she had not only got the mercy her body needed from God, but that the Saviour, the Lord God who healed her diseases, the ever blessed Physician, had spoken to her, given her His own warrant, comforted her when her heart was utterly afraid, used terms even of such endearment towards her, owned her faith, feeble as it was, and finally sent her away with a message of peace.
“While he was yet speaking, there cometh one from the ruler of the synagogue’s house, saying to him, Thy daughter is dead; do not trouble the teacher. But Jesus hearing it, answered him, saying, Fear not: only believe, and she shall be made well.”
Such turns out to be the real condition of Israel, not sick only; but dead. But Jesus tarried within Himself the secret of resurrection. He is equal to all emergencies, and knew infinitely better than they both the maiden’s need and His own mighty power. He did not come down to do what others might have done. An angel may trouble the pool of Bethesda for a man not too infirm to step in immediately. The Son quickens whom He will. And the Jews, long rebellious in unbelief, long seeking to destroy His name Who by such a claim makes Himself equal with God, will yet own the despised Messiah as their Lord and their God, and the dry bones shall live; and all Israel, at length saved, shall blossom and bud, and fill the face of the world with fruit! Of this the sick and now dead maiden is the pledge; and He, Who then bids her father fear not but believe, will redeem the pledge He gave of old.
“And when he came to the house, he suffered no one to go in but Peter, and John, and James,/ 218 and the father of the child and the mother. And all were weeping and lamenting her. But he said, Do not weep; for she hath not died, but sleepeth.219 And they derided him, knowing that she had died. But he, having turned them all out, and taking hold of her hand, cried, saying, Child, arise. And her spirit returned, and immediately she rose up; and he commanded [something] to eat to be given to her. And her parents were amazed, but he enjoined them to tell no one what had happened.” The spirit of scorn then and there was but a little sample of what is to be; but such can have no portion in the blessing permanently. For while many of Israel that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, with some it will be to shame and everlasting contempt, as surely as with others to everlasting life. For they are not all Israel that are of Israel. But the word of gracious power shall go forth from Him in Whose eyes the virgin daughter of Zion was not dead, but sleeping; and she shall arise. And He Who at length wakes her up from her death sleep, shall care for her and strengthen her for the great work to which Zion will then be called. It was, however, but a passing act of power then; the time was not yet come for more; and Jesus charged them to tell none what was done. If He were not received Himself, if His word were refused, it was vain to publish His power; unbelief would only turn it to worse evil.
Endnotes
192 Verse 1. — “Throughout every city... village.” Christ left, accordingly, His abode at Capernaum (Matt. 11:11And it came to pass, when Jesus had made an end of commanding his twelve disciples, he departed thence to teach and to preach in their cities. (Matthew 11:1)) and began an itinerant ministry. “The good news was not to be confined to places where there were synagogues” (Stuart, p. 92).
To “preach” (κηρύσσειν, to herald) “implies solemnity of announcement” (Darby-Smith). Cf. 9:2 and Acts 28:3131Preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him. (Acts 28:31). When Luke speaks of the simple Gospel of Grace, he specially uses εὐαγγελίζειν 4:18, 7:22, 9:6, 20:1. For “glad tidings of the kingdom of God,” cf. Matt. 4:2323And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people. (Matthew 4:23), etc.
In considering the relation of the “Kingdom” to the “Gospel,” it is needful to grasp the bearing of a passage like Luke 12:5050But I have a baptism to be baptized with; and how am I straitened till it be accomplished! (Luke 12:50) upon such as 24:27. As “Minister of the Circumcision” (Rom. 15:88Now I say that Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers: (Romans 15:8)), our Lord limited Himself to the Jewish people. Even in the Fourth Gospel we find Him saying that “salvation is of the Jews” (John 4:2222Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews. (John 4:22)). Cf. the Expositor’s remark on verse 11 here. The Apostle Paul began his ministry with “the Gospel of the Grace of God” (Acts 20:2424But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God. (Acts 20:24)) in its worldwide significance and scope; and it is in the form which that Gospel took in his hands that Christians of the “uncircumcision” have to set it forth. But “the Gospel of Christ,” of which he says he was not ashamed (Rom. 1:1616For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. (Romans 1:16)), for him retained the double aspect of grace and works (Luke 3:88Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and begin not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, That God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham. (Luke 3:8)), and was not divested of the second characteristic when it acquired its wider scope. It is lamentable how no less a writer than Calvin found in “Kingdom” only a synonym for “Gospel renewing men into God’s image” (“Works,” p. 185, quoted by W. Kelly in his “Exposition of Acts,” vol. p. 198).
On the relation of the KINGDOM to the CHURCH, as to which Professor Wellhansen and Bishop Gore really occupy the same unsatisfactory position, cf. note 21 on Mark: See, further, note on 18:16f.
193 Verse 2. — “Mary Magdalene.” Origen distinguished her from the woman of chapter 7. See notes above on 7:37. Wesley’s comment shows that he followed Gregory “the Great.”
“Out of whom went,” etc. Brace: “In the Gospels demoniacal possession something quite distinct from immorality,” “Seven demons” may be a formula. It often occurs in the Babylonian magical texts, some of which ale exhibited in the British Museum. Cf. the “seven spirits” of 11:26, and also the same expression in Rev. 1:44John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne; (Revelation 1:4). Dr. Whyte has taken “Mary Magdalene” as subject of his discourse I.XXXI. in “Bible Characters.”
194 Verse 3. — This explains Matt. 14: 2, where Herod is said to hear of Jesus. “Ministered to Him their substance.” The innkeeper Gains in the “Pilgrim’s Progress” says: “I read not that ever any man did give unto Christ so as much as one great; but the women followed Him and ministered,” etc. For “Joanna,” again, see 24:10. “Chuza”: American Revv., “Chuzas.”
195 Verse 4 ff. — Here Luke resumes the same thread as that of Mark’s narrative, dropped at 6:19. Farrar treats the present passage as an illustration of the Synoptists’ non-use of each other’s narrative or of a common source.
See Spurgeon’s Sermons, 308,1132, 1457, 2040: Maclaren, vol. i., pp. 230-241; also Irving’s six lectures on the passage (Sermons, ii., p. 243 ff:), Augustus Hare has preached from verse 11 (Sermons; vol. ii., p. 17).
196 PARABLES. — A “parable” (comparison) serves the purpose of religious, as a fable that of moral, instruction. It may be very terse, as in 6:39 above. As to the design of our Lord’s parables, see Bruce, p.16, comparing A. R. Habershon, p.
On the interpretation, see Trench, chapter iii., also A. R. Habershon, p. 13f. Jülicher questions the need of interpretation, regarding the Gospel parables as it general self-explanatory, and conceiving that every difficulty would disappear if the original connection were known. The Lord, he alleges, did not, as a rule, explain them. But, see Mark 4:3434But without a parable spake he not unto them: and when they were alone, he expounded all things to his disciples. (Mark 4:34). The Marburg professor holds that it was the Evangelists who imported allegorical features into them. Trench’s work, of course, is not to his taste (p. 300). Stevens (p. 43) is influenced by Jülicher’s theory. Saneness of view is, happily, not in such a bad way in this country.
On the connection between the parables and the miracles (note 107 above), see A. R. Habershon, chapter 14. The parables peculiar to Matthew are characteristically dogmatic and judicial; those solely special to LUKE, ethical and merciful.
Several writers offer a classification: Westcott’s would be found in his “Introduction to the Study of the Gospels” (p. 393f.), a work accessible to most readers.
Godet: (α) Parables referring to the Kingdom of Heaven (God) under the old dispensation, as that of the Fig Tree (13:6-9); (β) to the new dispensation, its that of the Sower, here; (γ) the Kingdom as realized in individual life, e.g., that of the Good Samaritan (10:29-35).
Bruce: (α) Parables of the Kingdom, e.g., the seven in Matt. 13., and in Luke 19:12-2712He said therefore, A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return. 13And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come. 14But his citizens hated him, and sent a message after him, saying, We will not have this man to reign over us. 15And it came to pass, that when he was returned, having received the kingdom, then he commanded these servants to be called unto him, to whom he had given the money, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading. 16Then came the first, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained ten pounds. 17And he said unto him, Well, thou good servant: because thou hast been faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten cities. 18And the second came, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained five pounds. 19And he said likewise to him, Be thou also over five cities. 20And another came, saying, Lord, behold, here is thy pound, which I have kept laid up in a napkin: 21For I feared thee, because thou art an austere man: thou takest up that thou layedst not down, and reapest that thou didst not sow. 22And he saith unto him, Out of thine own mouth will I judge thee, thou wicked servant. Thou knewest that I was an austere man, taking up that I laid not down, and reaping that I did not sow: 23Wherefore then gavest not thou my money into the bank, that at my coming I might have required mine own with usury? 24And he said unto them that stood by, Take from him the pound, and give it to him that hath ten pounds. 25(And they said unto him, Lord, he hath ten pounds.) 26For I say unto you, That unto every one which hath shall be given; and from him that hath not, even that he hath shall be taken away from him. 27But those mine enemies, which would not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay them before me. (Luke 19:12‑27); (β) of the Gospel (goodness), as the three in Luke xv.; (γ) those which are judicial and prophetic (righteousness), as the Barren Fig Tree of chapter 13.
Jülicher: (α) Strict, simple similitudes or comparisons, as in 14:28-33, the man intending to build a tower, and the king going to make war against another; (β) amplified comparisons (parables proper), as the visit to a friend at midnight, 11:5-8; (γ) exemplary narratives, as that of the Good Samaritan, Luke 10: 30 ff.
The number of parables is put by Trench as thirty; Bruce finds thirty-three; others, many more.
There is a suggestive paper on the Lucan parables by Swete in Expositor, Aug., 1903. These come under the following heads: —
(i.) Salvation: The Two Debtors (7:41 ff.); the Great Supper (14:22ff.); the Lost Coin (15:8 ff.); and the Lost Son (15:11ff.). (ii.) Prayer: the Midnight Visitor (15:5 ff.); the Importunate Widow (18:1 ff.); and the Pharisee and Publican (18:9-14). (iii.) Service: the Barren Fig Tree (13:6 ff); the Plowing Slave (17:7 ff.); and the Pounds (19:12 ff.). (iv.) Social Relations; the Good Samaritan (10:30 ff.); the Rich Fool (12:16 ff.); the Dishonest Steward (16:1 ff.); and the Rich Man and Lazarus (16:19 ff.). All but one, it will be seen, belong to the section 9:51-18:14.
There are no parables in the apocryphal gospels, one sign of their inferiority, as the multiplication of their alleged miracles is another.
197 Verse 13. — “Rock,” the “stony heart of flesh” in Ezek. 11:19, 36:26.
198 “With joy.” So Bunyan’s “Man in the Iron Cage.” See Spurgeon’s Sermon, 1132.
199 Verse 14.― “Life,” βίος. B. Weiss (“Manual Comm.”) aptly refers to Mark 12:4444For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living. (Mark 12:44), comparing 1 John 2:1616For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. (1 John 2:16). Bunyan selects Demas (2 Tim. 4:1010For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia. (2 Timothy 4:10)) as a Biblical illustration of the Lord’s words here. See Spurgeon’s Sermon, 2040.,
200 Verse 15.― “Honest and good,” the Greek ideal, καλὸς κάγαθός. The word ἀγαθός is like the Heb. tou (Wellhausen, Prolegomena to “History of Israel,” p.346), “good” as doing good; cf. Matt. 7:17, 20: 15, 25:21 ff. Καλός, “excellent,” finds illustration in Mary of Bethany, as ἀγαθός in Joseph of Arimathæa (Bruce ad loc.).
201 “Keep.” Matthew has “understand”; Mark, “receive.”
203 Verse 16.―See again at 11:33.
205 Verse 18.― “How ye hear.” Preaching upon 1 Cor. 8:11Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth. (1 Corinthians 8:1) ff., F. W. Robertson has shown how much of what passes under the name of “definite religious construction” the Apostle Paul would have rated as secular knowledge. By “knowledge,” he says, “the Apostle meant not merely knowledge without Christian doctrine, but knowledge without Love” (p. 146). So must it be where the Spirit of God is not enlisted in the work. No Parliamentary legislation can really secure us against such a state of things. Even the teacher’s believing in what he teaches does not suffice. Much of the current unbelief has either been generated or accentuated by “an Arm of godliness without the power.” “Many a person now zealous on this point of ‘education’ would be content if only the Bible, without note or comment, were taught. But St. Paul would not have been content; he would have calmly looked on and said, ‘This also is secular knowledge. This, too, is the knowledge which puffeth up.’ It is the spirit in which it is acquired which makes the difference between secular and Christian knowledge. It is not so much the thing known, as the way of knowing it” (p. 147). How eminently true this is of the facts of our Lord’s life. Cf. note 46 on Mark.
206 Verse 19.―In Matthew and Mark this incident precedes the Parable of the Sower, already passed in Luke.
Comparing the passage in Mark just named with this, Carpenter comments on the earlier statement, as he interprets it, that Mary joined the Lord’s “brethren” in an endeavor to put Him under restraint as being out of His wits, upon which Matthew and Luke alike are silent: he calls the conjunction of knowledge of the supernatural birth on her part with this attitude as “incredible.” Some proof must first be offered that she was other than a passive instrument the others whose ebullition is described. Cf. notes on 1:34 and 4:22.
207 The names of our Lord’s brethren are given in Matt. 13:5555Is not this the carpenter's son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas? (Matthew 13:55) and Mark 6:33Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? and are not his sisters here with us? And they were offended at him. (Mark 6:3); that of “James” first in each, to whom the Lord appeared after His resurrection (1 Cor. 15:77After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles. (1 Corinthians 15:7)): he was accounted a “pillar” of the Church at Jerusalem (Gal. 2:99And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision. (Galatians 2:9); cf. 1:19); and is prominent in Acts 15:1313And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, Men and brethren, hearken unto me: (Acts 15:13) ff. The first description of him as “bishop” of that Church is in the “Clementine Recognitions,” theological romance of the second century.
“Jude” may have been the writer of the Epistle under that name.
Here arises the question, which has never ceased to be discussed, as to the parentage of these “brethren” of JESUS. There are three theories: ―
The Epiphanian―that they were sons of Joseph by an earlier marriage. So Origen, the late Bishops Westcott and Lightfoot and Dr. Salmon. It is the traditional, so-called “Catholic” view, by which the perpetual Virginity is maintained (as to which myth, see Sir R. Anderson, “The Bible or the Church,” p. 256).
(2) The Hieronymian―after Jerome—that they were cousins of the Lord, sons of Mary’s sister. Few now support this view.
(3) The Helvidian―that they were our Lord’s “uterine” brethren, that is were children of Mary and Joseph. So Meyer, Alford, Godet, Weiss, Farrar,
Andrews, Mayor (Introduction to his edition of the Epistle of James, anti, papers in Expositor, for July, August, 1908), W. Kelly, etc.
The first view ably as it was championed by Bishop Lightfoot, is excluded by the fact that then one of Joseph’s natural sons must have been his eldest son, and so by law his heir (Edersheim, “Life of Jesus, &c.,” vol. p. 364) In his Homily quoted by Lightfoot, Origen says that Scripture nowhere speaks of Mary having other children; but he must have forgotten the Messianic Ps. 69:8.
Those who follow Jerome think that “Judas of James” in 6:16 means “J. brother of J.,” but Bishop Lightfoot was clear that it means “son,”
209 Verse 25.―According to Matthew’s account, the Lord administered the rebuke before he stilled the storm.
“Son of God.” (Cf. Matt. 8:2929And, behold, they cried out, saying, What have we to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God? art thou come hither to torment us before the time? (Matthew 8:29); Mark 5:77And cried with a loud voice, and said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of the most high God? I adjure thee by God, that thou torment me not. (Mark 5:7).) See Stalker, p. 98f, who effectively disposes of German denial of anything higher than the established theocratic sense of the title.
“Had commanded”; or (as American Revv.) “was commanding” (παρήγγελλεν).
211 Verse 31.―See Trench, who shows consistency of this with Mark’s statement.
“The abyss”: see Rev. 20:1-31And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. 2And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, 3And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season. (Revelation 20:1‑3).
212 Verse 32 f.— “Many.” Mark says, “two thousand.”
“Choked”: American Revv. “drowned.”
213 Verse 35.― “At the feet of Jesus,” not so much as a scholar (Weiss, ante, Meyer), as in token of the Lord’s delivering power (Cohn Campbell, p. 171, referring to verse 8).
214 Verse 39.―Mark says, “in Decapolis.” Cf. the Lord’s way of commissioning the leper, Mark 1:4141And Jesus, moved with compassion, put forth his hand, and touched him, and saith unto him, I will; be thou clean. (Mark 1:41); the young ruler, Mark 10:2121Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me. (Mark 10:21): and the man in 9:19. See also note 52 on Mark. There is a sermon of J. H. Newman on this incident, reproduced in Allenson’s reprint (No. IV.).
215 Verse 42.―(Cf. verse 49). See note 53 on Mark.
217 Verse 44.― “Tassel,” the fringe (zizith) of Numb. 15:38, 22:12; Deut. 22:1212Thou shalt make thee fringes upon the four quarters of thy vesture, wherewith thou coverest thyself. (Deuteronomy 22:12); See Schor, p. 85. Norris: “Faith, though disfigured by superstition, may still be blessed.” As to this incident, see Whyte, “Bible Characters,” No. LXXX.
218 Verse 51.― “Peter, John and James.” The order is peculiar to Luke here, and at 9:23; Acts 1:1313And when they were come in, they went up into an upper room, where abode both Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew, Philip, and Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew, James the son of Alpheus, and Simon Zelotes, and Judas the brother of James. (Acts 1:13). These three were thrice singled out on special occasions (here; Transfiguration; Gethsemane).
219 Verse 52.―Norris aptly compares 20:38.