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Luke 8

And it came to pass afterward, that he went throughout every city and village, preaching and shewing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God: and the twelve were with him,

And certain women, which had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary called Magdalene, out of whom went seven devils,

And Joanna the wife of Chuza Herod's steward, and Susanna, and many others, which ministered unto him of their substance.

And when much people were gathered together, and were come to him out of every city, he spake by a parable:

A sower went out to sow his seed: and as he sowed, some fell by the way side; and it was trodden down, and the fowls of the air devoured it.

And some fell upon a rock; and as soon as it was sprung up, it withered away, because it lacked moisture.

And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprang up with it, and choked it.

And other fell on good ground, and sprang up, and bare fruit an hundredfold. And when he had said these things, he cried, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

And his disciples asked him, saying, What might this parable be?

And he said, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand.

Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.

Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved.

They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away.

And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.

But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.

No man, when he hath lighted a candle, covereth it with a vessel, or putteth it under a bed; but setteth it on a candlestick, that they which enter in may see the light.

For nothing is secret, that shall not be made manifest; neither any thing hid, that shall not be known and come abroad.

Take heed therefore how ye hear: for whosoever hath, to him shall be given; and whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he seemeth to have.

Then came to him his mother and his brethren, and could not come at him for the press.

And it was told him by certain which said, Thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to see thee.

And he answered and said unto them, My mother and my brethren are these which hear the word of God, and do it.

Now it came to pass on a certain day, that he went into a ship with his disciples: and he said unto them, Let us go over unto the other side of the lake. And they launched forth.

But as they sailed he fell asleep: and there came down a storm of wind on the lake; and they were filled with water, and were in jeopardy.

And they came to him, and awoke him, saying, Master, master, we perish. Then he arose, and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water: and they ceased, and there was a calm.

And he said unto them, Where is your faith? And they being afraid wondered, saying one to another, What manner of man is this! for he commandeth even the winds and water, and they obey him.

And they arrived at the country of the Gadarenes, which is over against Galilee.

And when he went forth to land, there met him out of the city a certain man, which had devils long time, and ware no clothes, neither abode in any house, but in the tombs.

When he saw Jesus, he cried out, and fell down before him, and with a loud voice said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God most high? I beseech thee, torment me not.

(For he had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. For oftentimes it had caught him: and he was kept bound with chains and in fetters; and he brake the bands, and was driven of the devil into the wilderness.)

And Jesus asked him, saying, What is thy name? And he said, Legion: because many devils were entered into him.

And they besought him that he would not command them to go out into the deep.

And there was there an herd of many swine feeding on the mountain: and they besought him that he would suffer them to enter into them. And he suffered them.

Then went the devils out of the man, and entered into the swine: and the herd ran violently down a steep place into the lake, and were choked.

When they that fed them saw what was done, they fled, and went and told it in the city and in the country.

Then they went out to see what was done; and came to Jesus, and found the man, out of whom the devils were departed, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid.

They also which saw it told them by what means he that was possessed of the devils was healed.

Then the whole multitude of the country of the Gadarenes round about besought him to depart from them; for they were taken with great fear: and he went up into the ship, and returned back again.

Now the man out of whom the devils were departed besought him that he might be with him: but Jesus sent him away, saying,

Return to thine own house, and shew how great things God hath done unto thee. And he went his way, and published throughout the whole city how great things Jesus had done unto him.

And it came to pass, that, when Jesus was returned, the people gladly received him: for they were all waiting for him.

And, behold, there came a man named Jairus, and he was a ruler of the synagogue: and he fell down at Jesus' feet, and besought him that he would come into his house:

For he had one only daughter, about twelve years of age, and she lay a dying. But as he went the people thronged him.

And a woman having an issue of blood twelve years, which had spent all her living upon physicians, neither could be healed of any,

Came behind him, and touched the border of his garment: and immediately her issue of blood stanched.

And Jesus said, Who touched me? When all denied, Peter and they that were with him said, Master, the multitude throng thee and press thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me?

And Jesus said, Somebody hath touched me: for I perceive that virtue is gone out of me.

And when the woman saw that she was not hid, she came trembling, and falling down before him, she declared unto him before all the people for what cause she had touched him and how she was healed immediately.

And he said unto her, Daughter, be of good comfort: thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace.

While he yet spake, there cometh one from the ruler of the synagogue's house, saying to him, Thy daughter is dead; trouble not the Master.

But when Jesus heard it, he answered him, saying, Fear not: believe only, and she shall be made whole.

And when he came into the house, he suffered no man to go in, save Peter, and James, and John, and the father and the mother of the maiden.

And all wept, and bewailed her: but he said, Weep not; she is not dead, but sleepeth.

And they laughed him to scorn, knowing that she was dead.

And he put them all out, and took her by the hand, and called, saying, Maid, arise.

And her spirit came again, and she arose straightway: and he commanded to give her meat.

And her parents were astonished: but he charged them that they should tell no man what was done.

What does Luke 8:2 mean?

Explanation

Luke 8:2 presents a moment in the Gospel where women who were followers of Jesus are mentioned as having been cured of evil spirits and infirmities. Specifically, Mary, called Magdalene, is highlighted as someone from whom Jesus had cast out seven demons.

The verse succinctly acknowledges the healing and deliverance ministry of Jesus and introduces Mary Magdalene as a significant figure among his followers.

The mention of "seven devils" suggests a complete or total healing, as the number seven often symbolizes completeness or perfection in biblical tradition.

This verse, while concise, sets the stage for understanding the role of women in Jesus' ministry and Mary Magdalene's prominence among his disciples.

Top Rated Luke Books

Historical Context

Luke 8:2 is set within the broader context of Jesus' itinerant ministry throughout Galilee and surrounding regions.

The Gospel of Luke was written in a Greco-Roman world where women's roles were often limited and their testimonies were not highly regarded.

The mention of women following Jesus and being an active part of his ministry would have been socially radical at the time.

Additionally, the reference to demonic possession reflects the first-century understanding of various diseases and mental health issues. Exorcisms by Jesus were seen as signs of the reign of God and the defeat of evil forces.

Theological Insights

From a theological perspective, Luke 8:2 suggests several insights:

Healing of both genders: It highlights Jesus' ministry to all people, regardless of gender.

This is significant given the gender norms of the time.

The power of Jesus over evil: The casting out of seven demons demonstrates Jesus' authority over evil and his ability to restore individuals to wholeness.
The role of Mary Magdalene: Given the centrality of Mary Magdalene in this passage, theologians consider her a key disciple and witness to Jesus' resurrection.
The radical inclusivity of Jesus' ministry: The inclusion of women as followers and beneficiaries of Jesus’ ministry challenged the cultural boundaries of his day.

Practical Applications

Luke 8:2 can inspire various practical applications in daily life:

Inclusivity: Followers of Jesus can be encouraged to practice inclusivity and equality, acknowledging the contributions of all individuals regardless of gender.
Supporting those in need: The verse calls for compassion to those suffering from illnesses or perceived as being under the influence of evil, promoting a helping and healing approach.
Spiritual healing: It encourages believers in seeking spiritual healing and deliverance through faith in Jesus Christ.
Reassurance of transformation: The transformative power experienced by Mary Magdalene can offer reassurance to individuals today that change and healing are possible.

Cross-References

Mark 16:9: "Now when [Jesus] was risen early the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils."
Luke 24:10: "It was Mary Magdalene and Joanna, and Mary the mother of James, and other women that were with them, which told these things unto the apostles."
John 20:1: "The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre."

Language Study

The key phrase "out of whom went seven devils" (in the original Greek text, "ἐξ ἧς ἐξελήλυθει ἑπτὰ δαιμόνια") involves several words worth examining:

ἐξελήλυθει ("exelēlythei"): a verb form meaning “had gone out” or "had been cast out," highlighting the past action of the exorcism.
ἑπτὰ ("hepta"): the Greek word for "seven," which often denotes a sense of completeness or totality, suggesting that Mary Magdalene had been fully cleansed.
δαιμόνια ("daimonia"): translated as "devils" or "demons," reflecting the understanding of evil or unclean spirits that Jesus had authority over.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In comparison to other ancient myths and religious interpretations, exorcisms and spiritual healings are not uncommon.

Many ancient cultures believed in the existence of malevolent spirits and the need for spiritual or ritualized healing.

For instance, ancient Mesopotamian texts contain incantations for exorcisms.

The story of Mary Magdalene being freed from seven devils can be seen to parallel such beliefs, although it is distinctive in its personal and liberative character in the context of following Jesus.

Scientific Perspectives

From a modern scientific perspective, what ancient texts describe as possession by "devils" or "demons" might be understood in terms of psychological or medical conditions.

While contemporary medicine would not validate the existence of demonic possession, the manifestations could be related to mental health issues such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or epilepsy.

The concept of spiritual healing and exorcism can be seen as therapeutic or symbolic acts that foster psychological relief and social restoration in individuals and communities.

Commentaries

Various experts and biblical commentaries have diverse thoughts on Luke 8:2:

Some view the healing of Mary Magdalene as an important testament to the historical reality of Jesus' miraculous healings.
Others emphasize the significance of Mary Magdalene in the early Christian community as a leading figure, given her close association with Jesus and her being the first witness to the resurrection in some Gospel accounts.
Feminist theologians often highlight this verse to point out the leadership roles women played in Jesus' ministry, challenging traditional patriarchal interpretations that sideline women's contributions to the early church.
Exegetes may also discuss the symbolic nature of "seven devils," suggesting this number is used metaphorically to indicate a severe affliction rather than a literal count of evil spirits.

Luke 8

Luke 8

What does Luke 8:2 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Luke Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?

What does Luke 8:2 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Luke Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?