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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 8:50 mean?

Explanation

Luke 8:50 is a verse that captures a moment of dire desperation and profound hope.

It unfolds within the story of Jairus, a synagogue ruler, who comes to Jesus in a moment of personal crisis: his only daughter is dying.

He falls at Jesus' feet, pleading for Him to heal her.

As they proceed towards Jairus' house, someone comes from the ruler’s house to tell him that his daughter has died, and implies that there is no longer any point in bothering Jesus.

Upon hearing this news, Jesus responds directly to Jairus with a command and a promise: "Fear not: believe only, and she shall be made whole." Here, Jesus addresses the ruler's fear, turning him away from despair and towards faith.

Literally, Jesus is telling Jairus to trust in Him for the healing and restoration of his daughter.

On a deeper level, this verse speaks to the power of faith in the face of the ultimate human fear, which is death.

Jesus suggests that belief has the power to transcend even the most final of circumstances.

Top Rated Luke Books

Historical Context

The Gospel of Luke, traditionally believed to have been written by Luke the Evangelist, is a New Testament book that presents an account of Jesus' life, death, and resurrection. This specific verse is set in the historical context of Jesus' ministry in Galilee, which took place around 30-33 AD.

During this period, Jewish society was governed by both religious and Roman authorities.

Synagogue rulers, like Jairus, were revered figures responsible for overseeing worship and community affairs.

They also enforced adherence to the Jewish law.

Despite his status, Jairus seeks out Jesus, which indicates his desperation and the growing reputation of Jesus as a healer.

The narrative suggests a cultural shift, where individuals began looking beyond traditional authorities and beliefs to a new source of hope and healing, Jesus.

Theological Insights

From a theological standpoint, this verse underscores several key Christian beliefs:

The sovereignty of Jesus over life and death, asserting His divine nature.
The importance of faith, as Jesus implies that Jairus' belief is more than just optimism; it's a tangible force that can bring about change.
The personal nature of Jesus' miracles, which often included a direct interaction and a call to deeper faith for the individuals involved.

Different Christian denominations might emphasize particular aspects of this verse.

Some may focus on the individual's response to Jesus' call for faith, while others might see it as a reaffirmation of the belief in Jesus' divinity and miracle-working power.

Practical Applications

The teachings in Luke 8:50 can be applied in several ways:

Encouraging individuals to approach their fears and challenges with faith, suggesting that trust in a higher power can provide strength and possibly resolution in difficult times.
Inspiring people to seek out and offer support to others who are facing crises, reinforcing the idea that community and care are fundamental in times of need.
Suggesting that people should remain hopeful and not succumb to despair, even in seemingly bleak situations.

Cross-References

Mark 5:36: As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, he saith unto the ruler of the synagogue, Be not afraid, only believe.
Matthew 17:20: And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.
Hebrews 11:1: Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Language Study

In the original Greek, the phrase "Fear not" translates to "μὴ φοβοῦ" (mē phobou), with "μὴ" indicating negation and "φοβοῦ" stemming from "φόβος", meaning fear or terror.

The word for "believe" is "πίστευε" (pisteue), which is an imperative form of "πιστεύω" (pisteuō), meaning to believe or to have faith in.

"Made whole" is translated from "σωθήσεται" (sōthēsetai), a future passive indicative form of "σῴζω" (sōzō), meaning to save, heal, or preserve. It carries connotations of both physical healing and spiritual salvation.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

The theme of faith overcoming death is not unique to Christianity.

In many ancient myths and religions, there is an emphasis on belief or action as a means to transcend mortality.

For example, in Egyptian mythology, the god Osiris is resurrected from the dead, symbolizing the eternal life that follows adherence to the religious order.

In these stories, the power of faith or divine favor often play a critical role in conquering death.

Scientific Perspectives

Modern scientific understandings of death are based on biological functions, and from a strictly medical viewpoint, there is no evidence to suggest that faith can reverse biological death.

However, numerous studies have shown that positive beliefs and a hopeful outlook can significantly affect a person's health outcomes and coping abilities when facing illness or life-threatening situations.

Commentaries

Experts and biblical scholars view Luke 8:50 in different ways.

Some emphasize the nature and power of Jesus' miracles, while others underscore the psychological aspect of Jesus' interaction with Jairus, focusing on how Jesus calms his fear by directing him toward faith.

Still, others discuss the narrative within the broader context of the Gospel of Luke, noting Luke's emphasis on the compassion of Jesus and the importance of faith in His ministry.

Overall, the consensus is that this verse reflects a pivotal moment where faith is presented as the antidote to fear and a pathway to divine intervention.

Luke 8

Luke 8

What does Luke 8:50 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 8:50 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?