LUKE 8

I will break out chapter 8 into two sections, just due to the amount of material to cover, the thoughts that come to mind, and the challenges that Jesus brings forth; this would get too lengthy if I tried to cover all of them today.

It is interesting that Luke points out the women who were following Jesus. One, because the ministry and the gospel applied directly to women as well as men; second, because of the backgrounds they represent, rich, poor, a relative of Herod, in just a few women a wide variety of social classes are covered; and third, the women were helping support Jesus’ ministry from their own means, both financially and in servitude. They were apparently well-to-do, for the most part, and the word used for “helping” is the same word from which we get “deacon”.

Jesus tells the parable of the sower, or is it the parable of the seed, or perhaps the parable of the soil. If the seed is the gospel, then it never changes. If the sower is the focus, then that makes for a shallow parable, as it is a given there is someone in this story sowing seed, everywhere he can. So there IS a point there, but the main focus is on the soil, and how each receives the seed.

Understanding farming in that day helps us to get a better picture of this parable, along with its meaning and implications. In those days in Palestine, seed was sown, and THEN the fields were plowed in order to allow the seed to take root. So seed trampled on was possible and common, depending on how soon afterward the fields were plowed. The same seeds were potentially exposed for birds to feed on. When some seed fell on rock, the rock would have been under a very thin layer of soil. Plants with no deep roots could not draw any moisture from deeper soil when a dry period came. Jesus will explain the meaning of the parable, too, so I am not going to try to do that in some better way than He already has. He does conclude by pointing out the goal of seed taking root is for the soil to end up producing a crop, especially as a result of perseverance.

But why only explain the meaning to the inner circle disciples, and not people at-large? It could be implied that Jesus purposefully spoke in parables so as to harden the hearts of those hearing, so that they could actually never believe. A better explanation is that he spoke enigmatically, or mysteriously, to cause people to want to know more, to explore what He is talking about. Isaiah 6:9 prophesied as to what would happen; people would lack the obedience to the Messiah’s message, and thus not believe the gospel. Thus, scripture was fulfilled. Jesus DID have a knack for fulfilling prophecy!

Verse 18 sort of sounds like “the rich get richer, the poor get poorer”. Yet Jesus is not teaching on wealth or possessions, but on the Word of God. The person who listens carefully will understand it more clearly. The person who does not give the Word the proper attention due will likely lose even the little bit he does know. Careful hearing = greater understanding; careless hearing = loss of what has been heard.

Later we read, as almost a side note to the story, that Jesus had real brothers and sisters. Although other viewpoints persist, the simplest and best explanation is that these were real siblings, real family members directly related to Him through Mary and Joseph. Why that’s important is a topic for another day.

Finishing today at verse 25, Jesus is in the boat with the disciples and calms a storm. Jesus questions their faith, implying that if they were in His presence, they did not need to fear. They are in awe at His power. They have seen Him heal, they have seen Him forgive sins, they have seen His authority with Scripture, and now they see Him command nature, and see it obey!

SO WHAT…?

So, the gospel is universal; rich, poor, social class, men, women, you name it. They/we all need it.

So what kind of soil am I? OK, I am saved, so that puts me in the category of the last one in the parable. So what does my “produced crop” look like? Am I watering and feeding my soil properly? Am I letting God’s Word nourish me as it can and should? Do I have ears to hear? Am I paying attention?

So, can I observe nature, the universe, the vastness of existence, and not be in awe of God? I pray I never cease to be amazed by Him.