fredlott63

Luke chapter 8

Verse 1

Gospel means good news. What is the good news? There is a creator whose mercy endures forever. He has made a way for us to live forever in a place where no one steals, lies, or murders. All we have to do is believe on His son.

Verse 2 & 3

Women are more reliable in church. It is difficult to stay on the straight and narrow because money is involved. Sin and riches are deceptive.

Verse 4

Read verse 10. Christ taught the multitude in parables, but explained everything to His disciples.

Verse 5 – 8

This must be the most important parable because it is the only one taught and explained in three gospels.

Verse 9 & 10

This is quoted in Isaiah 42:20.

Verse 11 – 15

Three conditions can make the word of God unfruitful in your life: 1) Being on the wayside. If you go to a church that doesn’t teach God’s word chapter by chapter and verse by verse, you are on the wayside and following a blind guide. When you get into a biblical discussion something will happen to divert your attention, like a phone call. 2) Listening to those that teach before they understand. We should be taught to expect hard times and poor treatment. 3) Being concerned with this world. Friendship with the world is enmity with God. The friend of the world is God’s enemy. This world is filled with injustice and nothing makes sense. Logic will get you killed. A change is coming.

Verse 16 – 18

When the candle of understanding has been lit in one mind. They can light candles in everyone’s mind, and understanding will spread like wildfire. There will be no secrets. If you know something that nobody else does not, let them find out on their own. In this world there is nothing surer than the rich get richer and the poor get poorer.

Verse 19 – 21

Jesus had at least 4 brothers and 2 unnamed sisters. We are all equal in the eyes of God. Mary is not a divinity. A prayer to her won’t do anything.

Verse 22 – 25

As a disciple of Christ you will find yourself on the storm tossed seas of life. The winds will be blowing, the seas billowing, and the boat tossing and turning. Yet, it will seem like Christ is asleep. In your panic, you will pray for Christ help. When your situation seems hopeless and you are at the end of your rope, Christ will make your problems disappear like smoke. Your faith is being tested. If God doesn’t test your faith, how will He know it’s any good?

Verse 26 - 31

Jesus could not tell how many spirits were in the man by observation. There is a difference between Matthew 8:28-34 and Mark 5:1 – 17 and Luke 10:26 – 37. In Matthew, they are in Gergesenes, but in Mark and Luke, they are in Gadarenes. Also in Matthew, two men run to attack Jesus, but in Mark and Luke there is only one man with a legion of devils. In Matthew, this happens before the parable of the sower, but in Mark and Luke, it happens after. A Roman legion could contain up to 6,000 soldiers.

Verse 32 – 40

There are things not even pigs will put up with. In Gadarenes and Gergesenes, they raised swine to make money. In Mark, the swine are numbered at 2,000 in Gadarenes. Pigs stink and Jews were forbidden to eat them in Leviticus 11:7. Initially the owners of the smelly pigs preferred swine over Jesus. When they found themselves with around 6,000 demons looking for a host, someone who can cast out devils would be nice to have around.

Verse 41 – 56

There is a difference between Matthew 9:18 – 26, and Mark 5:22 – 43, and Luke 8:41 – 56. Mark and Luke are similar. In Matthew there are some differences. In Matthew the name Jairus is not mentioned. Also the girl is already dead. Jesus sees the woman with the issue of blood before she touches Him. In Mark and Luke He asks, “Who touched me?”