Luke 8

Passage overview

John 8 contains Jesus’ teaching about light, truth, freedom, and His relationship with the Father. The passage often printed as John 7:53–8:11, the woman caught in adultery, has an important textual history and is absent from many early manuscripts, so a neutral commentary should mention that issue while still explaining how the passage is traditionally read. The rest of the chapter focuses on Jesus as the light of the world, the call to abide in His word, and the growing conflict with religious leaders.

1verseSoon afterwards, he went about through cities and villages, preaching and bringing the good news of God’s Kingdom. With him were the twelve,

2verseand certain women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary who was called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out;

3verseand Joanna, the wife of Chuzas, Herod’s steward; Susanna; and many others who served them from their possessions.

4verseWhen a great multitude came together and people from every city were coming to him, he spoke by a parable:

5verse“The farmer went out to sow his seed. As he sowed, some fell along the road, and it was trampled under foot, and the birds of the sky devoured it.

6verseSome seed fell on the rock, and as soon as it grew, it withered away, because it had no moisture.

7verseSome fell amid the thorns, and the thorns grew with it and choked it.

8verseSome fell into the good ground and grew and produced one hundred times as much fruit.” As he said these things, he called out, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear!”

9verseThen his disciples asked him, “What does this parable mean?”

10verseHe said, “To you it is given to know the mysteries of God’s Kingdom, but to the rest it is given in parables, that ‘seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand.’

11verse“Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.

12verseThose along the road are those who hear; then the devil comes and takes away the word from their heart, that they may not believe and be saved.

13verseThose on the rock are they who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; but these have no root. They believe for a while, then fall away in time of temptation.

14verseWhat fell among the thorns, these are those who have heard, and as they go on their way they are choked with cares, riches, and pleasures of life; and they bring no fruit to maturity.

15verseThose in the good ground, these are those who with an honest and good heart, having heard the word, hold it tightly, and produce fruit with perseverance.

16verse“No one, when he has lit a lamp, covers it with a container or puts it under a bed; but puts it on a stand, that those who enter in may see the light.

17verseFor nothing is hidden that will not be revealed, nor anything secret that will not be known and come to light.

18verseBe careful therefore how you hear. For whoever has, to him will be given; and whoever doesn’t have, from him will be taken away even that which he thinks he has.”

19verseHis mother and brothers came to him, and they could not come near him for the crowd.

20verseSome people told him, “Your mother and your brothers stand outside, desiring to see you.”

21verseBut he answered them, “My mother and my brothers are these who hear the word of God and do it.”

22verseNow on one of those days, he entered into a boat, himself and his disciples, and he said to them, “Let’s go over to the other side of the lake.” So they launched out.

23verseBut as they sailed, he fell asleep. A wind storm came down on the lake, and they were taking on dangerous amounts of water.

24verseThey came to him and awoke him, saying, “Master, Master, we are dying!” He awoke and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water; then they ceased, and it was calm.

25verseHe said to them, “Where is your faith?” Being afraid, they marveled, saying to one another, “Who is this then, that he commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him?”

26verseThen they arrived at the country of the Gadarenes, which is opposite Galilee.

27verseWhen Jesus stepped ashore, a certain man out of the city who had demons for a long time met him. He wore no clothes, and didn’t live in a house, but in the tombs.

28verseWhen he saw Jesus, he cried out and fell down before him, and with a loud voice said, “What do I have to do with you, Jesus, you Son of the Most High God? I beg you, don’t torment me!”

29verseFor Jesus was commanding the unclean spirit to come out of the man. For the unclean spirit had often seized the man. He was kept under guard and bound with chains and fetters. Breaking the bonds apart, he was driven by the demon into the desert.

30verseJesus asked him, “What is your name?” He said, “Legion,” for many demons had entered into him.

31verseThey begged him that he would not command them to go into the abyss.

32verseNow there was there a herd of many pigs feeding on the mountain, and they begged him that he would allow them to enter into those. Then he allowed them.

33verseThe demons came out of the man and entered into the pigs, and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and were drowned.

34verseWhen those who fed them saw what had happened, they fled and told it in the city and in the country.

35versePeople went out to see what had happened. They came to Jesus and found the man from whom the demons had gone out, sitting at Jesus’ feet, clothed and in his right mind; and they were afraid.

36verseThose who saw it told them how he who had been possessed by demons was healed.

37verseAll the people of the surrounding country of the Gadarenes asked him to depart from them, for they were very much afraid. Then he entered into the boat and returned.

38verseBut the man from whom the demons had gone out begged him that he might go with him, but Jesus sent him away, saying,

39verse“Return to your house, and declare what great things God has done for you.” He went his way, proclaiming throughout the whole city what great things Jesus had done for him.

40verseWhen Jesus returned, the multitude welcomed him, for they were all waiting for him.

41verseBehold, a man named Jairus came. He was a ruler of the synagogue. He fell down at Jesus’ feet and begged him to come into his house,

42versefor he had an only born daughter, about twelve years of age, and she was dying. But as he went, the multitudes pressed against him.

43verseA woman who had a flow of blood for twelve years, who had spent all her living on physicians and could not be healed by any,

44versecame behind him and touched the fringe of his cloak. Immediately the flow of her blood stopped.

45verseJesus said, “Who touched me?” When all denied it, Peter and those with him said, “Master, the multitudes press and jostle you, and you say, ‘Who touched me?’”

46verseBut Jesus said, “Someone did touch me, for I perceived that power has gone out of me.”

47verseWhen the woman saw that she was not hidden, she came trembling; and falling down before him declared to him in the presence of all the people the reason why she had touched him, and how she was healed immediately.

48verseHe said to her, “Daughter, cheer up. Your faith has made you well. Go in peace.”

49verseWhile he still spoke, one from the ruler of the synagogue’s house came, saying to him, “Your daughter is dead. Don’t trouble the Teacher.”

50verseBut Jesus hearing it, answered him, “Don’t be afraid. Only believe, and she will be healed.”

51verseWhen he came to the house, he didn’t allow anyone to enter in, except Peter, John, James, the father of the child, and her mother.

52verseAll were weeping and mourning her, but he said, “Don’t weep. She isn’t dead, but sleeping.”

53verseThey were ridiculing him, knowing that she was dead.

54verseBut he put them all outside, and taking her by the hand, he called, saying, “Child, arise!”

55verseHer spirit returned, and she rose up immediately. He commanded that something be given to her to eat.

56verseHer parents were amazed, but he commanded them to tell no one what had been done.

The Woman Caught in Adultery (8:1-11)

When the Pharisees and scribes bring the woman caught in adultery and ask Jesus a question, Jesus recalls the law about stoning, yet says, “Let the one among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone.” In the end, everyone leaves, and Jesus does not condemn the woman; instead, he tells her, “Do not sin again.” This scene shows, at the same time, God's mercy and forgiveness, as well as the need for repentance.

Jesus Proclaims Himself as the Light of the World (8:12)

Jesus calls himself “the light of the world” and says that whoever follows him will not walk in darkness but will receive the light of life. This is a passage that emphasizes Jesus' mission as the spiritual truth and as a guide for life's path.

Jesus' Identity and the Ongoing Debate (8:13-59)

In this section, we see the Jews questioning and debating Jesus' words. Jesus says that he knows where he came from and where he is going, and he speaks about God's authority and mission beyond the evidence of the law. In particular, his statement that “you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (8:31-36) provides teaching about true freedom, bondage, and the essence of faith.

Meditation Points

  • Forgiveness and mercy: Rather than condemning sin, Jesus urges repentance and change.
  • Light and darkness: As we consider what it means to live by following Jesus, we reflect on what our role is as “light,” the part entrusted to us.
  • Truth and freedom: How are you experiencing true freedom in your life? Take a moment to meditate on what truth means to you.

Try Applying It to Yourself

  • No matter what moment it is, before condemning others with self-righteousness, you need to look back on yourself first.
  • We check how Jesus' light and truth are being revealed in our lives—or whether there is something we might be missing.
  • Consider what parts of the gospel of forgiveness and freedom you can apply more deeply to your everyday life and relationships.

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