NIV

8:1 After this, Jesus traveled about from one town and village to another, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. The Twelve were with him,



8:2 and also some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases: Mary (called Magdalene) from whom seven demons had come out;



8:3 Joanna the wife of Chuza, the manager of Herod’s household; Susanna; and many others. These women were helping to support them out of their own means.

8:4 While a large crowd was gathering and people were coming to Jesus from town after town, he told this parable:

8:5  “A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path; it was trampled on, and the birds ate it up.

8:6 Some fell on rocky ground, and when it came up, the plants withered because they had no moisture.

8:7 Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up with it and choked the plants.

8:8 Still other [of the same kind] seed fell on good soil. It came up and yielded a crop [design and intent of the sower], a hundred times more than was sown.” When he said this, he called out, “He who has ears to hear [spiritual capacity], let him [personal responsibility] hear [ponder the parable and make appropriate application].”

8:9 His disciples asked him what this parable meant.

8:8 Still other [of the same kind] seed fell on good soil. It came up and yielded a crop [design and intent of the sower], a hundred times more than was sown.” When he said this, he called out, “He who has ears to hear [spiritual capacity], let him [personal responsibility] hear [ponder the parable and make appropriate application].”

8:9 His disciples asked him what this parable meant.

8:10 He said, “The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of God has been given to you, but to others I speak in parables[parables used to reveal truth (make it clearer) to those who wanted to understand and conceal it from those who only wanted to criticize/reject it], so that, “ ‘though seeing, they may not see; though hearing, they may not understand.’

8:11 “This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is the word of God.

8:12 Those along the path [hard, packed path; heart made hard by the traffic of the world] are the ones who hear [“the message about the kingdom” (Matt. 13:19)], and then the devil [Satan] comes and takes [to rob/plunder] away [before person really understands it and has an opportunity to believe] the word from their hearts [heart represents soil; the place of decision], so that they may not believe and be saved.

8:13 Those on the rock [thin layer of dirt on top of solid rock, allowing no chance for deep roots that enable plants to survive] are the ones who receive [immediately and impulsively] the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root [superficial response to the gospel with temporary results; no inner conviction; no root means no fruit]. They believe [profess to follow Christ] for a while [temporary], but in the time of testing [pressure, affliction associated with accepting and following Christ] they fall [Gr. skandalizo: to stumble over] away [cf. John 6:66 re: crowds in Galilee who ceased to follow Jesus when He made demands on them] .

8:14 The seed [nothing wrong with either seed or sower] that fell among thorns [grow quickly, absorb nutrients, and choke out life] stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by [note the competing thorns] [1] life’s worries [undue cares/ concerns; preoccupations/distractions], [2] riches [cf. 1 Tim. 6:9 and Matt. 6:24; the good life; see 2 Tim. 4:10 re: Demas and his love for the world] and [3] pleasures, and they do not mature.

8:15 But the seed [same as the seed that fell on other soils] on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop [because of obedience to what he has heard].

8:16 “No one lights a lamp [small oil-filled lamps used to illuminate home] and hides it in a jar or puts it under a bed. Instead, he puts it on a stand [visible location], so that those who come in can see the light [dispels darkness; light enables others to see what they otherwise would be unable to see; those who possess the light are to transmit the light; Christ is the true “light of the world” (Jn. 8:12); believers cannot shine apart from Christ].

8:17 For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be known or brought out into the open.

8:18 Therefore consider carefully how you listen [to the Word of God]. Whoever has
[those who listen and understand the words of Jesus] will be given more; whoever does not have [those who fail to listen and understand the words of Jesus], even what he thinks he has will be taken from him.”

8:19 Now Jesus’ mother [Mary (cf. 1:30-31)] and brothers [the other children of Mary and Joseph (cf. Mk. 6:3-4); Jesus’ half-brothers (cf. Matt. 13:55-56; Acts 1:14)] came to see him [Mk. 3:21 records that they thought Jesus was out of His mind], but they were not able to get near him because of the crowd.

8:20 Someone told him, “Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to see you.”

8:21 He replied, “My mother and brothers [i.e., those closest to Jesus] are [note the binding nature of spiritual relationships…] those who hear God’s word and put it into practice.”

8:22 One day Jesus said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side of the lake.” So they got into a boat and set out.



8:23 As they sailed, he fell asleep. A squall came down on the lake, so that the boat was being swamped, and they were in great danger.

8:24 The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Master, Master, we’re going to drown!” He got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters; the storm subsided, and all was calm.

8:25 “Where is your faith?” he asked his disciples. In fear and amazement they asked one another, “Who is this? He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him.”

8:26 They sailed to the region of the Gerasenes, which is across the lake from Galilee.

8:27 When Jesus stepped ashore, he was met by a demon-possessed man from the town. For a long time this man had not worn clothes or lived in a house, but had lived in the tombs.

8:28 When he saw Jesus, he cried out and fell at his feet, shouting at the top of his voice, “What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you, don’t torture me!”

8:29 For Jesus had commanded the impure spirit to come out of the man. Many times it had seized him, and though he was chained hand and foot and kept under guard, he had broken his chains and had been driven by the demon into solitary places.

8:30 Jesus asked him, “What is your name?”
“Legion,” he replied, because many demons had gone into him.

8:31 And they begged Jesus repeatedly not to order them to go into the Abyss.

8:32 A large herd of pigs was feeding there on the hillside. The demons begged Jesus to let them go into the pigs, and he gave them permission.

8:33 When the demons came out of the man, they went into the pigs, and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and was drowned.

8:34 When those tending the pigs saw what had happened, they ran off and reported this in the town and countryside,

8:35 and the people went out to see what had happened. When they came to Jesus, they found the man from whom the demons had gone out, sitting at Jesus’ feet, dressed and in his right mind; and they were afraid.

8:36 Those who had seen it told the people how the demon-possessed man had been cured.

8:37 Then all the people of the region of the Gerasenes asked Jesus to leave [compare with the reception Jesus received when returned to Capernaum in verse 40] them, because they were overcome with fear. So he got into the boat and left.

8:38 The man from whom the demons had gone out begged to go with him, but Jesus sent him away, saying,

8:39 “Return home and tell how much God has done for you.” So the man went away and told all over town how much Jesus had done for him.

8:40 Now when Jesus returned [from across the Sea of Galilee; likely arrived at Capernaum], a crowd welcomed him [compare with the reception Jesus received when he visited region of the Gerasenes (verse 37)], for they were all expecting him [the people expectantly waited for and looked for Jesus; among the crowd were two people who were fighting personal battles with fears and doubts; a reminder that you never know who is in the crowd and what they are dealing with (Prov. 14:13)].

8:41 Then a man [among the crowd waiting for Jesus to return] named Jairus [a man facing the worst thing a parent could face, the impending death of his daughter; desperation had driven him to look for Jesus; his name means “he will awaken”], a synagogue leader [a layman with assigned responsibilities that included the care of the scrolls, caring for the building, assisting with the distribution of alms, and scheduling rabbis to teach on the Sabbath], came and fell at Jesus’ feet [a sign of humility and also respect and ultimately desperation], pleading [a sign of desperation] with him to come to his house [he wanted the presence of Jesus in his home]

8:42 because his only [precious and irreplaceable] daughter, a girl of about twelve, was dying [a nightmare for a parent].

As Jesus was on his way [Jesus honored Jairus’ desperate plea for help], the crowds [followed Jesus, perhaps out of curiosity or to see what Jesus would do] almost crushed [suggests the crowd may have been large] him.

8:43 And a woman [tradition says she was from Caesarea Philippi and traveled to Capernaum to find Jesus] was there [among the crowd] who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years [this condition made her ceremonially unclean (Lev. 15:25-33) and ultimately drove her to seek Jesus], but no one [an indication that she had exhausted all possible avenues for healing] could heal her [according to Mark 5:25, she had spent all that she had on medical care; doctors had tried but failed; her conditioned had only grown worse].

8:44 She came up behind him [perhaps she thought that Jesus would not touch her because of her uncleanness] and touched the edge of his cloak [see Mark 6:56 and Acts 19:11-12 regarding people who believed that the clothes of a holy man imparted healing; Malachi (4:2) spoke of “the sun of righteousness” — a reference to the Messiah — and said that when he arrived there would be healing in his wings; the wings, among other things, is a reference to the edge or corner of a garment; the fact that the woman touched the wings of Jesus’ garment may indicate her belief that He was the Messiah and therefore there was healing in His wings; she specifically and intentionally touched the wings or edge of his garment], and immediately [speaks to the power that flowed from Jesus] her bleeding stopped [she was no longer in pain; she knew that she had been healed in and instant; touching the edge of Jesus’ cloak accomplished what no doctor was able to do].

8:45 [Jesus knew immediately about the healing] “Who touched me?” [seemed like a strange question to ask in the middle of a crowd; Jesus knew who had touched Him but wanted that person to step forward] Jesus asked.
When they all denied it [perhaps because no one had intentionally touched Jesus], Peter said [stated the obvious], “Master, the people are crowding and pressing against you.”

8:46 But Jesus said, “Someone [one person not many] touched [in a purposeful way and not just the press of the crowd] me; I know that power has gone out from me [this is why Jesus knew that someone had touched him with a specific intention].”

8:47 Then the woman, seeing that she could not go unnoticed [or could not slip away], came trembling and fell at his feet [a sign of humility]. In the presence of all the people [what she had done privately she confessed publicly], she told why she [in her state of uncleanness] had touched him [a rabbi and a man] and how she had been instantly healed [the woman knew she was healed].

8:48 Then he said [Jesus was kind in His response] to her, “Daughter [a tender expression; she was one of two daughters Jesus would help on that day], your faith [which she had properly placed in Jesus] has healed [physically but also emotionally (imagine the tears she had cried over the years) and mentally (imagine the anxiety that had kept her up so many nights)] you. Go in peace [she had come out of desperation and could now leave in peace].”

8:49 While Jesus was still speaking [with the woman who had interrupted His walk to Jairus’ house], someone [who knew that Jairus had left home to find Jesus] came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue leader. “Your daughter is dead,” [the worst possible news] he said. “Don’t bother the teacher anymore [the messenger did not see any reason for Jairus to bring Jesus to his home; he had likely not heard that Jesus had raised a young man from the dead in a town called Nain (Luke 7:11-15)].”

8:50 Hearing this, Jesus said to Jairus, “Don’t be afraid; just believe [Jesus had commended the woman with the issue of blood for her faith and now told Jairus to have faith; desperation had driven both the woman and Jairus to seek help from Jesus], and she will [this word speaks of certainly] be healed [the fact that the little girl was dead did not deter Jesus because He has power over death].”

8:51 When he arrived [indicates that Jairus continued to believe because he led Jesus to his home in spite of the fact that his daughter was dead] at the house of Jairus, he did not let anyone [the crowd followed Jesus all the way to Jairus’ house where there were others who were present] go in with him except Peter, John and James [these three disciples were Jesus’ inner circle (the only ones to see the transfiguration (Matt. 17:1; Mk. 13:3 and 14:33)], and the child’s father and mother.

8:52 Meanwhile, all the people [family, neighbors, possibly professional mourners, the crowd that had followed Jesus] were wailing and mourning [the expression of grief was a way for people to show respect for Jairus and his family] for her. “Stop wailing,” Jesus said. “She is not dead but asleep [a metaphor for death and a way to indicate that her condition was temporary].”

8:53 They laughed at him [perhaps thinking that Jesus was misinformed about the girl’s condition], knowing that she was dead [the people could not see beyond the actualities to see the possibilities offered by the presence of Jesus].

8:54 But he took her by the hand [Jesus defied Jewish ceremonial law by touching the dead girl, something that would have made Him unclean] and said, “My child, get up! [Jesus’ command changed everything]”

8:55 Her spirit returned, and at once she stood up [the girl came back to life healed and whole]. Then Jesus told them to give her something to eat.

8:56 Her parents were astonished, but he ordered them not to tell anyone what had happened [telling others might cause them to see Jesus as only a miracle worker and miss the fact that He had come to heal broken spiritual lives].