Bible Commentaries

1 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,

Ver. 1. He went through every city] To teach us unweariableness in God’s work. He went about doing good: so should we, waiting all opportunities.

2 And certain women, which had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary called Magdalene, out of whom went seven devils,

Ver. 2. Which had been healed] Exodus 30:10. After sickness they were to offer to God the ransom of their lives. Hezekiah testified his thankfulness for recovery by a song; these good women, by following Christ; when they might have staid at home with more ease to themselves, and more thank of their friends. Nay, very heathens, after a fit of sickness, would consecrate something to their gods.

Mary, called Magdalen, out of whom went seven devils] Which some interpret of seven deadly sins.

3 And Joanna the wife of Chuza Herod’s steward, and Susanna, and many others, which ministered unto him of their substance.

Ver. 3. Joanna, the wife of Chuza, Herod’s steward] Or treasurer, as the Arabic calleth him, his vicar-general, or protetrarch. This court lady followeth Christ: so did Serena the empress, who was therefore martyred by her husband Diocletian. So Elizabeth, Queen of Denmark; of whom Luther testifieth (in Epist. ad Jo. Agrieol.) that she died a faithful professor of the reformed religion; and addeth, Scilicet Christus etiam aliquando voluit Reginam in coelum vehere. Christ would once save a queen: which he doth not often.

4 And when much people were gathered together, and were come to him out of every city, he spake by a parable:

Ver. 4. And when much people, &c.] {See Trapp on "Matthew 13:2"} &c

5 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.

6 And some fell upon a rock; and as soon as it was sprung up, it withered away, because it lacked moisture.

7 And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprang up with it, and choked it.

8 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.

9 And his disciples asked him, saying, What might this parable be?

10 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.

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

Ver. 11. See Matthew 13:18.

12 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.

Ver. 12. Taketh away the word] Lest, if it should lie long upon their hard hearts, it should break through them with its weight, as being able to save their souls, James 1:21.

13 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.

Ver. 13. With joy] Which yet was but a flash.

14 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.

Ver. 14. Go forth, &c.] viz. About their worldly businesses; which, as the lean kine in Pharaoh’s dream, devour the fat, and it is nothing seen by them. After awhile they remember no more than the man in the moon doth, what they had heard delivered.

15 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.

Ver. 15. In an honest] Referred to the end and intent in the action.

And good heart] In respect of inward renewed qualities.

Having heard the word, keep it] As food or physic, which if not kept, profiteth not. They incorporate it into their souls, so as it becomes an ingrafted word; they are transformed into the same image, conformed to the heavenly pattern.

With patience] Or, with tarriance for the fit season, εν υπομονη. Not as that first ripe fruit, Luke 8:13; Psalms 129:6-7

16 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.

Ver. 16. No man, when he hath lighted, &c.] q.d. Though to you it is given to know mysteries, &c., as Luke 8:10, yet not for your own use only, but that your light may shine before men.

17 For nothing is secret, that shall not be made manifest; neither any thing hid, that shall not be known and come abroad.

Ver. 17. See Matthew 16:26; Mark 4:22; Luke 12:2.

18 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.

Ver. 18. Take heed therefore how ye hear] For else ye shall neither bear good fruits, nor be borne with for your barrenness. All shall out, and you shall smart for it.

Even that which he seemeth to have] There is a great deal of seemingness abroad; and every grace hath its counterfeit. Simia quam similis, turpissima bestia, nobis, saith Ennius. But God strips men of common gifts; and counterfeit complexion will not long hold.

19 Then came to him his mother and his brethren, and could not come at him for the press.

Ver. 19. See Matthew 12:46; Mark 3:31.

20 And it was told him by certain which said, Thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to see thee.

Ver. 20. See Matthew 12:46; Mark 3:31.

21 And he answered and said unto them, My mother and my brethren are these which hear the word of God, and do it.

Ver. 21. See Matthew 12:46; Mark 3:31.

22 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.

Ver. 22. See Matthew 8:23; Mark 4:36.

23 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.

Ver. 23. See Matthew 8:23; Mark 4:36.

24 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.

Ver. 24. See Matthew 8:23; Mark 4:36.

25 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.

Ver. 25. Where is your faith?] It is not having faith, but living by it, the actuating of it, that helps us in an exigence.

26 And they arrived at the country of the Gadarenes, which is over against Galilee.

Ver. 26. See Matthew 8:28; Mark 5:2.

27 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.

Ver. 27. A certain man which had devils] All Pharaoh’s cruelty exercised over the Israelites was nothing to this. Oh then the inexpressible torments of the damned! Utinam ubique de Gehenna dissereretur! saith a Father (Chrysostom). I could wish men would discourse much and often of hell.

28 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.

29 (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.)

Ver. 29. And was driven of the devil] As a horse is by his rider (so the word ηλαυνετο signifieth) or a ship with oars. All wicked men are acted and agitated by the devil, Ephesians 2:2, persecutors especially. Quod si videris aliquando persecutorem tuum nimis saevientem, scito quia ab ascensore sue diabolo perurgetur. If persecutors sometimes be more moderate, it is because the devil spurs not so hard. (Bernard.)

30 And Jesus asked him, saying, What is thy name? And he said, Legion: because many devils were entered into him.

Ver. 30. And he said, Legion] We must be ready and well-appointed to resist; for the devil sets upon us not without military discipline and singular skill. Cataphractus incedit Satan, saith Luther. The devil marcheth well armed and in good array.

31 And they besought him that he would not command them to go out into the deep.

Ver. 31. To go out into the deep] i.e. Hell, that bottomless deep, Revelation 20:3; 2 Peter 2:4, where they could do no more hurt: which would be another hell unto them. Augustus, consulting Apollo’s oracle, was told, that a Hebrew child had stopped his mouth, and sent him with a mittimus {a} to hell, &c. (Pucer de Orac.)

{a} A warrant under the hand and seal of a justice of the peace or other proper officer, directed to the keeper of a prison, ordering him to receive into custody and hold in safe-keeping, until delivered in due course of law, the person sent and specified in the warrant. ŒD

32 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.

33 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.

Ver. 33. And the herd ran violently] So would the possessed man soon have done, but that God preserved him.

34 When they that fed them saw what was done, they fled, and went and told it in the city and in the country.

35 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.

Ver. 35. Sitting at the feet of Jesus] As fearing lest, if he departed, he should be repossessed. So we see it is an old error and weakness for men to be too strongly conceited of Christ’s corporeal presence.

36 They also which saw it told them by what means he that was possessed of the devils was healed.

Ver. 36. See Matthew 8:33-34.

37 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.

Ver. 37. See Matthew 8:33-34.

38 Now the man out of whom the devils were departed besought him that he might be with him: but Jesus sent him away, saying,

Ver. 38. Sent him away] Christ would not have him depend upon his bodily presence, but upon his Almighty power.

39 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.

Ver. 39. Show how great things] This was all the fee Christ called for for all his cures. He is content that we have the benefit, so he may have the glory of what he does for us.

40 And it came to pass, that, when Jesus was returned, the people gladly received him: for they were all waiting for him.

Ver. 40. When Jesus was returned] viz. Into Galilee, where he was highly honoured.

41 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:

Ver. 41. See Matthew 9:18; Mark 5:22.

42 For he had one only daughter, about twelve years of age, and she lay a dying. But as he went the people thronged him.

Ver. 42. See Matthew 9:18; Mark 5:22.