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New Defender's Study Bible Notes
8:2 Magdalene. Mary Magdalene, the first person to see Jesus after His resurrection (John 20:1,16) was from a small town named Magdala. She, as well as some of the other women in the company, loved and followed Jesus because they had been delivered from demon possession as a result of His concern for them.
8:3 Chuza Herod’s steward. Possibly it was through Chuza, the husband of Joanna, that the disciples learned the circumstances around the execution of John the Baptist.
8:3 of their substance. These women followers, including Mary of Magdala, were apparently somewhat well-to-do, and thus were able and willing to share financially in the ministry of Christ and the twelve apostles.
8:10 to others in parables. Jesus spoke in parables, not to help unbelievers see the gospel more clearly, but rather to keep them from understanding, since they would not hear it “in an honest and good heart” (Luke 8:15).
8:11 The seed. This same parable is recorded more fully in Matthew 13:3-23, and Mark 4:3-20, but it is stated here most explicitly that the seed sown in the field of the world by Christ and His followers must be God’s Word if it is to bear fruit.
8:17 known. This is a sobering warning to those who feel they can sin or cheat with impunity because no one knows. Sooner or later, everyone will know. “Be sure your sin will find you out” (Numbers 32:23).
8:21 My mother. This reaction of Jesus in no way indicated a lack of filial love or respect for His mother (note His care for her at the cross (John 19:26-27). It does indicate, however, that her place in the kingdom is no higher than any others “which hear the word of God, and do it.”
8:24 there was a calm. How could Jesus control the sea? “The sea is His, and He made it” (Psalm 95:5). That is how! And what about the stormy wind? He “bringeth the wind out of His treasuries” (Psalm 135:7). Then, “He maketh the storm a calm” (Psalm 107:29).
8:31 the deep. The “deep” (Greek abussos, ‘without bottom’) is the “bottomless pit” (Revelation 20:1,3) at the center of the earth, where many of “the angels that sinned” (II Peter 2:4) in the pre-Flood world had already been bound. Note also the parallel accounts in Matthew 8:28-34 and Mark 5:1-17.
8:35 his right mind. This description of the man, in contrast with his previous behavior (Luke 8:27,29), at least suggests that any person in his or her “right mind” will also be fully clothed and, as it were, sitting at the feet of Jesus. God has given us a “sound mind” (II Timothy 1:7) in Christ.
8:54 Maid, arise. This is the second recorded instance of Jesus—who is Himself “the life” (John 14:6)—restoring life to one who had died. The first was the son of the widow of Nain (Luke 7:11-15), the second was the daughter of Jairus, the ruler of the synagogue (Luke 8:41-55), the third was Lazarus, the brother of Mary and Martha (John 11:1-44).