READING IN LUKE 8
READING IN LUKE 8
The woman spoken of at the end of chapter 7 is a type. She loved much as forgiven much. This chapter opens with others such as she. The two chapters are in this way connected. Pursuing the gospel, you feel there is gradual development. It is not simply an account of the Lord’s doings; the Spirit of God traces the normal effect of the testimony on the soul of man. The wonderful testimony of chapter 7 has affected souls so that they are drawn [p. 39] to Christ, and they are sympathetic with Him. They had been the subjects of His grace, and now they are with Him and ministering to Him of their substance. In chapter 4 He was alone in His testimony, but here the twelve are with Him, and a company of women. He was proclaiming the glad tidings of the kingdom of God, and surrounding Him were the fruits of His ministry. They were the evidence of what the grace of God could do for man, turning him from lawlessness to righteousness and delivering him from satanic power.
The chapter indicates the conditions under which the gospel was primarily announced. The apostles represent the official side, and then there was the spontaneous effect of grace. The subjective side shone in sympathy with the testimony. Both these things may be seen in the Acts. The apostles had been appointed, but the women represent the saints as having affection for Christ. The latter continues, while the official side will cease.
In Matthew and Mark the parable of the sower alludes more to the Lord’s rejection by Israel; their state was shown to be such, that no fruit could be had there. Here the ministry of grace is more prominent. God works sovereignly in view of this, and without His work there could be no good ground. In Luke the good ground produces the full result — a hundred-fold.
The seed is the “word of God”, and it falls on four different kinds of soil. The first three set forth the natural heart of man as tested by the gospel. It is not man’s opposition to the gospel, but his reception of it, as far as this is possible, and the result. There is nothing for God. This is a most important parable. As the Lord says in Mark 4: 13, “Know ye not this parable? and how then will ye know all parables?” To understand it involves that we have learnt the utter inability of the natural man to truly receive [p. 40] the gospel or be genuinely affected by it; and on the other hand our entire dependence on God, so that He might work in souls to the end that they might receive it in an honest and good heart and bring forth fruit with patience. The preacher can effect nothing in the soul; all he can do is to present the testimony. God produces the good ground.
Comparing the fruit of the good ground in Matthew, Mark and Luke, it will be seen that in Matthew there is decrease, one a hundred, one sixty, one thirty; in Mark there is increase, one thirty, one sixty, one a hundred; while in Luke the full result only is stated, a hundred. Matthew is dispensational, and we know that historically there has been decline in fruitfulness. Mark contemplates recovery, as in his own case, and there is increase at the end. Luke gives the full result of grace only.
“Bring forth fruit with patience”. Patience is a wonderful element in the Christian. It is a true evidence of power. There never was a time since Pentecost when it was more needed than it is now. The word of God received is to control you. You are tested in every way, but you stand true to what you have received. This proves an honest and good heart.
The word of God is the expression of Himself, and the fruit borne will necessarily be according to this; hence the Christian is formed after God. “Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever”, 1 Peter 1: 23.
The reference to light in verse 16 is in moral order. As the word of God is kept and fruit borne with patience, there is a candle of testimony burning. The Lord has lighted it and set it on a lamp-stand. And it is for the purpose that those who enter in should see. Everything should be manifested. God commanded light at the beginning, and He has [p. 41] kept it burning ever since. The Spirit of God sustains the light here. God ever maintained a light for David in Jerusalem. The light is in the Christian circle, and each should see to it that it is not obstructed. Light is really the character of God in the Christian. God appreciates fruit brought forth with patience. Patience has marked His dealings with man for six thousand years. Fruit is for God, and light is for men.
Light (verse 16) is consequent on the word sown. The saints are to shine as lights in the world. The danger is that the strenuous pressure of business on the one hand, and the ease and comfort which nature seeks on the other, would obscure the light. As formed by the word of God we are luminous. The saints were to take the place of Christ here, and this is a serious matter for us all. It is a question of the character of Christ continued in the body, but each Christian is to be a light. It would be a shame if in your individual surroundings there were no sense of what God is as expressed in Christ. We are to be “imitators of God as dear children”. God’s nature is to shine in His children.
Another important truth following is that as hearing the word of God and doing it we are recognised as related to Christ, verse 21. The word of God now determines everything; relationship after the flesh is ignored. In truth Israel, as on the ground of the flesh, is disowned.
This leads to a movement to “the other side”. The lake had to be crossed, and this gave the enemy an opportunity of attack. The storm of wind represents the hostile power of Satan. In the storm the Lord was asleep, and this became a test to the faith of the disciples. But what a disclosure as to His Person followed!
The country of the Gadarenes present a terrible state of things. The true condition of Israel is [p. 42] depicted, and then all are carried away and lost in the sea of the Gentiles. But the man who had been possessed is saved, and he wants to be with Jesus. As wishing to be with Christ, we are qualified for testimony on earth. The Lord sends the man to his own house. That is where we are least likely to be accredited, but, nevertheless, our testimony should begin there.
The man who had been possessed with demons, the woman with the issue of blood, and Jairus’ daughter, all refer to the remnant of Israel, and the activity of God’s grace on their behalf. This results in their being raised up, as we see in the daughter of Jairus.