Sharing the Light of Christ: Reflection on Luke 8
- circulargrace
- Sep 20
- 6 min read
This post accompanies my video reading of Luke Chapter 8 published on the Circular Grace YouTube channel. You can access it here.
I'm hearing a call to share the Gospel!
Before delving into the respected commentary on Luke 8, I wanted to share what jumped out at me personally from this chapter of the Gospel. I heard such a strong and encouraging message from Jesus to share the light of the truth. Not to sit on it or be tempted to keep it to myself but share it so that others could hear and see it too.
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. (Luke 8:16 (KJV))
The prompt to share the truth seemed to me to be a theme that ran through this chapter. Jesus when explaining the parable of the soils to his disciples pointed at an aspect of sharing the truth that goes beyond simply repeating words. I'll try to explain in my one words. To successfully grow fruit from a seed, we need to sow a seed in nutrient rich soil. A seed needs to be planted and carefully nourished to develop into a healthy plant that will go on to produce fruit in due season. Jesus provides concrete clarity as to what the seed in the parable represents. The seed is the Word of God and as we also know, Jesus is the Word of God (John 1:2).
11 Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. (Luke 8:11 (KJV))
I believe Jesus is talking about the Word of God planted in our heart. In other words, knowledge of and faith in Jesus planted in our heart. That seed needing to be nourished so that it can grow into Christlike thoughts, words and deeds. This seems to describe a process of growing in faith. From a seed being planted, to a growing maturity that involves turning heart into observable and shared actions and experiences. It's basically what we do as followers of Jesus. We become His representatives, sharing his truth and light with others in both word and deed.
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. (Luke 8:15 (KJV))
My mind jumped forward to the man who had been named 'legion' before Christ banished the host of demons from him. He saw the Light of Christ and wanted to stay beside Jesus. Jesus asked him to go and share the truth and he did with an honest and good heart. He didn't hide the light he had received under a bed, he put it on a stand where others could see it! They went on to share with other people, some embracing the truth and others rejecting it.
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. (Luke 8:39 (KJV))
After a host of examples encouraging the truth to be shared, the chapter concludes with Jesus asking the parents of the maiden not to share that he had brought their daughter from death to life. How curious, I thought! Upon reflection however I remembered that Jesus had said earlier in the chapter that truth is always revealed. I'm considering that this plea for silence was perhaps more to do with Jesus attempting to manage the circumstances of His ministry in relation to public reactions. People are already pressing in and thronging Him and at times making it so difficult for Him to preach that He must take a boat out a little way to preach from.
We know that the truth was indeed revealed and subsequently shared to the four corners of the world because we are discussing it here and now. How remarkable!
17 For nothing is secret, that shall not be made manifest; neither any thing hid, that shall not be known and come abroad. 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. (Luke 8:17-18 (KJV))
I'll leave my personal reflection there and jump into some respected published commentary for more clarity on this chapter.
Enduring Word Commentary
This commentary adds some useful information regarding the sequence of events. Apparently Jesus was revisiting towns he had previously ministered to
a. He went through every city and village: This is often thought to be the second tour of Jesus through the region of Galilee (the first being described in Luke 4:42-44). Jesus probably went to the same cities and villages more than once in His itinerant preaching work.
The next snippet I found interesting, related to the women who were part of Jesus' group alongside the 12 apostles. It's of note because women were not traditional taught by the rabbis.
i. “The rabbis refused to teach women and generally assigned them a very inferior place.” (Morris) It’s interesting to note that in the four Gospels, all of Jesus’ enemies were men.
The final interesting point of clarity I will share from this commentary is the detailed explanation of what a parable is and maybe more importantly, what a parable is not.
iii. Parables generally teach one main point or principle. We can get into trouble by expecting that they be intricate systems of theology, with the smallest detail revealing hidden truths. “A parable is not an allegory; an allegory is a story in which every possible detail has an inner meaning; but an allegory has to be read and studied; a parable is heard. We must be very careful not to make allegories of the parables.” (Barclay)
If you would like to read the full commentary, here is a link
Blue Letter Bible Commentary
This is a full commentary that provides a lot of verse by verse context. There is a detailed section referencing the women who were ministering (looking after Jesus). I was curious to hear more about Joanne the wife of one of Herod's stewards.
3. Another of them was Joanna the wife of Chuza, Herod's steward. She had been his wife (so some), but was now a widow, and left in good circumstances. If she was now his wife, we have reason to think that her husband, though preferred in Herod's court, had received the gospel, and was very willing that his wife should be both a hearer of Christ and a contributor to him.
This is a very wordy commentary, characteristic of its age but it often beautifully expresses with extreme clarity of meaning. I loved this explanation of why a parable is heard and understood by some and not others.
Those who would receive instruction from Christ must know and consider what a privilege it is to be instructed by him, what a distinguishing privilege to be led into the light, such a light, when others are left in darkness, such a darkness. Happy are we, and for ever indebted to free grace, if the same thing that is a parable to others, with which they are only amused, is a plain truth to us, by which we are enlightened and governed, and into the mould of which we are delivered.
This is a wonderful and long commentary to delve into for some deep thought and clarity on this chapter. I'll finish my tour through it with this lovely snippet relating salvation to the parable of the seeds and soil.
[1.] That we cannot be saved unless we believe. The word of the gospel will not be a saving word to us, unless it be mixed with faith.
For the full commentary, follow this link.
Bible Ref Commentary
If you prefer more of a summary, this commentary provides a quick read. You will find a wealth of bite size clarity, such as this little snippet:
Luke 8:19–21 presents the first example of how people respond to the gospel. Jesus' mother and brothers want to see Him. They stand "outside" as a metaphor for rejection of His gospel. Those who are "inside" hear His message and accept it. Jesus' followers are His true family. Of course, according to the Bible, His mother and brothers eventually accept Him as their Savior. Jesus' initial rejection by family is also recorded in Matthew 12:46–50 and Mark 3:31–35.
For the full commentary, here is the link.
Thank you as always for reading along! Until next time, God bless you and keep you!
I love writing these posts because they give me an opportunity to reflect personally on what I've read. I'm always in awe of what other people pick up on that I miss. There is so much depth in each chapter to behold and I often get preoccupied with a small aspect that grabbed me in a meaningful way. Please share what grabbed you personally. Or maybe you have thoughts or questions. Share and ask away... I'm all ears 😊