The Gospel of Luke
Parables and Healings: chapter 8
Chapter 8 opens with a summary, 8,1. Jesus is now going through towns and villages proclaiming the good news. This summary in 8,1-3 underlines what we saw in the previous scene, that the woman who anointed Jesus in 7,37 cannot be identified with Mary Magdelene in 8,2.
In 9,1, it is the calling together of the Twelve which marks another new section. In between, we can note Jesus getting into the boat in 8,22 as another beginning.
The way in which Luke has re-arranged Mark and added those three verses of his own is quite distinctive:
| Lk 8,1-3 | The 12 and the women | Unique to Luke |
| Lk 8,4-15 | The Parable of the Sower | Mk 4,1-20 |
| Lk 8,16-18 | The Parable of the Lamp | Mk 4,21-25 |
| Lk 8,19-21 | The Family of Jesus | Mk 3,31-35 |
| Lk 8,22-25 | The calming of a storm | Mk 4,35-41 |
| Lk 8,26-39 | The healing of the possessed man | Mk 5,1-20 |
| Lk 8,40-56 | The healing of the daughter and the woman | Mk 5,21-43 |
What stands out from this comparison is that Luke has moved Mark's statement about the true family of Jesus fom chapter 3 (Mk 3,31-35) before the parables and placed it after them (8,19-21). With his three special verses about the disciples and the women at the beginning of the chapter, the result is that Luke has placed a bracket around the parables, making 8,1-21 a distinct unit. In this way, Luke has given these parables a different setting to Mark (Mk 4,1-2).
Further, Luke has omitted the two parables concerned with the kingdom of God (Mk 4,26-34). Neither parable fits Luke's theme of the word of God which, as we will see, is the key to 8,1-21.
After the parables, Jesus and his disciples cross to the other side of the lake. We can note the notably strong new beginning in 8,22. It is usually simplified in the translations but literally it reads: "Now it came to pass on one of those days that he got into the boat...". The second part of the chapter that follows involves calming a storm (8,22-25) and healing a demoniac (8,26-39).
On his return in 8,40, in another verse unique to Luke, the crowds welcomed him. Jesus then heals the two women (8,40-56). This is the third part of the chapter.
By telling of the calming of the storm and the healings in the second half of this chapter, Luke is continuing to follow Mark's sequence after the parables. He will be going his own way again in chapter 9, as we will see.
Back now to the main page and then on to read the parables.