This commentary is a work in progress and may be revised as study continues. If you have a question, spot an error, or want to discuss a passage, please reach out.
1And 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,
2And certain women, which had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary called Magdalene, out of whom went seven devils,
3And Joanna the wife of Chuza Herod's steward, and Susanna, and many others, which ministered unto him of their substance.
4And when much people were gathered together, and were come to him out of every city, he spake by a parable:
5A 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.
6And some fell upon a rock; and as soon as it was sprung up, it withered away, because it lacked moisture.
7And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprang up with it, and choked it.
8And 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.
9And his disciples asked him, saying, What might this parable be?
10And 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.
11Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.
Trying to read Luke 8 as “carnal Christians” imports Paul’s later church-discipline category into Jesus’ evangelistic warning, this is a category error.
The word here is the actual words (logos) of God through Jesus, not Jesus (logos) Himself. Jesus tells us this:
Rejecting (plural)
“He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.” John 12:48
Contrasted with receiving (plural)
”For I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came out from thee, and they have believed that thou didst send me.” John 17:8
The devil can take it (singular)
”the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe” Luke 8:12
Notice “words” is plural. You have to receive the words of Jesus to receive the word Jesus.
Jesus is going to explain the types of hearts that hear His words. As He tells us in John 6:45 a person must do two things in order to come to Him:
1) hear and
2) learn from the Father
Jesus’ words are only of the Father (John 8:28, John 12:49-50). The Father spoke through Jesus while He was on earth. Some soils hear but only one soil does both, the fruitful one. The Father spoke through the prophets telling the people to prepare their hearts. Get rid of the stony, thorny soil to receive the words of God:
“Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the Lord, till he come and rain righteousness upon you." Hosea 10:12.
“Break up your fallow ground, and sow not among thorns.” Jeremiah 4:3
12Those 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.
This category does not produce fruit. Fruit is a diagnostic sign of life.
As the Bible teaches all throughout, a person must here and learn in order to come to Jesus John 6:45. All someone has to do is believe, this is the sole thing, not repent of sins, attend church, maintain good works, etc Once they do this, they are saved, past tense. But before the hearing is mixed with faith, the devil takes the word out of their hearts. Perhaps, they get distracted, a thought pops in their mind, they get a phone call, etc.
It says they hear but it stops there. Jesus tells us in John 6:45 that a person has to do two things in order to come to Him.
1. Hear and
2. learn of the Father.
This type of person hears but never goes on to learn because the devil takes away what they heard. Therefore, they never come to Jesus and believe unto salvation.
13They 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.
This category does not produce fruit. Fruit is a diagnostic sign of life.
The word believe isn’t always referring to someone being saved
Verse 12 establishes that if one believes, one is saved. However, in verse 13 Luke says that some believe for a while and then fall away. It never says they were saved. The duration of belief is mentioned, but the object of belief is not specified as Christ Himself. At minimum, it is belief in some of the words that are heard, not necessarily belief into Christ unto salvation.
Scripture shows that people can genuinely be said to “believe” even on Jesus, while still not possessing saving faith:
In John 8:31-44 some believe, yet Jesus says they are not saved. Just like our soil here, they can believe for a little while but this is not salvific. Jesus says they aren’t saved as their Father is not God.
They are said to believe:
“Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him” John 8:31
But freedom and truth are presented as future outcomes, not present realities, indicating they are not yet saved.
”And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” John 8:32
Later Jesus clearly identifies to us their true spiritual state, unsaved, as their Father is the devil.
“Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me:” verse 42
“Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do” verse 44
Finally, Jesus directly says they do not believe:
“And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not...why do ye not believe me?” John 8:45-46
Thus, Scripture can say they “believed,” while Jesus Himself says they do not believe in the saving sense.
People believe, yet Jesus does not entrust Himself to them. John explicitly records a category of belief that Jesus Himself rejects. Some translations word this “Jesus didn’t trust them”, these are not saved individuals.
“...many believed in his name...But Jesus did not commit himself unto them, because he knew all men... for he knew what was in man.” John 2:23-25
Jesus had disciples that left Him, they must have believed it was worth it to follow Him for some time. But when a hard truth comes they leave. They didn’t believe He had the words of eternal life, they believed for a time but fell away, they weren’t saved:
“From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.” John 6:66
The Jews claim to be Moses’s disciples, yet don’t believe Moses. They say they believe but still don’t really believe and Jesus calls this out
Their claim
”Then they reviled him, and said, Thou art his disciple; but we are Moses' disciples. We know that God spake unto Moses: as for this fellow, we know not from whence he is.” John 9:28-29
Jesus’ evaluation:
“For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me. But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words?” John 5:46–47
They claimed belief in Moses, yet Jesus declares that they in fact did not believe Moses at all, because true belief in Moses would have led to belief in Christ.
The type of belief matters. So from the above examples, scripture clearly shows that people can:
believe facts about Jesus
believe His words
believe because of signs
believe for a time
and yet not believe unto salvation.
In summary, this explains they believe for a while. Their belief never reaches saving union with Christ. Jesus calls such people to continue to know truth and become free (John 8:32) because they are not there yet. Their belief is genuine at one level, but it is not belief unto life.
This type of person believes some of the word of Jesus but time reveals they never believed unto salvation. We read about this type of soil in 1 John 2:19. John has no doubt if they were saved, they would have stayed: “They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.”
14And 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.
This category produces no fruit. Fruit is a diagnostic sign of life.
There appears to be some life in them, some green, but the life never grows to bring forth fruit. This is clarified in Matthew 13:22 and Mark 4:18-19 which state no fruit is produced at all for this soil. If someone is saved Jesus tells us that it is a guarantee they will produce fruit:
“I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. John 15:5
How do you abide? Just believe as 1 John 4:15 tells us using the same Greek word “meno”: “Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.”
It says they heard but it stops there. Jesus tells us in John 6:45 that a person has to do two things in order to come to Him.
1. Hear and
2. learn of the Father.
This type of person hears but never goes on to learn. Jesus tells Jews like this to continue in His word until they end up knowing the truth and getting free. They aren’t saved, not free and don’t even know the truth yet:
”Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” John 8:31-32
15But 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.
This category does bring forth fruit.
This is the only category that produces fruit, and fruit is the evidence of life, it proves there is a root. Without fruit, faith is dead, as James 2 teaches. Jesus likewise says, “Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down” (Matt. 7:19). Fruit is not the cause of life but the natural outworking of the root. Therefore, in John 15:5, fruit is not optional or uncertain; it is the inevitable result of someone who is truly united to Christ and genuinely saved.
This is the only category to fulfill the two requirements to come to Jesus
In the parallel account in Matthew 13:23 we read:
“But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.”
And Jesus tells us in John 6:45 that a person has to do two things in order to come to Him.
1. Hear and
2. learn of the Father.
” Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me.”
This is the type of soil that broke up their fallow ground, received the word on good ground, it took root and they were able to receive Jesus and be saved. Why? Because they not only heard the words of Jesus but they actually understand what He said. Understanding is key for a person to be saved. Jesus says it another way, to hear and believe:
John 5:24“...He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life”
This category does not fall away
Those that “having heard the word, keep it”are the people that are truly saved. Paul in 2 Timothy 4:7 says he kept it “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:”
The key point to note is that Paul and we do not keep ourselves saved, it is God that does this. 1 Peter 1:5 says “Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time”.
The disciples of Jesus were in this category, they also kept His word:
John 17:6 “I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word.”
16No 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.
17For nothing is secret, that shall not be made manifest; neither any thing hid, that shall not be known and come abroad.
18Take 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.
19Then came to him his mother and his brethren, and could not come at him for the press.
20And it was told him by certain which said, Thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to see thee.
21And he answered and said unto them, My mother and my brethren are these which hear the word of God, and do it.
Is it not enough to believe? Why does Jesus say hear and do it, does it imply works? The answer to this Jesus makes clear when the people asked what they should “do” in John 6:28-29“Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.”
22Now 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.
23But 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.
24And 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.
25And 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.
26And they arrived at the country of the Gadarenes, which is over against Galilee.
27And 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.
28When 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.)
30And Jesus asked him, saying, What is thy name? And he said, Legion: because many devils were entered into him.
31And they besought him that he would not command them to go out into the deep.
32And 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.
33Then 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.
34When they that fed them saw what was done, they fled, and went and told it in the city and in the country.
35Then 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.
36They also which saw it told them by what means he that was possessed of the devils was healed.
37Then 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.
38Now the man out of whom the devils were departed besought him that he might be with him: but Jesus sent him away, saying,
39Return 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.
40And it came to pass, that, when Jesus was returned, the people gladly received him: for they were all waiting for him.
41And, 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:
42For he had one only daughter, about twelve years of age, and she lay a dying. But as he went the people thronged him.
43And a woman having an issue of blood twelve years, which had spent all her living upon physicians, neither could be healed of any,
44Came behind him, and touched the border of his garment: and immediately her issue of blood stanched.
45And Jesus said, Who touched me? When all denied, Peter and they that were with him said, Master, the multitude throng thee and press thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me?
46And Jesus said, Somebody hath touched me: for I perceive that virtue is gone out of me.
47And when the woman saw that she was not hid, she came trembling, and falling down before him, she declared unto him before all the people for what cause she had touched him, and how she was healed immediately.
48And he said unto her, Daughter, be of good comfort: thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace.
49While he yet spake, there cometh one from the ruler of the synagogue's house, saying to him, Thy daughter is dead; trouble not the Master.
50But when Jesus heard it, he answered him, saying, Fear not: believe only, and she shall be made whole.
51And when he came into the house, he suffered no man to go in, save Peter, and James, and John, and the father and the mother of the maiden.
52And all wept, and bewailed her: but he said, Weep not; she is not dead, but sleepeth.
53And they laughed him to scorn, knowing that she was dead.
54And he put them all out, and took her by the hand, and called, saying, Maid, arise.
55And her spirit came again, and she arose straightway: and he commanded to give her meat.
56And her parents were astonished: but he charged them that they should tell no man what was done.
8
Luke 8 — Forever Word commentary
King James VersionThis commentary is a work in progress and may be revised as study continues. If you have a question, spot an error, or want to discuss a passage, please reach out.
1And 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,
2And certain women, which had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary called Magdalene, out of whom went seven devils,
3And Joanna the wife of Chuza Herod's steward, and Susanna, and many others, which ministered unto him of their substance.
4And when much people were gathered together, and were come to him out of every city, he spake by a parable:
5A 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.
6And some fell upon a rock; and as soon as it was sprung up, it withered away, because it lacked moisture.
7And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprang up with it, and choked it.
8And 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.
9And his disciples asked him, saying, What might this parable be?
10And 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.
11Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.
Trying to read Luke 8 as “carnal Christians” imports Paul’s later church-discipline category into Jesus’ evangelistic warning, this is a category error.
The word here is the actual words (logos) of God through Jesus, not Jesus (logos) Himself. Jesus tells us this:
Rejecting (plural)
“He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.” John 12:48
Contrasted with receiving (plural)
”For I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came out from thee, and they have believed that thou didst send me.” John 17:8
The devil can take it (singular)
”the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe” Luke 8:12
Notice “words” is plural. You have to receive the words of Jesus to receive the word Jesus.
Jesus is going to explain the types of hearts that hear His words. As He tells us in John 6:45 a person must do two things in order to come to Him:
1) hear and
2) learn from the Father
Jesus’ words are only of the Father (John 8:28, John 12:49-50). The Father spoke through Jesus while He was on earth. Some soils hear but only one soil does both, the fruitful one. The Father spoke through the prophets telling the people to prepare their hearts. Get rid of the stony, thorny soil to receive the words of God:
“Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the Lord, till he come and rain righteousness upon you." Hosea 10:12.
“Break up your fallow ground, and sow not among thorns.” Jeremiah 4:3
12Those 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.
This category does not produce fruit. Fruit is a diagnostic sign of life.
As the Bible teaches all throughout, a person must here and learn in order to come to Jesus John 6:45. All someone has to do is believe, this is the sole thing, not repent of sins, attend church, maintain good works, etc Once they do this, they are saved, past tense. But before the hearing is mixed with faith, the devil takes the word out of their hearts. Perhaps, they get distracted, a thought pops in their mind, they get a phone call, etc.
It says they hear but it stops there. Jesus tells us in John 6:45 that a person has to do two things in order to come to Him.
1. Hear and
2. learn of the Father.
This type of person hears but never goes on to learn because the devil takes away what they heard. Therefore, they never come to Jesus and believe unto salvation.
13They 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.
This category does not produce fruit. Fruit is a diagnostic sign of life.
The word believe isn’t always referring to someone being saved
Verse 12 establishes that if one believes, one is saved. However, in verse 13 Luke says that some believe for a while and then fall away. It never says they were saved. The duration of belief is mentioned, but the object of belief is not specified as Christ Himself. At minimum, it is belief in some of the words that are heard, not necessarily belief into Christ unto salvation.
Scripture shows that people can genuinely be said to “believe” even on Jesus, while still not possessing saving faith:
In John 8:31-44 some believe, yet Jesus says they are not saved. Just like our soil here, they can believe for a little while but this is not salvific. Jesus says they aren’t saved as their Father is not God.
They are said to believe:
“Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him” John 8:31
But freedom and truth are presented as future outcomes, not present realities, indicating they are not yet saved.
”And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” John 8:32
Later Jesus clearly identifies to us their true spiritual state, unsaved, as their Father is the devil.
“Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me:” verse 42
“Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do” verse 44
Finally, Jesus directly says they do not believe:
“And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not...why do ye not believe me?” John 8:45-46
Thus, Scripture can say they “believed,” while Jesus Himself says they do not believe in the saving sense.
People believe, yet Jesus does not entrust Himself to them. John explicitly records a category of belief that Jesus Himself rejects. Some translations word this “Jesus didn’t trust them”, these are not saved individuals.
“...many believed in his name...But Jesus did not commit himself unto them, because he knew all men... for he knew what was in man.” John 2:23-25
Jesus had disciples that left Him, they must have believed it was worth it to follow Him for some time. But when a hard truth comes they leave. They didn’t believe He had the words of eternal life, they believed for a time but fell away, they weren’t saved:
“From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.” John 6:66
The Jews claim to be Moses’s disciples, yet don’t believe Moses. They say they believe but still don’t really believe and Jesus calls this out
Their claim
”Then they reviled him, and said, Thou art his disciple; but we are Moses' disciples. We know that God spake unto Moses: as for this fellow, we know not from whence he is.” John 9:28-29
Jesus’ evaluation:
“For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me. But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words?” John 5:46–47
They claimed belief in Moses, yet Jesus declares that they in fact did not believe Moses at all, because true belief in Moses would have led to belief in Christ.
The type of belief matters. So from the above examples, scripture clearly shows that people can:
believe facts about Jesus
believe His words
believe because of signs
believe for a time
and yet not believe unto salvation.
In summary, this explains they believe for a while. Their belief never reaches saving union with Christ. Jesus calls such people to continue to know truth and become free (John 8:32) because they are not there yet. Their belief is genuine at one level, but it is not belief unto life.
This type of person believes some of the word of Jesus but time reveals they never believed unto salvation. We read about this type of soil in 1 John 2:19. John has no doubt if they were saved, they would have stayed: “They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.”
14And 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.
This category produces no fruit. Fruit is a diagnostic sign of life.
There appears to be some life in them, some green, but the life never grows to bring forth fruit. This is clarified in Matthew 13:22 and Mark 4:18-19 which state no fruit is produced at all for this soil. If someone is saved Jesus tells us that it is a guarantee they will produce fruit:
“I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. John 15:5
How do you abide? Just believe as 1 John 4:15 tells us using the same Greek word “meno”: “Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.”
It says they heard but it stops there. Jesus tells us in John 6:45 that a person has to do two things in order to come to Him.
1. Hear and
2. learn of the Father.
This type of person hears but never goes on to learn. Jesus tells Jews like this to continue in His word until they end up knowing the truth and getting free. They aren’t saved, not free and don’t even know the truth yet:
”Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” John 8:31-32
15But 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.
This category does bring forth fruit.
This is the only category that produces fruit, and fruit is the evidence of life, it proves there is a root. Without fruit, faith is dead, as James 2 teaches. Jesus likewise says, “Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down” (Matt. 7:19). Fruit is not the cause of life but the natural outworking of the root. Therefore, in John 15:5, fruit is not optional or uncertain; it is the inevitable result of someone who is truly united to Christ and genuinely saved.
This is the only category to fulfill the two requirements to come to Jesus
In the parallel account in Matthew 13:23 we read:
“But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.”
And Jesus tells us in John 6:45 that a person has to do two things in order to come to Him.
1. Hear and
2. learn of the Father.
” Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me.”
This is the type of soil that broke up their fallow ground, received the word on good ground, it took root and they were able to receive Jesus and be saved. Why? Because they not only heard the words of Jesus but they actually understand what He said. Understanding is key for a person to be saved. Jesus says it another way, to hear and believe:
John 5:24“...He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life”
This category does not fall away
Those that “having heard the word, keep it” are the people that are truly saved. Paul in 2 Timothy 4:7 says he kept it “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:”
The key point to note is that Paul and we do not keep ourselves saved, it is God that does this. 1 Peter 1:5 says “Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time”.
The disciples of Jesus were in this category, they also kept His word:
John 17:6 “I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word.”
16No 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.
17For nothing is secret, that shall not be made manifest; neither any thing hid, that shall not be known and come abroad.
18Take 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.
19Then came to him his mother and his brethren, and could not come at him for the press.
20And it was told him by certain which said, Thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to see thee.
21And he answered and said unto them, My mother and my brethren are these which hear the word of God, and do it.
Is it not enough to believe? Why does Jesus say hear and do it, does it imply works? The answer to this Jesus makes clear when the people asked what they should “do” in John 6:28-29 “Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.”
22Now 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.
23But 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.
24And 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.
25And 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.
26And they arrived at the country of the Gadarenes, which is over against Galilee.
27And 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.
28When 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.)
30And Jesus asked him, saying, What is thy name? And he said, Legion: because many devils were entered into him.
31And they besought him that he would not command them to go out into the deep.
32And 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.
33Then 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.
34When they that fed them saw what was done, they fled, and went and told it in the city and in the country.
35Then 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.
36They also which saw it told them by what means he that was possessed of the devils was healed.
37Then 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.
38Now the man out of whom the devils were departed besought him that he might be with him: but Jesus sent him away, saying,
39Return 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.
40And it came to pass, that, when Jesus was returned, the people gladly received him: for they were all waiting for him.
41And, 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:
42For he had one only daughter, about twelve years of age, and she lay a dying. But as he went the people thronged him.
43And a woman having an issue of blood twelve years, which had spent all her living upon physicians, neither could be healed of any,
44Came behind him, and touched the border of his garment: and immediately her issue of blood stanched.
45And Jesus said, Who touched me? When all denied, Peter and they that were with him said, Master, the multitude throng thee and press thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me?
46And Jesus said, Somebody hath touched me: for I perceive that virtue is gone out of me.
47And when the woman saw that she was not hid, she came trembling, and falling down before him, she declared unto him before all the people for what cause she had touched him, and how she was healed immediately.
48And he said unto her, Daughter, be of good comfort: thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace.
49While he yet spake, there cometh one from the ruler of the synagogue's house, saying to him, Thy daughter is dead; trouble not the Master.
50But when Jesus heard it, he answered him, saying, Fear not: believe only, and she shall be made whole.
51And when he came into the house, he suffered no man to go in, save Peter, and James, and John, and the father and the mother of the maiden.
52And all wept, and bewailed her: but he said, Weep not; she is not dead, but sleepeth.
53And they laughed him to scorn, knowing that she was dead.
54And he put them all out, and took her by the hand, and called, saying, Maid, arise.
55And her spirit came again, and she arose straightway: and he commanded to give her meat.
56And her parents were astonished: but he charged them that they should tell no man what was done.