Luke 8-9
Jesus used “He who has ears to hear, let him hear” on several occasions when telling parables . The expression describes the fact that spiritual people can discern the intended spiritual meaning of a parable. The implication is that unspiritual people would understand no more than the parable’s surface meaning.
The fourth group consists of those who listen, retain the Word, and … produce a crop (v. 15), that is, they bear spiritual fruit, evidence of their spiritual life. Their hearts were changed for they were noble and good.
Just as one does not light a lamp in order to hide it (cf. 11:33–36), so also a person is not given “the secrets of the kingdom of God” (8:10) in order to keep them secret
The people who followed Jesus were to consider carefully (v. 18) how they listened. If they heard and responded with genuine belief (cf. v. 15), then they would receive more truth. If they did not receive what they heard, they would lose it.
Jesus rebuked the storm, and chided them for their fear and their lack of faith in Him. He had already told them they would be crossing over to the other side of the lake (v. 22). This was an excellent opportunity for them to act on God’s Word that Jesus had been teaching (vv. 1–21).
Her hemorrhaging made the woman ceremonially unclean (
8:49–56. The story now returned to Jairus. Jesus had just been touched by someone who was considered ceremonially unclean. In spite of the fact that Jairus was informed that his daughter had died, he had faith that she would be resurrected (v. 50). That faith was partly expressed in the fact that he allowed Jesus to come into his house after He had touched an unclean woman.
9:1–6. Jesus gave the Twelve two assignments on the mission to which He sent them. They were to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. They were able to carry out that mission because Jesus gave them power (dynamin, “spiritual ability”; cf. 4:14, 36; 5:17; 6:19; 8:46) and authority (exousian, “the right to exercise the power”) over the demonic realm and the physical realm of diseases. Jesus had just shown His power over both of these realms (8:26–56). Their healing ministry was to authenticate their preaching ministry. The fact that the Twelve healed in Jesus’ authority and power showed that He was the Messiah who could bring in the kingdom.
Jesus was speaking of the three apostles who would accompany Him up the mountain of transfiguration. The transfiguration was a foretaste of the glories of the kingdom. This seems the best view. Luke linked this teaching (
