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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Luke 8:4-21

The former paragraph began with an account of Christ's industry in preaching (Luke 8:1); this begins with an account of the people's industry in hearing, Luke 8:4. He went into every city, to preach; so they, one would think, should have contented themselves to hear him when he came to their own city (we know those that would); but there were those here that came to him out of every city, would not stay till he came to them, nor think that they had enough when he left them, but met him when he... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Luke 8:4-15

8:4-15 When a great crowd had gathered, and when they came to him from every city, Jesus spoke to them by means of a parable. The sower went out to sow his seed. As he sowed some seed fell by the wayside. It was trampled upon and the birds of the heaven devoured it. Other seed fell on rocky ground where it grew up and withered because there was no moisture. Other seed fell in the middle of thorns and the thorns grew up along with it and choked the life out of it. Other seed fell into good... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Luke 8:12

Those by the wayside are they that hear ,.... The word of God, though only by accident, and very carelessly, and without understanding what they hear: then cometh the devil ; signified by the fowls of the air: and taketh away the word out of their hearts , or memories; that little of it, which is retained there, and diverts their minds from it by other objects; so that they quite forget what they have heard; lest they should believe, and be saved : this clause is only in Luke;... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Luke 8:13

They on the rock are they, which when they hear ,.... The seed that fell upon the rock, or stony ground, signify such sort of hearers, who receive the word with joy . The Ethiopic version reads, "with joy of heart". But, this sort of hearers receive not the word into their hearts, or with their hearts believe it, and from their hearts obey it, only into their heads; and have only, an historical faith of it; nor with hearty, spiritual, solid joy, or joy in the Holy Ghost: for their hearts... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Luke 8:12

Those by the way side - Bishop Pearce thinks that Luke by οἱ here means σποροι , the seeds, though he acknowledges that he has never found such a word as σποροι in the plural number signifying seeds. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Luke 8:1-21

The evangelistic circuit. Observe— I. THE PLAN OF CIRCUIT . ( Luke 8:1 .) "He went," or "went about," or "kept journeying." Hitherto Capernaum had been the centre from which short excursions were taken, the Lord always returning to it. Now he moves steadily on from place to place, "passing in patience until his work is done." "Through cities and villages." He will not omit any abode of man. If social influence and power had been the aim, this Prophet would have limited his... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Luke 8:1-21

Incidents in evangelistic work. We have now to contemplate Jesus as fairly loosed from Capernaum as the centre of his mission work, and as making systematically the tour of the province of Galilee. The "beloved physician" gives to us here just such an insight into the material conditions of Christ's evangelistic work as we naturally desire. Let us, then, notice— I. THE SPIRITUAL AND TEMPORAL SIDES OF OUR LORD 'S EVANGELISTIC WORK . ( Luke 8:1-3 .) Twelve men and... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Luke 8:4-15

The parable of the sower , and the Lord ' s interpretation of it. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Luke 8:11-15

The Lord ' s interpretation of the parable of the sower. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Luke 8:12

Those by the wayside are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the Word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved. The wayside hearers represent the great outer circle of men and women who more or less respect religion. It must be carefully borne in mind that in none of the four classes pictured in the parable are despisers of God, declared enemies of religion, portrayed. To these the gospel, with its warnings and its promises, rarely if ever speaks. These... read more

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