Luke 8:9 - Printer Friendly

ESV: And when his disciples asked him what this parable meant,

NIV: His disciples asked him what this parable meant.

NASB: Now His disciples began asking Him what this parable meant.

CSB: Then his disciples asked him, "What does this parable mean?"

NLT: His disciples asked him what this parable meant.

KJV: And his disciples asked him, saying, What might this parable be?

NKJV: Then His disciples asked Him, saying, “What does this parable mean?”

Jesus has told the parable of the sower to a large crowd of people (Luke 8:4–8). Mark 4:10 explains that this conversation occurs a bit later, when the Twelve as well as a larger group of disciples are with Jesus, drawn away from the crowd. The disciples ask both what this parable is about as well as why Jesus uses parables at all (Matthew 13:10). Jesus starts by explaining why He uses parables before going into the interpretation (Luke 8:10).

In the parable, a sower—someone planting seeds—spreads seed on a plot of land. Some of the seed lands on the hard path where birds eat it. Some falls on a shallow layer of soil that covers bedrock. Some lands amongst a patch of thorn bushes. And some falls on good, deep soil that can nourish the plants and produce a healthy crop (Luke 8:4–8).

Jesus explains that the four types of soil represent different levels of listening. Those who don't listen well may be shallow thinkers, harassed by demonic forces, or distracted by earthly hardships and pleasures. Good listeners are like rich earth: they take God's Word and allow it to grow inside them until their lives reflect God's love and values (Luke 8:10–15).

Until now, the disciples have been present but passive members of crowds who follow and listen to Jesus. At this point, they begin to have a more active role. Soon, they will go out to heal, spread God's Word (Luke 9:1–6), and affirm Jesus' identity (Luke 9:18–20), but Jesus will challenge them to much more (Luke 9:23–27). Here, they have a quiet moment with Jesus and begin to travel with Him privately (Luke 8:22–39).

Luke 8:4–15 introduces the different ways in which people respond to the gospel. The sower—Jesus—spreads the "seed" of the gospel, and people accept or reject the message in varying degrees. Following are real-life examples of faith, particularly in conjunction with examples of miraculous salvation from the evils of the world. The parable of the sower is also found in Matthew 13:1–23 and Mark 4:1–20.

Luke 8 includes portions of three sections of Jesus' Galilean Ministry. The women who support Jesus' ministry bridge the faithful outcasts of chapter 7 to the sower who spreads the news of God's kingdom (Luke 8:1–3). Luke 8:4–18 includes the parables of the sower and the lamp under the jar. These illustrate the importance of hearing Jesus' message with a mind to believe and obey. Luke 8:19–56 presents different faith reactions when Jesus' life, power, and authority elicit questions about His identity.

This passage continues Luke's pattern in the account of Jesus' Galilean ministry: alternating calls to discipleship with stories that describe the discipleship He expects. In Luke 6:17, Jesus transitioned from calling and training the Twelve to a more general call; in Luke 7, Jesus interacted specifically with those with less privilege in society. Chapter 8 reveals how people react when Jesus reveals who He is, mostly through miracles. In Luke 9:18–50, Jesus returns to intense discipleship of the Twelve to give them courage and faith, preparing them for the journey to Jerusalem and what they will witness there.

Luke was a traveling companion of Paul (Acts 16:10) and a physician (Colossians 4:14). Unlike Matthew, Mark, and John, Luke writes his gospel as an historian, rather than as a first-hand eyewitness. His extensive writings also include the book of Acts (Acts 1:1–3). These are deliberately organized, carefully researched accounts of those events. The gospel of Luke focuses on the earthly ministry of Jesus Christ. Luke's Gentile perspective presents Christ as a Savior for all people, offering both forgiveness and direction to those who follow Him.