The Ignatius Catholic Study Bible New Testament (90 page)

7:24 A reed shaken:
At one level, Jesus is speaking of the familiar reed plant that grew plentifully in the Jordan valley; on another, he is making a riddle-like comparison between a wavering reed and the immediately following image of a king living in luxury (7:25). These images come together in Herod Antipas, the chief opponent of John the Baptist. Not only was Antipas a tetrarch (ruler) who resided in the royal palaces at Tiberias, his capital city beside the Sea of Galilee, but he also commemorated the founding of Tiberias by minting coins stamped with the emblem of a reed. The contrast implied by Jesus' questions is stark: John is an uncompromising leader and even more than a prophet, while Antipas is an accommodating leader, whose weakness of character makes him less than a king. 
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7:27 I send my messenger:
A citation from Mal 3:1. John fulfills this prophecy as the Messiah's forerunner (Mk 1:2). • Malachi foresees the messenger who will prepare Israel for the Lord's arrival. This herald closely resembles the prophet Elijah (Mal 4:5).
See note on Lk 1:17
. 
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7:28 none is greater:
John the Baptist was the most illustrious prophet of the OT era (16:16). Unlike those before him, he did not merely see the blessings of the New Covenant from a distance but received them even before birth (1:15) (CCC 523, 719). 
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7:32 like children:
Jesus compares his generation to children who complain regardless of what games are suggested by others. Both the joyousness
(We piped)
of Jesus' ministry and the somberness
(we wailed)
of John's preaching were invitations to the kingdom, yet both were refused. 
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7:35 wisdom is justified:
God's children recognize the wisdom announced by Jesus and John and welcome it as an invitation to enter the kingdom.
See note on Mt 11:19
. 
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7:36 One of the Pharisees:
Three times Jesus dines with a Pharisee in Luke (11:37; 14:1).
sat at table:
Jews of that time customarily reclined on low couches near the floor to eat festal and ritual meals. They leaned upon a cushion on their left side and ate with their right hand. This explains how the woman stood at Jesus' feet while also standing behind him (7:38). 
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7:37 a sinner:
The host and dinner guests knew the woman's reputation, although her sins are not specified for the reader (7:39). Jesus' own reputation in 7:34 is confirmed, since he befriends even sinners to extend them mercy (CCC 545).
alabaster flask:
An elegant stone jar. The woman's lavish use of the
ointment
is an expression of her courage and contrition, as she goes beyond the already extravagant norms of Eastern hospitality (7:44-46; Gen 18:4-5). A similar episode occurs in Bethany before Passion Week (Mt 26:6-13; Jn 12:1-8). 
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7:41 denarii:
A denarius was a Roman coin equivalent to a laborer's daily wage. Central to the parable is the considerable difference between
five hundred
and
fifty
day's wages. 
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7:47 for she loved much:
As illustrated by the parable (7:4143), the woman's love was the effect of her forgiveness, not the cause of it (CCC 2712). 
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7:49 even forgives sins?:
Jesus claims to accomplish what only God can do for sinners.
See note on Lk 5:21
. 
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8:1-3
Jesus' urgent mission left no time for him and the disciples to settle into a trade. Several women thus accompanied them to offer provisions and financial assistance. This challenged Jewish custom, which discouraged men from associating with women in public (Jn 4:27). 
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8:4 in a parable:
Parables either reveal or conceal divine mysteries. Here Jesus' message remains hidden to the crowds, although it is explained to the disciples (8:9-10). See word study:
Parables
at Mt 13:3. 
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8:5-8
The parable of the Sower. Jesus sketches four different responses to the gospel. Three scenarios are unfruitful, while the
good soil
is receptive and produces a great harvest (8:8). As the
sower,
Jesus' ministry runs parallel to the OT prophets who encountered opposition and widespread unbelief (13:3334; Acts 7:51-53).
See note on Mk 4:3-8
. 
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8:10 the secrets:
Jesus explains the parable to his disciples instead of the crowds. He is preparing them for leadership roles in God's kingdom, the Church (22:28-30).
See note on Mk 4:11
.
seeing they may not see:
An allusion to Is 6:9-10. • Isaiah pronounced Yahweh's judgment on wayward Israel. It had the disciplinary effect of closing their eyes and ears to the truth and hardening their hearts to God's love. Even still, God preserved a "holy seed" (Is 6:13) or remnant of faithful people who believed in him. Jesus' own ministry falls in line with Isaiah's (Jn 12:39-40). 
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8:16-18
The parable of the
lamp
explains Jesus' teaching strategy, where the mysteries of the kingdom will be
hidden
from the multitudes only temporarily. With the birth of the New Covenant Church, they will finally
come to light
(8:17; 12:2-3). •
Morally
(St. Augustine,
De Quaest. Evang.
2, 12): Jesus encourages boldness in evangelical preaching. No minister of the gospel should conceal the light of truth beneath earthly fears of persecution. The faithful servant puts Christ's lamp in full view, displaying his truth for the benefit of all. 
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8:18 Take heed:
Jesus attaches great responsibility to his message (12:48). The blessings of God's truth must be treasured and shared, since whoever neglects or ignores them will lose them. 
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8:21 my brethren:
Not Mary's children, but probably the cousins of Jesus (CCC 500).
See note on Mt 12:46
.
hear the word of God and do it:
Jesus' spiritual family shares his life and follows his ways (6:35; 11:28; Jn 1:12; Rom 8:29). Mary's divine motherhood was established on this same basis; she embraced God's will throughout her life.
See note on Lk 1:38
. 
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8:22-56
Three episodes highlighting the power of Jesus' word. At his command, raging storms are stilled (8:24), demons are cast out (8:29), and the dead are raised to new life (8:54). 
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8:25 Who then is this:
The disciples marvel at Jesus' divine power over nature (Job 26:12; Ps 89:9; 107:2829).
See note on Mt 8:23-27
. •
Allegorically
(St. Bede,
In Lucam
31): Jesus' sleep signifies his death, an absence that strikes fear in the heart of his disciples. Beaten by waves of doubt, they are finally comforted when Christ awakes from the grave to put down the devil and strip him of the power of death. 
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8:26 Gerasenes:
The city of Gerasa was located east of the Jordan river and was one of the ten Gentile cities of the Decapolis (Mk 5:1, 20). This non-Jewish setting is accentuated by the presence of feeding swine (8:32), animals the Israelites would neither raise nor eat (Lev 11:7-8; Deut 14:8). 
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8:30 Legion:
A military term for 6,000 Roman soldiers. It points to the overwhelming presence of evil in the man and the intensity of the spiritual warfare taking place. The superiority of Jesus is made clear when his mere word conquers an entire army of Satan's forces (11:20). See note on 4:36. 
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8:31 the abyss:
The gloomy pit where demons are confined until the Last Judgment (2 Pet 2:4; Rev 9:1-11; 20:1-3). 
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The Parables of Jesus

PARABLE

The Builders: Matthew
7:24-27
; Luke
6:47-49

The Sower: Matthew
13:1-9
; Mark
4:1-9
; Luke
8:4-8

The Wheat and the Weeds: Matthew
13:24-30

The Mustard Seed: Matthew
13:31-32
; Mark
4:30-32
; Luke
13:18-19

The Leaven: Matthew
13:33
; Luke
13:20-21

The Hidden Treasure: Matthew
13:44

The Pearl of Great Value: Matthew
13:45-46

The Dragnet: Matthew
13:47-50

The Lamp: Mark
4:21-23
; Luke
8:16-18

The Growing Seed: Mark
4:26-29

The Two Debtors: Luke
7:41-43

The Good Samaritan: Luke
10:25-37

The Friend at Midnight: Luke
11:5-13

The Rich Fool: Luke
12:16-21

The Barren Fig Tree: Luke
13:6-9

The Lost Sheep: Matthew
18:10-14
; Luke
15:4-7

The Lost Coin: Luke
15:8-10

The Prodigal Son: Luke
15:11-32

The Unforgiving Servant: Matthew
18:23-35

The Unrighteous Steward: Luke
16:1-9

The Unrighteous Judge: Luke
18:1-8

The Pharisee and Tax Collector: Luke
18:9-14

The Laborers in the Vineyard: Matthew
20:1-16

The Two Sons: Matthew
21:28-32

The Wicked Tenants: Matthew
21:33-46
; Mark
12:1-12
; Luke
20:9-19

The Marriage Feast: Matthew
22:1-14

The Great Banquet: Luke
14:15-24

The Wise and the Foolish Bridesmaids: Matthew
25:1-13

The Talents: Matthew
25:14-30

The Pounds: Luke
19:11-27

8:35 at the feet of Jesus:
The posture of a disciple before his teacher (10:39; Acts 22:3). 
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8:39 Return to your home:
Jesus refuses the man's permanent company but sends him to publicize God's grace. Hinting at Christ's divinity, the man announces the mercy of
God
in terms of what
Jesus
has accomplished for him (Mk 5:19-20). 
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