Verse 43
Spent all her living upon physicians - See the note on [Mar 5:26].
Verse 46
I perceive that virtue - Δυναμιν, Divine or miraculous power. This Divine emanation did not proceed always from Christ, as necessarily as odours do from plants, for then all who touched him must have been equally partakers of it. Of the many that touched him, this woman and none else received this Divine virtue; and why? Because she came in faith. Faith alone attracts and receives the energetic influence of God at all times. There would be more miracles, at least of spiritual healing, were there more faith among those who are called believers.
Verse 54
He put them all out - That is, the pipers and those who made a noise, weeping and lamenting. See [Mat 9:23]; [Mar 5:38]. Pompous funeral ceremonies are ridiculous in themselves, and entirely opposed to the spirit and simplicity of the religion of Christ. Every where they meet with his disapprobation.
Verse 55
And he commanded to give her meat - Though she was raised to life by a miracle, she was not to be preserved by a miracle. Nature is God's great instrument, and he delights to work by it; nor will he do any thing by his sovereign power, in the way of miracle, that can be effected by his ordinary providence. Again, God will have us be workers together with him: he provides food for us, but he does not eat for us; we eat for ourselves, and are thus nourished on the bounty that God has provided. Without the food, man cannot be nourished; and unless he eat the food, it can be of no use to him. So, God provides salvation for a lost world, and bestows it on every penitent believing soul; but he neither repents nor believes for any man. A man repents and believes for himself, under the succours of God's grace.
Introduction
Christ sends his apostles to preach and work miracles, [Luk 9:1-6]. Herod, hearing of the fame of Jesus, is perplexed; some suppose that John Baptist is risen from the dead; others, that Elijah or one of the old prophets was come to life, [Luk 9:7-9]. The apostles return and relate the success of their mission. He goes to a retired place, and the people follow him, [Luk 9:10], [Luk 9:11]. He feeds five thousand men with five loaves and two fishes, [Luk 9:12-17]. He asks his disciples what the public think of him, [Luk 9:18-21]. Foretells his passion, [Luk 9:22]. Shows the necessity of self-denial, and the importance of salvation, [Luk 9:23-25]. Threatens those who deny him before men, [Luk 9:26]. The transfiguration, [Luk 9:27-36]. Cures a demoniac, [Luk 9:37-43]. Again foretells his passion, [Luk 9:44], [Luk 9:45]. The disciples contend who shall be greatest, [Luk 9:46-48]. Of the person who cast out devils in Christ's name, but did not associate with the disciples, [Luk 9:49], [Luk 9:50]. Of the Samaritans who would not receive him, [Luk 9:51-56]. Of the man who wished to follow Jesus, [Luk 9:57], [Luk 9:58]. He calls another disciple who asks permission first to bury his father, [Luk 9:59]. Our Lord's answer [Luk 9:60-62].
Verse 1
Power and authority - Δυναμιν και εξουσιαν. The words properly mean here, the power to work miracles; and that authority by which the whole demoniac system was to be subjected to them. The reader will please to observe:
1. That Luke mentions both demons and diseases; therefore he was either mistaken, or demons and diseases are not the same.
2. The treatment of these two was not the same: - the demons were to be cast out, the diseases to be healed. See [Mat 10:1].
Verse 2
To preach the kingdom of God - For an explication of this phrase, see on [Mat 3:1] (note).
Verse 3
Take nothing - See on [Mar 6:7], [Mar 6:8] (note).
Neither money - See on [Mat 10:9] (note).
Neither have two coats - Show that in all things ye are ambassadors for God; and go on his charges.
Verse 4
There abide, and thence depart - That is, remain in that lodging till ye depart from that city. Some MSS. and versions add μη, which makes the following sense: There remain, and depart Not thence. See the note on [Mat 10:11].
Verse 7
Herod the tetrarch - See on [Mat 2:1] (note); [Mat 14:1] (note).
By him - This is omitted by BCDL, two others, the Coptic, Sahidic, Armenian, and four of the Itala. It is probable that Luke might have written, Herod, hearing of all the things that were done, etc.; but Matthew says particularly, that it was the fame of Jesus of which he heard: [Mat 14:1].
He was perplexed; - He was greatly perplexed διηπορει· from δια emphat. and απορεω, I am in perplexity. It is a metaphor taken from a traveler, who in his journey meets with several paths, one only of which leads to the place whither he would go; and, not knowing which to take, he is distressed with perplexity and doubt. The verb comes from α, negative, and πορος, a way or passage. A guilty conscience is a continual pest: - Herod had murdered John, and he is terribly afraid, lest he should arise from the dead, and bring his deeds to light, and expose him to that punishment which he deserved. See [Mar 6:16].
Verse 10
Told him all - Related distinctly - διηγησαντο, from δια, through, and ἡγεομαι, I declare: hence the whole of this Gospel, because of its relating every thing so particularly, is termed διηγησις, [Luk 1:1], a particular and circumstantially detailed narration. See on [Mar 6:30] (note).
Verse 11
The people - followed him - Observe here five grand effects of Divine grace.
1. The people are drawn to follow him.
2. He kindly receives them.
3. He instructs them in the things of God.
4. He heals all their diseases.
5. He feeds their bodies and their souls. See Quesnel.
Reader! Jesus is the same to the present moment. Follow him, and he will receive, instruct, heal, feed, and save thy soul unto eternal life.
Verse 12
Send the multitude away - See this miracle explained at large, on the parallel places, [Mat 14:15-21] (note); [Mar 6:36-44] (note).
Verse 16
Then he took the five loaves - A minister of the Gospel, who is employed to feed souls, should imitate this conduct of Christ:
1. He ought to exhort the people to hear with sedate and humble reverence.
2. He should first take the bread of life himself, that he may be strengthened to feed others.
3. He ought frequently to lift his soul to God, in order to draw down the Divine blessing on himself and his hearers.
4. He should break the loaves - divide rightly the word of truth, and give to all such portions as are suited to their capacities and states.
5. What he cannot perform himself, he should endeavor to effect by the ministry of others; employing every promising talent, for the edification of the whole, which he finds among the members of the Church of God. Under such a pastor, the flock of Christ will increase and multiply. See Quesnel.