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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Luke 8:4 While a large crowd was gathering and people were coming to Jesus from town after town, He told them this parable:</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/luke/8-4.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/16/42_Luk_08_04.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Luke 8:4 - The Parable of the Sower" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="While a large crowd was gathering and people were coming to Jesus from town after town, He told them this parable:" /><script type="application/javascript" 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id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/luke/8-3.htm" title="Luke 8:3">◄</a> Luke 8:4 <a href="/luke/8-5.htm" title="Luke 8:5">►</a></div></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse"> <a href="#study" class="clickchap2" title="Context and Study Bible"> Audio </a> <a href="#crossref" class="clickchap2" title="Cross References"> Crossref </a> <a href="#commentary" class="clickchap2" title="Commentary"> Comment </a> <a href="#lexicon" class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Greek </a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv">Verse<a href="/bsb/luke/8.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><a href="/niv/luke/8.htm">New International Version</a> While a large crowd was gathering and people were coming to Jesus from town after town, he told this parable: <a href="/nlt/luke/8.htm">New Living Translation</a> One day Jesus told a story in the form of a parable to a large crowd that had gathered from many towns to hear him: <a href="/esv/luke/8.htm">English Standard Version</a> And when a great crowd was gathering and people from town after town came to him, he said in a parable, <a href="/bsb/luke/8.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a> While a large crowd was gathering and people were coming to Jesus from town after town, He told them this parable: <a href="/blb/luke/8.htm">Berean Literal Bible</a> And as a great crowd is assembling, and those from each town are coming to Him, He spoke by a parable: <a href="/kjv/luke/8.htm">King James Bible</a> And when much people were gathered together, and were come to him out of every city, he spake by a parable: <a href="/nkjv/luke/8.htm">New King James Version</a> And when a great multitude had gathered, and they had come to Him from every city, He spoke by a parable: <a href="/nasb_/luke/8.htm">New American Standard Bible</a> Now when a large crowd was coming together, and those from the various cities were journeying to Him, He spoke by way of a parable: <a href="/nasb/luke/8.htm">NASB 1995</a> When a large crowd was coming together, and those from the various cities were journeying to Him, He spoke by way of a parable: <a href="/nasb77/luke/8.htm">NASB 1977 </a> And when a great multitude were coming together, and those from the various cities were journeying to Him, He spoke by way of a parable: <a href="/lsb/luke/8.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a> Now when a large crowd was coming together, and those from the various cities were journeying to Him, He spoke by way of a parable: <a href="/amp/luke/8.htm">Amplified Bible</a> When a large crowd was gathering together, and people from city after city were coming to Him, He spoke [to them] using a parable: <a href="/csb/luke/8.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a> As a large crowd was gathering, and people were coming to Jesus from every town, he said in a parable, <a href="/hcsb/luke/8.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a> As a large crowd was gathering, and people were flocking to Him from every town, He said in a parable: <a href="/asv/luke/8.htm">American Standard Version</a> And when a great multitude came together, and they of every city resorted unto him, he spake by a parable: <a href="/cev/luke/8.htm">Contemporary English Version</a> When a large crowd from several towns had gathered around Jesus, he told them this story: <a href="/erv/luke/8.htm">English Revised Version</a> And when a great multitude came together, and they of every city resorted unto him, he spake by a parable: <a href="/gwt/luke/8.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a> When a large crowd had gathered and people had come to Jesus from every city, he used this story as an illustration: <a href="/gnt/luke/8.htm">Good News Translation</a> People kept coming to Jesus from one town after another; and when a great crowd gathered, Jesus told this parable: <a href="/isv/luke/8.htm">International Standard Version</a> Now while a large crowd was gathering and people were coming to Jesus from every city, he said in a parable: <a href="/msb/luke/8.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a> While a large crowd was gathering and people were coming to Jesus from town after town, He told them this parable: <a href="/net/luke/8.htm">NET Bible</a> While a large crowd was gathering and people were coming to Jesus from one town after another, he spoke to them in a parable: <a href="/nheb/luke/8.htm">New Heart English Bible</a> When a large crowd came together, and people from every city were coming to him, he spoke by a parable. <a href="/wbt/luke/8.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a> And when many people were collected, and had come to him out of every city, he spoke by a parable: <a href="/wey/luke/8.htm">Weymouth New Testament</a> And when a great crowd was assembling, and was receiving additions from one town after another, He spoke a parable to them. <a href="/web/luke/8.htm">World English Bible</a> When a great multitude came together and people from every city were coming to him, he spoke by a parable: <div class="vheading2">Literal Translations</div><a href="/lsv/luke/8.htm">Literal Standard Version</a> And a great multitude having gathered, and those who from city and city were coming to Him, He spoke by an allegory: <a href="/blb/luke/8.htm">Berean Literal Bible</a> And as a great crowd is assembling, and those from each town are coming to Him, He spoke by a parable: <a href="/ylt/luke/8.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a> And a great multitude having gathered, and those who from city and city were coming unto him, he spake by a simile: <a href="/slt/luke/8.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a> And a great crowd being together, and coming to him in the city, he spake by a parable:<div class="vheading2">Catholic Translations</div><a href="/drb/luke/8.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a> And when a very great multitude was gathered together, and hastened out of the cities unto him, he spoke by a similitude. <a href="/cpdv/luke/8.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a> Then, when a very numerous crowd was gathering together and hurrying from the cities to him, he spoke using a comparison: <a href="/nabre/luke/8.htm">New American Bible</a> When a large crowd gathered, with people from one town after another journeying to him, he spoke in a parable. <a href="/nrsvce/luke/8.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a> When a great crowd gathered and people from town after town came to him, he said in a parable:<div class="vheading2">Translations from Aramaic</div><a href="/lamsa/luke/8.htm">Lamsa Bible</a> And when many people had gathered, and were coming to him from all the cities, he spoke by parables. <a href="/aramaic-plain-english/luke/8.htm">Aramaic Bible in Plain English</a> And when a great crowd had gathered, and they were coming to him from all the cities, he said in a parable:<div class="vheading2">NT Translations</div><a href="/anderson/luke/8.htm">Anderson New Testament</a> And when a great multitude had assembled, and they were coming to him from every city, he spoke by a parable: <a href="/godbey/luke/8.htm">Godbey New Testament</a> A great multitude being with Him, and coming to Him throughout every city, He spoke in a parable: <a href="/haweis/luke/8.htm">Haweis New Testament</a> Now when a vast multitude was collected, even those who came to him out of every city, he spake by a parable. <a href="/mace/luke/8.htm">Mace New Testament</a> A vast number of people being assembled, and crowding to him from all quarters, he thus address'd himself to them by way of parable. <a href="/wey/luke/8.htm">Weymouth New Testament</a> And when a great crowd was assembling, and was receiving additions from one town after another, He spoke a parable to them. <a href="/worrell/luke/8.htm">Worrell New Testament</a> And, when a large multitude was coming together, and those from city after city were coming to Him, He spake through a parable: <a href="/worsley/luke/8.htm">Worsley New Testament</a> And when a great multitude was gathered together, of those that came to Him out of every city, He spake a parable saying, <a href="/parallel/luke/8-4.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheadingv">Audio Bible</div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/3-5_0Jtd9Lc?start=3006" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe> <div class="vheadingv">Context</div><a href="/bsb/luke/8.htm">The Parable of the Sower</a> 3Joanna the wife of Herod’s household manager Chuza, Susanna, and many others. These women were ministering to them out of their own means. 4<a href="/greek/1161.htm" title="1161: de (Conj) -- A primary particle; but, and, etc.">While</a> <a href="/greek/4183.htm" title="4183: pollou (Adj-GMS) -- Much, many; often. ">a large</a> <a href="/greek/3793.htm" title="3793: ochlou (N-GMS) -- From a derivative of echo; a throng; by implication, the rabble; by extension, a class of people; figuratively, a riot.">crowd</a> <a href="/greek/4896.htm" title="4896: Syniontos (V-PPA-GMS) -- To come together. From sun and eimi; to assemble.">was gathering</a> <a href="/greek/2532.htm" title="2532: kai (Conj) -- And, even, also, namely. ">and</a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: tōn (Art-GMP) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.">people</a> <a href="/greek/1975.htm" title="1975: epiporeuomenōn (V-PPM/P-GMP) -- To travel, journey (to). From epi and poreuomai; to journey further, i.e. Travel on.">were coming</a> <a href="/greek/4314.htm" title="4314: pros (Prep) -- To, towards, with. A strengthened form of pro; a preposition of direction; forward to, i.e. Toward.">to</a> <a href="/greek/846.htm" title="846: auton (PPro-AM3S) -- He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.">Jesus</a> <a href="/greek/2596.htm" title="2596: kata (Prep) -- A primary particle; down, in varied relations (genitive, dative or accusative) with which it is joined)."></a> <a href="/greek/4172.htm" title="4172: polin (N-AFS) -- A city, the inhabitants of a city. Probably from the same as polemos, or perhaps from polus; a town.">from town after town,</a> <a href="/greek/2036.htm" title="2036: eipen (V-AIA-3S) -- Answer, bid, bring word, command. A primary verb; to speak or say.">He told them</a> <a href="/greek/1223.htm" title="1223: dia (Prep) -- A primary preposition denoting the channel of an act; through."></a> <a href="/greek/3850.htm" title="3850: parabolēs (N-GFS) -- From paraballo; a similitude, i.e. fictitious narrative, apothegm or adage.">this parable:</a> 5“A farmer went out to sow his seed. And as he was sowing, some seed fell along the path, where it was trampled, and the birds of the air devoured it.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div> <a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><a href="/matthew/13-1.htm">Matthew 13:1-9</a> That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the sea. / Such large crowds gathered around Him that He got into a boat and sat down, while all the people stood on the shore. / And He told them many things in parables, saying, “A farmer went out to sow his seed. ... <a href="/mark/4-1.htm">Mark 4:1-9</a> Once again Jesus began to teach beside the sea, and such a large crowd gathered around Him that He got into a boat and sat in it, while all the people crowded along the shore. / And He taught them many things in parables, and in His teaching He said, / “Listen! A farmer went out to sow his seed. ... <a href="/isaiah/6-9.htm">Isaiah 6:9-10</a> And He replied: “Go and tell this people, ‘Be ever hearing, but never understanding; be ever seeing, but never perceiving.’ / Make the hearts of this people calloused; deafen their ears and close their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and turn and be healed.” <a href="/psalms/78-2.htm">Psalm 78:2-4</a> I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things hidden from the beginning, / that we have heard and known and our fathers have relayed to us. / We will not hide them from their children but will declare to the next generation the praises of the LORD and His might and the wonders He has performed. <a href="/jeremiah/5-21.htm">Jeremiah 5:21</a> “Hear this, O foolish and senseless people, who have eyes but do not see, who have ears but do not hear. <a href="/ezekiel/12-2.htm">Ezekiel 12:2</a> “Son of man, you are living in a rebellious house. They have eyes to see but do not see, and ears to hear but do not hear, for they are a rebellious house. <a href="/matthew/13-10.htm">Matthew 13:10-17</a> Then the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Why do You speak to the people in parables?” / He replied, “The knowledge of the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them. / Whoever has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him. ... <a href="/mark/4-10.htm">Mark 4:10-12</a> As soon as Jesus was alone with the Twelve and those around Him, they asked Him about the parable. / He replied, “The mystery of the kingdom of God has been given to you, but to those on the outside everything is expressed in parables, / so that, ‘they may be ever seeing but never perceiving, and ever hearing but never understanding; otherwise they might turn and be forgiven.’” <a href="/john/12-37.htm">John 12:37-41</a> Although Jesus had performed so many signs in their presence, they still did not believe in Him. / This was to fulfill the word of Isaiah the prophet: “Lord, who has believed our message? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?” / For this reason they were unable to believe. For again, Isaiah says: ... <a href="/romans/11-8.htm">Romans 11:8</a> as it is written: “God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes that could not see, and ears that could not hear, to this very day.” <a href="/deuteronomy/29-4.htm">Deuteronomy 29:4</a> Yet to this day the LORD has not given you a mind to understand, eyes to see, or ears to hear. <a href="/isaiah/55-10.htm">Isaiah 55:10-11</a> For just as rain and snow fall from heaven and do not return without watering the earth, making it bud and sprout, and providing seed to sow and food to eat, / so My word that proceeds from My mouth will not return to Me empty, but it will accomplish what I please, and it will prosper where I send it. <a href="/matthew/11-15.htm">Matthew 11:15</a> He who has ears, let him hear. <a href="/mark/8-18.htm">Mark 8:18</a> ‘Having eyes, do you not see? And having ears, do you not hear?’ And do you not remember? <a href="/acts/28-26.htm">Acts 28:26-27</a> ‘Go to this people and say, “You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.” / For this people’s heart has grown callous; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and turn, and I would heal them.’</div> <a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div>And when much people were gathered together, and were come to him out of every city, he spoke by a parable:<a href="/matthew/13-2.htm">Matthew 13:2</a> And great multitudes were gathered together unto him, so that he went into a ship, and sat; and the whole multitude stood on the shore.<a href="/mark/4-1.htm">Mark 4:1</a> And he began again to teach by the sea side: and there was gathered unto him a great multitude, so that he entered into a ship, and sat in the sea; and the whole multitude was by the sea on the land.<div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/luke/8-3.htm">Chuza</a> <a href="/luke/8-1.htm">City</a> <a href="/matthew/24-28.htm">Collected</a> <a href="/mark/12-44.htm">Contributed</a> <a href="/luke/6-39.htm">Form</a> <a href="/luke/6-44.htm">Gathered</a> <a href="/luke/5-15.htm">Gathering</a> <a href="/luke/7-47.htm">Great</a> <a href="/luke/8-3.htm">Herod's</a> <a href="/luke/8-1.htm">Jesus</a> <a href="/luke/8-3.htm">Joanna</a> <a href="/luke/7-25.htm">Multitude</a> <a href="/luke/6-39.htm">Parable</a> <a href="/mark/2-13.htm">Resorted</a> <a href="/mark/13-28.htm">Simile</a> <a href="/luke/8-3.htm">Steward</a> <a href="/luke/8-3.htm">Support</a> <a href="/luke/8-3.htm">Susanna</a> <a href="/luke/7-2.htm">Teaching</a> <a href="/luke/6-39.htm">Together</a> <a href="/luke/8-3.htm">Various</a> <a href="/luke/8-3.htm">Wife</a> <a href="/luke/8-3.htm">Women</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/luke/8-3.htm">Chuza</a> <a href="/luke/8-27.htm">City</a> <a href="/luke/17-37.htm">Collected</a> <a href="/luke/21-4.htm">Contributed</a> <a href="/luke/12-15.htm">Form</a> <a href="/luke/9-17.htm">Gathered</a> <a href="/luke/11-23.htm">Gathering</a> <a href="/luke/8-5.htm">Great</a> <a href="/luke/13-31.htm">Herod's</a> <a href="/luke/8-19.htm">Jesus</a> <a href="/luke/24-10.htm">Joanna</a> <a href="/luke/8-19.htm">Multitude</a> <a href="/luke/8-5.htm">Parable</a> <a href="/john/10-41.htm">Resorted</a> <a href="/luke/8-9.htm">Simile</a> <a href="/luke/12-42.htm">Steward</a> <a href="/acts/17-34.htm">Support</a> <a href="/luke/8-3.htm">Susanna</a> <a href="/luke/9-11.htm">Teaching</a> <a href="/luke/9-1.htm">Together</a> <a href="/luke/21-11.htm">Various</a> <a href="/luke/14-20.htm">Wife</a> <a href="/luke/12-45.htm">Women</a><div class="vheading2">Luke 8</div>1. <a href="/luke/8-1.htm">Women minister unto Jesus of their own means.</a> 4. <a href="/luke/8-4.htm">Jesus, after he had preached from place to place,</a> 9. <a href="/luke/8-9.htm">explains the parable of the sower,</a> 16. <a href="/luke/8-16.htm">and the candle;</a> 19. <a href="/luke/8-19.htm">declares who are his mother, and brothers;</a> 22. <a href="/luke/8-22.htm">rebukes the winds;</a> 26. <a href="/luke/8-26.htm">casts the legion of demons out of the man into the herd of pigs;</a> 37. <a href="/luke/8-37.htm">is rejected by the Gadarenes;</a> 43. <a href="/luke/8-43.htm">heals the woman of her bleeding;</a> 49. <a href="/luke/8-49.htm">and raises Jairus's daughter from death.</a> </div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div>  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div> <script type="text/javascript"> </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"> </script> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading"><a href="/study/luke/8.htm">Berean Study Bible</a></div>While a large crowd was gathering The phrase highlights the growing popularity of Jesus' ministry. The Greek word for "crowd" is "ochlos," which often refers to a multitude or a throng of people. This indicates that Jesus' teachings and miracles had attracted significant attention, drawing people from various regions. Historically, this reflects the socio-political climate of the time, where the Jewish people were under Roman occupation and were yearning for hope and deliverance. The gathering of a large crowd signifies the anticipation and expectation that surrounded Jesus' ministry.and people were coming to Jesus The act of "coming" to Jesus suggests a deliberate movement towards Him, indicating a desire to hear His teachings or witness His miracles. The Greek verb "erchomai" implies an action of approaching or drawing near. This movement towards Jesus can be seen as a metaphor for spiritual seeking and the human longing for truth and salvation. In a broader scriptural context, it reflects the fulfillment of prophecies about the Messiah drawing people to Himself.from town after town This phrase emphasizes the widespread reach of Jesus' influence. The repetition of "town after town" suggests that His reputation had spread far and wide, transcending local boundaries. It underscores the itinerant nature of Jesus' ministry, as He traveled from place to place, bringing His message to diverse communities. Historically, this movement from town to town reflects the geographical and cultural landscape of first-century Palestine, where towns were often small and closely connected.He told them this parable The use of parables was a distinctive feature of Jesus' teaching method. The Greek word "parabole" means a comparison or analogy, often used to convey deeper spiritual truths through simple, relatable stories. Parables were an effective way to engage listeners, provoke thought, and reveal truths to those who were spiritually receptive while concealing them from those who were not. In the context of Jesus' ministry, parables served as a tool for teaching about the Kingdom of God, challenging listeners to reflect on their own lives and beliefs. This method of teaching aligns with the wisdom literature of the Old Testament, where proverbs and parables were used to impart moral and spiritual lessons.<div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/luke/8.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(4) And when much people were gathered . . .--The narrative is less precise than that in St. Matthew. It is possible that the parable may have been repeated more than once.<div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/luke/8.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div>Verses 4-15. - The parable of the sower, and the Lord's interpretation of it. Verse 4. - And when much people were gathered together, and were come to him out of every city, he spake by a parable. A great change, it is clear, took place in our Lord's way of working at this period. We have already (in the note on ver. 1) remarked that from henceforth he dwelt no longer in one centre, his own city Capernaum, but moved about from place to place. A new way of teaching was now adopted - that of the "parable." It was from this time onward that, when he taught, he seems generally to have spoken in those famous parables, or stories, in which so much of his recorded teaching is shrined. Hitherto in his preaching he had occasionally made use of similes or comparisons, as in <a href="/luke/5-6.htm">Luke 5:6</a> and <a href="/luke/6-29.htm">Luke 6:29, 48</a>; but he only began the formal use of the parable at this period, and the parable of the sower seems to have been the earliest spoken. Perhaps because it was the first, perhaps on account of the far-reaching nature of its contents, the story of "the sower" evidently impressed itself with singular force upon the minds of the disciples. It evidently formed a favourite "memory" among the first heralds of the new faith. It is the only one, with the exception of the vine-dressers, one of the latest spoken, which has been preserved by the three - Matthew, Mark, and Luke. It is identical in structure and in teaching in all the three, which shows that they were relating the same story. It differs, however, in detail; we thus gather that the three did not copy from one primitive document, but that these "memories" were derived either from their own recollections or at least from different sources. Now, what induced the Master thus deliberately to change the manner of his teaching? In other words, why, from this time forward, does he veil so much of his deep Divine thought in parables? Let us consider the attitude of the crowds who till now had been listening to him. What may be termed the Galilaean revival had well-nigh come to an end. The enthusiasm he had evoked by his burning words, his true wisdom, his novel exposition of what belonged to human life and duty, was, when he left Capernaum and began his preaching in every little village (ver. 1), at its height. But the great Heart-reader knew well that the hour of reaction was at hand. Then the pressure of the crowds which thronged him was so great that, to speak this first parable, he had to get into a boat and address the multitude standing on the shore (<a href="/matthew/13-2.htm">Matthew 13:2</a>); but the moment was at hand which St. John (<a href="/john/6-66.htm">John 6:66</a>) refers to in his sad words, "From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him." It was in view of that moment that Jesus commenced his parable-teaching with "the sower." As regards the great mass of the people who had crowded to hear his words and look on his miracles, the Lord knew that his work had practically failed. At the first he spoke to the people plainly. The sermon on the mount, for instance, contains little, if anything, of the parable form; but they understood him not, forming altogether false views of the kingdom he described to them. He now changes his method of teaching, veiling his thoughts in parables, in order that his own, to whom privately he gave the key to the right understanding of the parables, should see more clearly, and that those who deliberately misunderstood him - the hostile Pharisee and Sadducee, for instance - should be simply mystified and perplexed as to the Teacher's meaning; while the merely thoughtless might possibly be fascinated and attracted by this new manner of teaching, which evidently veiled some hidden meaning. These last would probably be induced to inquire further as to the meaning of these strange parable-stories. Professor Bruce, who has very ably discussed the reasons which induced Christ at this period of his ministry to speak in parables, says there is a mood which leads a man to present his thoughts in this form. "It is the mood of one whose heart is chilled, and whose spirit is saddened by a sense of loneliness, and who, retiring within himself by a process of reflection, frames for his thoughts forms which half conceal, half reveal them - reveal them more perfectly to those who understand, hide them from those who do not (and will not) - forms beautiful, but also melancholy, as the hues of forest in late autumn. It' this view be correct, we should expect the teaching in parables would not form a feature of the initial stage of Christ's ministry. And such accordingly was the fact." As regarded the men of his own generation, did he use the parable way of teaching almost as a fan to separate the wheat from the chaff? "That he had to speak in parables was one of the burdens of the Son of man, to be placed side by side with the fact that he had not where to lay his head" (Professor Bruce, 'Parabolic Teaching of Christ,' book 1. ch. 1.). And when much people were gathered together, and were come to him out of every city. The impression of the witness who told the story to Luke and Paul evidently was that at this period of the Lord's ministry vast crowds flocked to listen or to see.. St. Matthew expresses the same conviction in a different but in an equally forcible manner. Only the Lord knew how hollow all this seeming popularity was, and how soon the crowds would melt away. He spake by a parable. Roughly to distinguish between the parable and the fable: The fable would tell its moral truth, but its imagery might be purely fanciful; for instance, animals, or even trees, might be represented as reasoning and speaking. The parable, on the contrary, never violated probability, but told its solemn lesson, often certainly in a dramatic form, but its imagery was never fanciful or impossible. <a href="/commentaries/luke/8-4.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a> <a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Greek</div>[While] δὲ (de) Conjunction <a href="/greek/strongs_1161.htm">Strong's 1161: </a> A primary particle; but, and, etc. a large πολλοῦ (pollou) Adjective - Genitive Masculine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_4183.htm">Strong's 4183: </a> Much, many; often. crowd ὄχλου (ochlou) Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_3793.htm">Strong's 3793: </a> From a derivative of echo; a throng; by implication, the rabble; by extension, a class of people; figuratively, a riot. was gathering Συνιόντος (Syniontos) Verb - Present Participle Active - Genitive Masculine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_4896.htm">Strong's 4896: </a> To come together. From sun and eimi; to assemble. and καὶ (kai) Conjunction <a href="/greek/strongs_2532.htm">Strong's 2532: </a> And, even, also, namely. [people] τῶν (tōn) Article - Genitive Masculine Plural <a href="/greek/strongs_3588.htm">Strong's 3588: </a> The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the. were coming ἐπιπορευομένων (epiporeuomenōn) Verb - Present Participle Middle or Passive - Genitive Masculine Plural <a href="/greek/strongs_1975.htm">Strong's 1975: </a> To travel, journey (to). From epi and poreuomai; to journey further, i.e. Travel on. to πρὸς (pros) Preposition <a href="/greek/strongs_4314.htm">Strong's 4314: </a> To, towards, with. A strengthened form of pro; a preposition of direction; forward to, i.e. Toward. [Jesus] αὐτὸν (auton) Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_846.htm">Strong's 846: </a> He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons. from town after town, πόλιν (polin) Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_4172.htm">Strong's 4172: </a> A city, the inhabitants of a city. Probably from the same as polemos, or perhaps from polus; a town. He told [them] εἶπεν (eipen) Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_2036.htm">Strong's 2036: </a> Answer, bid, bring word, command. A primary verb; to speak or say. [this] parable: παραβολῆς (parabolēs) Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_3850.htm">Strong's 3850: </a> From paraballo; a similitude, i.e. fictitious narrative, apothegm or adage. <div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/luke/8-4.htm">Luke 8:4 NIV</a> <a href="/nlt/luke/8-4.htm">Luke 8:4 NLT</a> <a href="/esv/luke/8-4.htm">Luke 8:4 ESV</a> <a href="/nasb/luke/8-4.htm">Luke 8:4 NASB</a> <a href="/kjv/luke/8-4.htm">Luke 8:4 KJV</a> <a href="//bibleapps.com/luke/8-4.htm">Luke 8:4 BibleApps.com</a> <a href="//bibliaparalela.com/luke/8-4.htm">Luke 8:4 Biblia Paralela</a> <a href="//holybible.com.cn/luke/8-4.htm">Luke 8:4 Chinese Bible</a> <a href="//saintebible.com/luke/8-4.htm">Luke 8:4 French Bible</a> <a href="/catholic/luke/8-4.htm">Luke 8:4 Catholic Bible</a> <a href="/luke/8-4.htm">NT Gospels: Luke 8:4 When a great multitude came together (Luke Lu Lk) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/luke/8-3.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Luke 8:3"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Luke 8:3" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/luke/8-5.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Luke 8:5"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Luke 8:5" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>