According to 8:1-3, there were two groups
According to 8:1-3, there were two groups of people around the Lord Jesus. The first group was composed of His followers; the second was composed of the women. The disciples simply followed the Lord without doing anything. The women, however, ministered both to the Lord and to the disciples in a practical way. In the church life sometimes the sisters are more prac tical than the brothers are. Whereas the brothers may find it easy to speak, the sisters will often serve, minister, in a practical way.
It is significant that 8:1-3 follows immediately after 7:36-50. The sequence indicates that after we have experienced the forgiveness of sins and have begun to love the Lord and live in peace, we should follow the Lord and minister to Him.
TEACHING WITH PARABLES
In 8:4-18 we have the Man-Savior's teaching with parables. Here the Lord gives two parables, the first in verses 4 through 15 on the growth in life and the second in verses 16 through 18 on the shining of the lamp. In brief, these two para bles are concerned with the sower and the lamp.
THE PARABLE OF THE SOWER
The record of the parable of the sower in