Daily Bible Reading 3rd July 2026 // Luke 8:1-3
1 Soon afterwards he went on through cities and villages, proclaiming and bringing the good news of the kingdom of God. And the twelve were with him, 2 and also some women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, 3 and Joanna, the wife of Chuza, Herod's household manager, and Susanna, and many others, who provided for them out of their means.
This is the chapter which records the famous parable of the sower (4ff), with its emphasis on the importance of hearing the word of God aright. It is prefaced in these verses by an interesting comment on the extent and range of our Lord's activity. There was not a city or village in the land but it was visited by Jesus and His disciples with the good news of the gospel. It is surely in relation to the considerable expenditure of energy and strength, not to say the natural emotional and spiritual drain that such a ministry must have involved, that reference is made to the women (2, 3) who were privileged to minister to Him on his journeyings. And who would fulfil such a ministry more willingly or lovingly than those who had themselves known the Saviour's healing and delivering power - and who indeed would be a better testimony to that power than they? The constraint of Christ's love in their lives was decisive for them, and they found that a wonderful stewardship was committed to them, in grace and condescension. Bishop Ryle, commenting that the Son of God could have provided for His own sustenance by His own mighty power, adds, 'But He did not do so for two reasons - one reason was, that He would show us that He was a man like unto ourselves, in all things sin only excepted, and that He lived the life of faith in His Father's providence; the other reason was, that by allowing His followers to minister to Him, He might prove their love, and test their regard for Himself. True love will count it a pleasure to give anything to the object loved. False love will often think and talk and profess much, but do and give nothing at all'. Well, where does this find us?