Luke 8:2-3

Luke 8:2-3

[2] And  certain  women,  which  healed  of  evil  spirits  and  infirmities,  Mary  called  Magdalene,  out of  whom  went  seven  devils,  [3] And  Joanna  the wife  of Chuza  Herod's  steward,  and  Susanna,  and  many  others,  which  ministered  unto him 

What does Luke 8:2-3 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

Luke"s mention of the women in this section prepares for his citing them as witnesses of Jesus" resurrection later (cf. Luke 23:49; Luke 23:55; Luke 24:6; Luke 24:10; Acts 1:14). This is Luke"s third recent reference to women who benefited from Jesus" ministry to them, several of whom responded by ministering to Him (cf. Luke 7:12-15; Luke 7:36-50). Their example provides a positive example for female readers of Luke"s Gospel.
". . . traveling around with a religious teacher conflicts strongly with traditional female roles in Jewish society. [1] Such behavior neglects a husband"s rights and a wife"s responsibilities to her family. It would probably arouse suspicion of illicit sexual relationships. In his later teaching Jesus will repeatedly tell his disciples that his call requires a break with the family ( Luke 9:57-62; Luke 12:51-53; Luke 14:26; Luke 18:28-30). The last two of these passages speak of leaving "house" and "children," which could apply to either a man or a woman, but these statements are male-oriented in that they also speak of leaving "wife" but not husband. [2] However, Luke 12:53 indicates that the division in the family caused by someone becoming a disciple will involve women as well as men. [3] Nevertheless, Luke 8:2-3 refers to women who have evidently taken a drastic step of leaving home and family in order to share in the wandering ministry of Jesus. The discipleship of women is conceived as radically as for men-perhaps even more radically, since women of that time were very closely bound to the family-involving a sharp break with social expectations and normal responsibilities." [4]
Many people have concluded that Mary Magdalene had been a prostitute. However the text gives no warrant for this idea. It simply says that seven demons had indwelt her. In other cases of demon possession in the Gospels the results were typically mental disorders rather than immoral conduct. "Magdalene" evidently refers to her hometown of Magdala (lit. the tower). It stood on the west side of the Sea of Galilee, south of Gennesaret and north of Tiberius. Joanna was present at Jesus" crucifixion and empty tomb ( Luke 23:55-56; Luke 24:1; Luke 24:10). She is the first of Jesus" disciples identified as connected with Herod Antipas" household. Chuza ("Little Pitcher") was evidently Herod"s manager or foreman, some high-ranking official in Herod"s employ (cf. Matthew 20:8; Galatians 4:2). He may or may not have been the royal official who came to Jesus in Cana and requested that Jesus come to Capernaum to heal his son ( John 4:46-53).
"It may be that the special knowledge of Herod and his court reflected in Lk. came through him; he and his wife are no doubt named as well-known personalities in the church and are evidence for the existence of Christian disciples among the aristocracy." [5]
Susanna ("Lily"), otherwise unknown to us, may also have been of special interest to Luke"s original readers. The support of these and other similar unnamed disciples explains how Jesus was able to continue His ministry financially. These women and probably some men provided money by giving sacrificially out of love for what Jesus had done for them (cf. Luke 7:36-50). It was apparently unusual for Jesus to have female followers (cf. John 4:27), though this was more common in the Hellenistic world than in Palestine. [6]