SEV Biblia, Chapter 8:2
y algunas mujeres que habían sido curadas por l de malos espíritus y de enfermedades: María, que se llamaba Magdalena, de la cual habían salido siete demonios,
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Luke 8:2
Verse 2. Out of whom went seven devils-. Who had been possessed in a most extraordinary manner; probably a case of inveterate lunacy, brought on by the influence of evil spirits. The number seven may here express the superlative degree. Mary Magdalene is commonly thought to have been a prostitute before she came to the knowledge of Christ, and then to have been a remarkable penitent. So historians and painters represent her: but neither from this passage, nor from any other of the New Testament, can such a supposition be legitimately drawn. She is here represented as one who had been possessed with seven demons; and as one among other women who had been healed by Christ of evil (or wicked) spirits and infirmities. As well might Joanna and Susanna, mentioned ver. 3, come in for a share of the censure as this Mary Magdalene; for they seem to have been dispossessed likewise by Jesus, according to St. Luke's account of them.
They had all had infirmities, of what sort it is not said, and those infirmities were occasioned by evil spirits within them; and Jesus had healed them all: but Mary Magdalene, by her behaviour, and constant attendance on Jesus in his life- time, at his crucifixion, and at his grave, seems to have exceeded all the other women in duty and respect to his person. Bishop PEARCE.
There is a marvellous propensity in commentators to make some of the women mentioned in the Sacred Writings appear as women of ill fame; therefore Rahab must be a harlot; and Mary Magdalene, a prostitute: and yet nothing of the kind can be proved either in the former or in the latter case; nor in that mentioned chap. vii. 36, &c., where see the notes. Poor Mary Magdalene is made the patroness of penitent prostitutes, both by Papists and Protestants; and to the scandal of her name, and the reproach of the Gospel, houses fitted up for the reception of such are termed Magdalene hospitals! and the persons themselves Magdalenes! There is not only no proof that this person was such as commentators represent her, but there is the strongest presumptive proof against it: for, if she ever had been such, it would have been contrary to every rule of prudence, and every dictate of wisdom, for Christ and his apostles to have permitted such a person to associate with them, however fully she might have been converted to God, and however exemplary her life, at that time, might have been. As the world, who had seen her conduct, and knew her character, (had she been such as is insinuated,) could not see the inward change, and as they sought to overwhelm Christ and his disciples with obloquy and reproach on every occasion, they would certainly have availed themselves of so favourable an opportunity to subject the character and ministry of Christ to the blackest censure, had he permitted even a converted prostitute to minister to him and his disciples. They were ready enough to say that he was the friend of publicans and sinners, because he conversed with them in order to instruct and save their souls; but they could never say he was a friend of prostitutes, because it does not appear that such persons ever came to Christ; or that he, in the way of his ministry, ever went to them. I conclude therefore that the common opinion is a vile slander on the character of one of the best women mentioned in the Gospel of God; and a reproach cast on the character and conduct of Christ and his disciples. From the whole account of Mary Magdalene, it is highly probable that she was a person of great respectability in that place; such a person as the wife of Chuza, Herod's steward, could associate with, and a person on whose conduct or character the calumniating Jews could cast no aspersions.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 2. And certain women which had been healed of evil spirits , etc.] Of devils, who had possessed them, and were healed by Christ, dispossessing them; (see Gill on Luke 7:21). and infirmities : various diseases of body: some were dispossessed of devils, and others freed from bodily disorders; of the first sort was Mary Magdalene, out of whom went seven devils : by the order of Christ, for he cast them out, ( Mark 16:9) and which shows, that this is to be understood, in a literal sense, of devils, and the dispossession of them by Christ; and not in a figurative sense, of vices, and the expulsion of them by the power of divine grace; for this same phrase is used where real dispossessions are intended: nor need it be thought strange that seven devils should be in one person, when, in this same chapter, we read of a legion in one man, and which also Christ cast out, ( Luke 8:30,33,35).
This woman seems to be a different person from her spoken of in the latter part of the preceding chapter, seeing this looks as if it was the first time of her being taken notice of by this evangelist, and is described by a different character. She is called Magdalene, to distinguish her from others of the same name; the reason of which (see Gill on Matthew 27:56). She is said to be a widow, and so not being bound to an husband, was at leisure to follow Christ.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-3 - We are here told what Christ made the constant business of his life, it was teaching the gospel. Tidings of the kingdom of God are gla tidings, and what Christ came to bring. Certain women attended upon his who ministered to him of their substance. It showed the mean conditio to which the Saviour humbled himself, that he needed their kindness and his great humility, that he accepted it. Though rich, yet for ou sakes he became poor.
Greek Textus Receptus
και 2532 CONJ γυναικες 1135 N-NPF τινες 5100 X-NPF αι 3739 R-NPF ησαν 2258 5713 V-IXI-3P τεθεραπευμεναι 2323 5772 V-RPP-NPF απο 575 PREP πνευματων 4151 N-GPN πονηρων 4190 A-GPN και 2532 CONJ ασθενειων 769 N-GPF μαρια 3137 N-NSF η 3588 T-NSF καλουμενη 2564 5746 V-PPP-NSF μαγδαληνη 3094 N-NSF αφ 575 PREP ης 3739 R-GSF δαιμονια 1140 N-NPN επτα 2033 A-NUI εξεληλυθει 1831 5715 V-LAI-3S
Robertson's NT Word Studies
8:2 {Which had been healed} (hai esan teqerapeumenai). Periphrastic past perfect passive, suggesting that the healing had taken place some time before this tour. These women all had personal grounds of gratitude to Jesus. {From whom seven devils (demons) had gone out} (af' hes daimonia hepta exeleluqei). Past perfect active third singular for the daimonia are neuter plural. this first mention of Mary Magdalene describes her special cause of gratitude. this fact is stated also in #Mr 16:9 in the disputed close of the Gospel. The presence of seven demons in one person indicates special malice (#Mr 5:9). See #Mt 17:45 for the parable of the demon who came back with seven other demons worse than the first. It is not known where Magdala was, whence Mary came.
