What is the meaning of Luke 8:21? But He replied - The scene opens with Jesus surrounded by a crowd while His earthly family waits outside (Mark 3:31-32; Matthew 12:46). Instead of stepping away, He answers the messenger, revealing a priority that transcends human ties. - His response is immediate and deliberate—He is teaching everyone present that spiritual relationships outweigh biological ones (John 3:3-6). My mother and brothers - Jesus is not dismissing Mary or His half-brothers; He is expanding the definition of family to include all who belong to God (John 1:12-13). - This redefinition invites anyone, regardless of background, into intimate kinship with Christ (Romans 8:15-17). - Believers become part of a household of faith, caring for one another as true relatives (Galatians 6:10; Ephesians 2:19). are those who hear the word of God - Hearing in Scripture means more than receiving sound; it implies attentive, receptive listening (Luke 8:15). - Faith itself is born through such hearing (Romans 10:17). - Jesus elsewhere blesses “those who hear the word of God and observe it” when a woman praises His mother (Luke 11:27-28), underscoring the same truth. and carry it out - Obedience seals genuine hearing: “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments” (John 14:15). - The blessed life is described as looking into the perfect law “and continues in it” (James 1:25). - True discipleship involves doing God’s will, not merely acknowledging it (Matthew 7:21; 1 John 2:3-5). - By acting on God’s word, believers demonstrate the family resemblance of their heavenly Father. summary Luke 8:21 teaches that Jesus counts as His closest family anyone who listens to God’s word with an obedient heart. Biological connections are honored, but spiritual kinship is supreme. Hearing leads to faith; obedience proves faith genuine. Those who both receive and live out Scripture enjoy the privilege and warmth of being called Christ’s own mother, brothers, and sisters today. |
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