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Commentary on Luke 11 verses 27–28
We had not this passage in the other evangelists, nor can we tack it, as Dr. Hammond does, to that of Christ's mother and brethren desiring to speak with him (for this evangelist also has related that in Luk 8:19), but it contains an interruption much like that, and, like that, occasion is taken from it for instruction.
1.The applause which an affectionate, honest, well-meaning woman gave to our Lord Jesus, upon hearing his excellent discourses. While the scribes and Pharisees despised and blasphemed them, this good woman (and probably she was a person of some quality) admired them, and the wisdom and power with which he spoke: As he spoke these things (Luk 11:27), with a convincing force and evidence, a certain woman of the company was so pleased to hear how he had confounded the Pharisees, and conquered them, and put them to shame, and cleared himself from their vile insinuations, that she could not forbear crying out, "Blessed is the womb that bore thee. What an admirable, what an excellent man is this! Surely never was there a greater or better born of a woman: happy the woman that has him for her son. I should have thought myself very happy to have been the mother of one that speaks as never man spoke, that has so much of the grace of heaven in him, and is so great a blessing to this earth." This was well said, as it expressed her high esteem of Christ, and that for the sake of his doctrine; and it was not amiss that it reflected honour upon the virgin Mary his mother, for it agreed with what she herself had said (Luk 1:48), All generations shall call me blessed; some even of this generation, bad as it was. Note, To all that believe the word of Christ the person of Christ is precious, and he is an honour, Pe1 2:7. Yet we must be careful, lest, as this good woman, we too much magnify the honour of his natural kindred, and so know him after the flesh, whereas we must now henceforth know him so no more.
2.The occasion which Christ took from this to pronounce them more happy who are his faithful and obedient followers than she was who bore and nursed him. He does not deny what this woman said, nor refuse her respect to him and his mother; but leads her from this to that which was of higher consideration, and which more concerned her: Yea, rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it, Luk 11:28. He thinks them so; and his saying that they are so makes them so, and should make us of his mind. This is intended partly as a check to her, for doting so much upon his bodily presence and his human nature, partly as an encouragement to her to hope that she might be as happy as his own mother, whose happiness she was ready to envy, if she would hear the word of God and keep it. Note, Though it is a great privilege to hear the word of God, yet those only are truly blessed, that is, blessed of the Lord, that hear it and keep it, that keep it in memory, and keep to it as their way and rule.
“Blessed is the womb that bore you.” He took blessedness from the one who bore him and gave it to those who were worshiping him. It was with Mary for a certain time, but it would be with those who worshiped him for eternity. “Blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it.”
(Hom. 44. in Matt.) In this answer He sought not to disown His mother, but to show that His birth would have profited her nothing, had she not been really fruitful in works and faith. But if it profited Mary nothing that Christ derived His birth from her, without the inward virtue of her heart, much less will it avail us to have a virtuous father, brother, or son, while we ourselves are strangers to virtue.
Knowing therefore these things, let us neither pride ourselves on children that are of good report, unless we have their virtue; nor upon noble fathers, unless we be like them in disposition. For it is possible, both that he who begat a man should not be his father, and that he who did not beget him should be. Therefore in another place also, when some woman had said, "Blessed is the womb that bare Thee, and the paps which Thou hast sucked;" He said not, "The womb bare me not, neither did I suck the paps," but this, "Yea rather, blessed are they that do the will of my Father." Seest thou how on every occasion He denies not the affinity by nature, but adds that by virtue?
Mary was more blessed in accepting the faith of Christ than in conceiving the flesh of Christ. To someone who said, “Blessed is the womb that bore you,” he replied, “Rather, blessed are they who hear the word of God and keep it.”Finally, for his brothers, his relatives according to the flesh who did not believe in him, of what advantage was that relationship? Even her maternal relationship would have done Mary no good unless she had borne Christ more happily in her heart than in her flesh.
While the Scribes and Pharisees were tempting our Lord, and uttering blasphemies against Him, a certain woman with great boldness confessed His incarnation, as it follows, And it came to pass, as he spake these things, a certain woman of the company lifted up her voice, and said unto him, Blessed is the womb that bare thee, &c. by which she refutes both the calumnies of the rulers present, and the unbelief of future heretics. For as then by blaspheming the works of the Holy Spirit, the Jews denied the true Son of God, so in after times the heretics, by denying that the Evervirgin Mary, by the cooperating power of the Holy Spirit, ministered of the substance of her flesh to the birth of the only-begotten Son, have said, that we ought not to confess Him who was the Son of man to be truly of the same substance with the Father. But if the flesh of the Word of God, who was born according to the flesh, is declared alien to the flesh of His Virgin Mother, what cause is there why the womb which bare Him and the paps which gave Him suck are pronounced blessed? By what reasoning do they suppose Him to be nourished by her milk, from whose seed they deny Him to be conceived? Whereas according to the physicians, from one and the same fountain both streams are proved to flow. But the woman pronounces blessed not only her who was thought worthy to give birth from her body to the Word of God, but those also who have desired by the hearing of faith spiritually to conceive the same Word, and by diligence in good works, either in their own or the hearts of their neighbours, to bring it forth and nourish it; for it follows, But he said, Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it.
But she was the mother of God, and therefore indeed blessed, in that she was made the temporal minister of the Word becoming incarnate; yet therefore much more blessed that she remained the eternal keeper of the same ever to be beloved Word. But this expression startles the wise men of the Jews, who sought not to hear and keep the word of God, but to deny and blaspheme it.
But he said: Rather, blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it. The Savior beautifully agreed to the testimony of the woman, meaning not only her who was worthy to physically bear the Word of God, but also all those who spiritually, by the hearing of faith, conceive the same Word, and in the custody of good works strive either to bear it in their own heart or in the hearts of others, and as if to nurture it, asserting that they are blessed. For even the mother of God, and indeed she was blessed because she became the minister of the Word made flesh temporally, but much more blessed because she remained the eternal guardian of the same Word always to be loved. With this sentence, he silently strikes the wise of the Jews, who sought not to hear and keep the Word of God, but to deny and blaspheme it.
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SUMMARY
In Jesus responds to a woman who blesses his mother by redirecting the focus from physical lineage and earthly connections to a profound spiritual truth: true blessedness is found not in carnal relationships but in actively hearing and obediently keeping the word of God. This pivotal statement redefines the source of divine favor, emphasizing a transformative engagement with God's revelation as the pathway to genuine spiritual flourishing.
CONTEXT
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
The primary literary device employed in Luke 11:28 is Contrast. Jesus directly contrasts the woman's culturally understood blessedness (physical kinship to him) with a divinely revealed, spiritual blessedness (hearing and keeping God's word). This creates a powerful redefinition of what truly matters in God's eyes. There is also a strong element of Emphasis through the phrase "Yea rather," which serves to highlight the supreme importance of the spiritual condition over the physical. Furthermore, the verse functions as a form of Didactic Statement, serving as a direct teaching from Jesus that clarifies the path to genuine blessedness and spiritual flourishing for his disciples and all who would follow him.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Luke 11:28 stands as a foundational statement on the nature of true blessedness and the essence of discipleship. It underscores the biblical truth that divine favor is not inherited through physical lineage or proximity to sacred figures, but is contingent upon a personal, active, and obedient relationship with God's revealed will. This principle resonates throughout Scripture, emphasizing that genuine faith is demonstrated through a life transformed by the word of God, moving beyond mere intellectual assent to practical application. It highlights the dynamic interplay between divine revelation and human response, asserting that the ultimate blessing comes from aligning one's life with God's truth.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Luke 11:28 profoundly challenges our modern understanding of success, privilege, and spiritual well-being. In a world that often values external markers of connection or superficial engagement, Jesus redirects our gaze inward, towards the transformative power of God's word. It compels us to move beyond passive consumption of spiritual truths – merely attending church, listening to sermons, or reading the Bible – to an active, intentional, and obedient integration of these truths into the fabric of our daily lives. True blessedness, according to Jesus, is not a static state achieved by association, but a dynamic, ongoing process of hearing, understanding, and diligently applying God's principles. This verse calls us to cultivate a heart that is not only open to divine revelation but also committed to living it out, allowing the word to shape our thoughts, guide our decisions, and inform our actions, thereby experiencing the deep, abiding joy and favor that only God can bestow.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
Does Jesus' statement in Luke 11:28 diminish the importance or blessedness of Mary, his mother?
Answer: No, Jesus' statement does not diminish Mary's blessedness but rather recontextualizes it within a broader, more profound spiritual truth. The woman's exclamation in Luke 11:27 highlights Mary's unique physical role as the mother of the Messiah. Jesus, however, uses this opportunity to elevate the spiritual blessedness that is accessible to all, emphasizing that a deeper, more enduring blessedness comes from hearing and obeying God's word. Mary herself exemplifies this very principle, as she is described as one who "treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart" (Luke 2:19) and who responded with humble obedience to God's call (Luke 1:38). Thus, Mary is blessed not only for her physical role but, more importantly, because she heard and kept the word of God.
What is the difference between "hearing" and "keeping" the word of God as described in this verse?
Answer: "Hearing" the word of God (Greek akoúō) refers to the act of listening, perceiving, and understanding God's revelation. It implies an initial reception of the truth. However, Jesus emphasizes that this hearing must be accompanied by "keeping" the word (Greek phylássō). "Keeping" goes beyond mere intellectual assent; it means to guard, preserve, obey, and live in accordance with what has been heard. It implies active application, diligent adherence, and a commitment to integrating God's truth into one's daily life. The distinction is crucial: many can hear, but true blessedness comes to those who allow the word to transform their actions and character, demonstrating their faith through obedience. As James 1:22 famously states, we are called to be "doers of the word, and not hearers only."
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Luke 11:28 finds its ultimate Christ-centered fulfillment in Jesus himself, who is the living "Word of God" (John 1:1). When Jesus speaks of "hearing the word of God and keeping it," he is implicitly pointing to himself as the embodiment of that Word. To hear and keep the word of God is, at its deepest level, to hear and obey Jesus Christ. He perfectly exemplified this principle, living a life of absolute obedience to the Father's will (John 8:29). Furthermore, Jesus' call to hear and keep the word is a call to discipleship, which means following him and living according to his teachings. His parables, like that of the wise and foolish builders (Matthew 7:24-27), illustrate that true spiritual stability and blessedness come from building one's life upon his words. Ultimately, the "word of God" that we are to hear and keep culminates in the Gospel message of salvation through Christ, leading to the blessedness of eternal life and a transformed relationship with God, made possible through the sacrifice and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ (John 3:16).