Luke 8:20

And it was told him [by certain] which said, Thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to see thee.

And {G2532} it was told {G518} him {G846} by certain which said {G3004}, Thy {G4675} mother {G3384} and {G2532} thy {G4675} brethren {G80} stand {G2476} without {G1854}, desiring {G2309} to see {G1492} thee {G4571}.

It was reported to him, "Your mother and your brothers are standing outside and want to see you."

He was told, “Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to see You.”

And it was told him, Thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to see thee.

Luke 8:20 records a significant moment in Jesus' ministry where His earthly family attempts to reach Him while He is teaching a multitude. This verse sets the stage for Jesus' profound redefinition of who constitutes His true family, shifting the focus from biological ties to spiritual obedience.

Context

Immediately preceding this verse, Jesus has been teaching the Parable of the Sower and explaining its meaning to His disciples, emphasizing the importance of hearing and understanding God's word. He was likely surrounded by a large crowd, making it difficult for anyone to approach Him directly. His mother, Mary, and His brothers arrive, standing outside the house or gathering where He was, unable to get through the throng, and send a message inward desiring to see Him. This incident is also recounted in parallel passages in Matthew 12:46-50 and Mark 3:31-35, providing a fuller picture of the circumstances.

Key Themes

  • Redefining Family: The primary theme introduced by this verse is Jesus' radical redefinition of family. While acknowledging His biological ties, He uses this opportunity to highlight a deeper, spiritual kinship.
  • Prioritizing God's Will: Jesus consistently placed His divine mission and the will of His Father above all earthly considerations, including family obligations. This encounter underscores His unwavering commitment to His ministry.
  • Spiritual Kinship through Obedience: This verse serves as a preamble to Jesus' declaration in Luke 8:21, where He states that His true mother and brethren are "they which hear the word of God, and do it." This emphasizes the importance of active faith and obedience.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "stand without" (Greek: exō hestasin) simply means they were outside, implying they were unable to gain access due to the dense crowd. Their "desiring to see thee" (Greek: thelontes se idein) indicates a simple wish to meet with Him, without further elaboration on their specific motive in Luke's account.

Practical Application

Luke 8:20, especially when read with the following verse, challenges believers to reflect on their own priorities. It teaches that our spiritual relationship with God, characterized by hearing and obeying His word, is paramount. While earthly family bonds are important, our identity and deepest connections are found in our shared commitment to Christ and His kingdom. This verse encourages us to pursue spiritual kinship through active discipleship, recognizing that true family is defined by our relationship with God and our obedience to His commands.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • John 7:3

    His brethren therefore said unto him, Depart hence, and go into Judaea, that thy disciples also may see the works that thou doest.

  • John 7:6

    Then Jesus said unto them, My time is not yet come: but your time is alway ready.

  • 1 Corinthians 9:5

    Have we not power to lead about a sister, a wife, as well as other apostles, and [as] the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas?

  • Mark 6:3

    Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? and are not his sisters here with us? And they were offended at him.

  • Acts 1:14

    These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.

  • Galatians 1:19

    But other of the apostles saw I none, save James the Lord's brother.

  • Matthew 13:55

    Is not this the carpenter's son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas?

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