Luke 8:20

KJV

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

KJV (with Strong's)

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}.

Complete Jewish Bible

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

Berean Standard Bible

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

American Standard Version

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

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Luke 8:20 recounts the arrival of Jesus' mother and brothers, who stand outside the crowded teaching venue, seeking to speak with Him. This seemingly simple report serves as a pivotal setup for Jesus' subsequent teaching, where He redefines the concept of true family, shifting the emphasis from biological lineage to spiritual kinship and obedience to God's word. The verse highlights the practical challenges of Jesus' public ministry while foreshadowing a profound theological truth about belonging in the Kingdom of God.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse immediately follows Jesus' teaching on the Parable of the Sower and its interpretation, along with the parable of the lamp on a stand, and a discourse on the importance of hearing and doing the word of God. In [Luke 8:15](/luke/8-15 "Luke 8:15 - The Good Soil"), Jesus emphasizes that those who "hear the word, and keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience" are like the good soil. The arrival of His family in [Luke 8:20](/luke/8-20 "Luke 8:20 - Jesus' Family Arrives") and His subsequent response in [Luke 8:21](/luke/8-21 "Luke 8:21 - Jesus Defines His True Family") directly illustrates and reinforces this teaching, demonstrating that spiritual affinity, marked by obedience, supersedes even the closest earthly ties. This incident is also paralleled in [Matthew 12:46-50](/matthew/12-46-50 "Matthew 12:46-50 - Jesus' True Family") and [Mark 3:31-35](/mark/3-31-35 "Mark 3:31-35 - Who is My Mother and My Brothers?"), indicating its significance across the synoptic Gospels.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** In ancient Jewish society, family (the _mishpachah_) was the foundational unit, carrying immense social, economic, and religious significance. Kinship ties were paramount, dictating identity, inheritance, and community standing. To disregard one's biological family, especially a mother, would have been highly unusual and potentially scandalous. Jesus' itinerant ministry often meant He was surrounded by large crowds, making private access difficult. His teachings were delivered publicly, often in homes or open spaces, where people would press in to hear Him. The detail that His family "stand without" suggests the density of the crowd and their inability to reach Him directly, necessitating a message to be conveyed. This setting provides the backdrop for Jesus to challenge deeply ingrained cultural norms regarding family, elevating spiritual connection above conventional expectations.

* **Key Themes:** Luke 8:20 contributes significantly to several overarching themes within Luke's Gospel and the broader biblical narrative. The most prominent theme is the **redefinition of family**, where Jesus establishes a new, spiritual kinship based on hearing and obeying God's word, as clearly articulated in [Luke 8:21](/luke/8-21 "Luke 8:21 - Jesus Defines His True Family"). This highlights the **supremacy of God's will and kingdom** over earthly relationships, a consistent motif in Jesus' ministry (e.g., [Luke 14:26](/luke/14-26 "Luke 14:26 - Hating Family for Christ")). The verse also underscores the **importance of active discipleship and obedience**, building on the preceding parables about the fertile ground for God's word (e.g., [Luke 8:15](/luke/8-15 "Luke 8:15 - The Good Soil")). It subtly introduces the **tension between Jesus' earthly and divine missions**, showcasing how His divine calling often placed Him at odds with societal expectations and even familial desires.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **told (Greek, _apangéllō'_):** From G518, meaning "to announce," "bring word (again)," or "report." This word indicates the act of conveying a message from one party to another. Here, it signifies that Jesus was informed of His family's presence and desire, setting the stage for His public response. It's not merely a casual mention but an intentional communication of their request.
* **without (Greek, _éxō'_):** From G1854, an adverb meaning "out(-side, of doors)." This word precisely describes the physical location of Jesus' family. They were not inside the house or immediate gathering space where Jesus was teaching, but rather on the periphery, unable to gain direct access. This detail underscores the large crowd surrounding Jesus and the barrier it presented to His family.
* **desiring (Greek, _thélō'_):** From G2309, meaning "to determine (as an active option from subjective impulse)," "to wish," or "to be inclined to." This word conveys the intent and will of Jesus' family. They had a specific desire or wish to see Him, implying a conscious choice and purpose behind their visit. Luke does not elaborate on their specific motive, but the word itself points to a deliberate intention.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And it was told him [by certain] which said":** This opening phrase indicates that the information about Jesus' family did not come directly from them, but was relayed by intermediaries. "Certain" (οἵ τινες) implies unnamed individuals, likely members of the crowd or those close enough to Jesus to deliver the message. This highlights the public nature of Jesus' ministry and the constant flow of information and interaction around Him.
* **"Thy mother and thy brethren stand without":** This clause identifies the specific individuals who had arrived – Jesus' biological mother, Mary, and His brothers. The phrase "stand without" (ἔξω ἑστᾶσιν) precisely describes their physical location, emphasizing their inability to enter the immediate vicinity where Jesus was teaching due to the surrounding crowd. This detail sets up the physical barrier that precipitates Jesus' spiritual teaching.
* **"desiring to see thee":** This final clause clarifies the purpose of their visit. Their intention was simply to "see" (ἰδεῖν, G1492, from _eídō_) Jesus, indicating a wish for a personal encounter. The text provides no explicit motive beyond this desire, leaving open whether their intent was concern, a wish to intervene, or simply a family visit. However, their stated desire for a meeting is the direct catalyst for Jesus' subsequent pronouncement.

#### Literary Devices
Luke employs several literary devices in this brief verse. **Foreshadowing** is prominent, as the seemingly mundane report of Jesus' family's arrival sets the stage for His radical redefinition of family in the very next verse. The physical **Contrast** between "inside" (where Jesus teaches) and "without" (where His family stands) subtly mirrors the deeper spiritual contrast between those who are physically related to Him and those who are spiritually connected through obedience. There is also an element of **Dramatic Irony**, as the audience knows Jesus' divine identity and mission, while His family, at this point, appears to be seeking Him on purely earthly terms, unaware of the profound spiritual truth He is about to reveal. The simple, factual reporting of their presence and desire serves to heighten the impact of Jesus' subsequent, unexpected teaching.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
This verse, particularly when read in conjunction with [Luke 8:21](/luke/8-21 "Luke 8:21 - Jesus Defines His True Family"), presents a profound theological statement about the nature of true kinship in the Kingdom of God. Jesus elevates spiritual obedience above biological ties, asserting that those who hear and do the word of God are His true family. This does not devalue earthly family but rather reorders priorities, placing the divine relationship as supreme. It challenges the deeply ingrained cultural emphasis on bloodlines, demonstrating that belonging in God's family is not a matter of birthright but of faith and active discipleship. This redefinition is foundational to understanding the inclusive nature of the New Covenant, where spiritual adoption transcends all human distinctions.

* [Matthew 12:46-50](/matthew/12-46-50 "Matthew 12:46-50 - Jesus' True Family")
* [Mark 3:31-35](/mark/3-31-35 "Mark 3:31-35 - Who is My Mother and My Brothers?")
* [John 1:12-13](/john/1-12-13 "John 1:12-13 - Children of God")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Luke 8:20, in its context, invites us to critically examine our understanding of "family" and "belonging." While earthly family relationships are a precious gift from God, Jesus' teaching challenges us to recognize that our deepest and most enduring identity is found in our spiritual kinship with Him, forged through hearing and obeying His word. This means prioritizing God's will and kingdom above all other loyalties, even those as fundamental as family. It calls us to active discipleship, where our lives are not merely informed by God's word but transformed by it, leading to a vibrant, obedient faith. This passage encourages us to cultivate spiritual relationships with fellow believers, recognizing that our shared commitment to Christ creates a bond stronger than blood. It prompts us to ask whether our actions truly reflect our stated allegiance to Christ as our ultimate family head.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does Jesus' redefinition of family challenge my own cultural or personal assumptions about kinship and loyalty?**
* **In what ways do I prioritize "hearing the word of God" in my daily life? Am I also committed to "doing it"?**
* **What practical steps can I take to strengthen my spiritual kinship with Christ and with other believers?**
* **Are there areas in my life where earthly relationships or desires are subtly competing with my commitment to God's will?**

### FAQ
**Why did Jesus' mother and brothers want to see Him?**

Answer: The text of [Luke 8:20](/luke/8-20 "Luke 8:20 - Jesus' Family Arrives") simply states they were "desiring to see thee," without elaborating on their specific motives. Parallel accounts in [Mark 3:20-21](/mark/3-20-21 "Mark 3:20-21 - Jesus' Family Concerned") suggest some concern for Jesus, as people were saying He was "out of his mind" due to the intensity of His ministry and the crowds. It's possible they sought to intervene, to bring Him home, or simply to check on His well-being. Luke's account, however, focuses less on their motive and more on Jesus' response, using their arrival as a springboard for His teaching on spiritual family.

**Does Jesus' response in this passage mean He rejected His earthly family?**

Answer: No, Jesus did not reject His earthly family. His response in [Luke 8:21](/luke/8-21 "Luke 8:21 - Jesus Defines His True Family") is not a repudiation of His biological ties but rather an elevation of spiritual kinship. He uses the occasion to teach a profound truth: that the bonds of faith and obedience to God's word are even more significant than biological ones in the context of the Kingdom of God. Jesus continued to care for His mother, even entrusting her to John's care at the cross ([John 19:26-27](/john/19-26-27 "John 19:26-27 - Jesus Cares for His Mother")). His teaching here emphasizes that true discipleship requires prioritizing God's will above all else, including family, when those loyalties conflict.

**What is the significance of His family "standing without"?**

Answer: The detail that Jesus' mother and brothers "stand without" ([Luke 8:20](/luke/8-20 "Luke 8:20 - Jesus' Family Arrives")) is significant for several reasons. Literally, it indicates the large crowds surrounding Jesus, making direct access difficult. Symbolically, it can be seen as a representation of their current spiritual position relative to Jesus' ministry. While physically close, they were "outside" the intimate circle of those who were actively hearing and doing God's word. This physical separation provides a powerful visual metaphor for the spiritual distinction Jesus is about to make between biological ties and the deeper bond of spiritual obedience.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Luke 8:20, by setting the stage for Jesus' redefinition of family, points profoundly to His identity as the Christ and the nature of the new covenant community. Jesus, as the Son of God, came not merely to establish an earthly lineage but to inaugurate a spiritual family, a new humanity reconciled to God through Him. His declaration in [Luke 8:21](/luke/8-21 "Luke 8:21 - Jesus Defines His True Family") that His true family consists of "they which hear the word of God, and do it" foreshadows the universal call to discipleship that transcends all earthly distinctions. Through Christ, believers are adopted into God's family, becoming "children of God by faith in Christ Jesus" ([Galatians 3:26](/galatians/3-26 "Galatians 3:26 - Children of God by Faith")). He is the "firstborn among many brethren" ([Romans 8:29](/romans/8-29 "Romans 8:29 - Firstborn Among Many Brethren")), the Head of the Church, which is His body, His spiritual family ([Ephesians 1:22-23](/ephesians/1-22-23 "Ephesians 1:22-23 - Christ as Head of the Church")). Thus, the physical barrier in [Luke 8:20](/luke/8-20 "Luke 8:20 - Jesus' Family Arrives") gives way to the spiritual access granted by Christ, inviting all who believe and obey to enter into the most intimate of relationships with God as His beloved children, united in Christ.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

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?