And he answered and said unto them, My mother and my brethren are these which hear the word of God, and do it.
Parallel translations
- WEB But he answered them, “My mother and my brothers are these who hear the word of God, and do it.”
- BSB But He replied, “My mother and brothers are those who hear the word of God and carry it out.”
- NKJV But He answered and said to them, “My mother and My brothers are these who hear the word of God and do it.”
- NASB But He answered and said to them, “My mother and My brothers are these who hear the word of God and do it.”
- NLT Jesus replied, “My mother and my brothers are all those who hear God’s word and obey it.”
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Jesus says His true family are those who hear God's word and do it. Obedient faith, not merely natural kinship, defines belonging to Him.
Overview
Jesus declares that His mother and brothers are those who hear and obey God's word. He does not dishonor His family but elevates the spiritual family created by the Gospel. All who respond to the word in faith and obedience are brought into the closest relationship with Christ.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 18
- Luke 11:27–28And 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, and the paps which thou hast sucked.
- Jas 1:22But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
- John 13:17If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.
- 3 Jn 1:11Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that doeth good is of God: but he that doeth evil hath not seen God.
- 1 Jn 2:29If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him.
- Heb 2:11–13For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren,
- 2 Cor 6:18And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.
- John 15:14–15Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.
- John 6:28–29Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?
- Luke 8:15But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.
- Matt 7:21–26Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
- Matt 25:40And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
- 1 Jn 3:22–23And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.
- Matt 17:5While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.
- John 20:17Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.
- 2 Cor 5:16Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more.
- Matt 28:10Then said Jesus unto them, Be not afraid: go tell my brethren that they go into Galilee, and there shall they see me.
- Matt 25:45Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Luke shows Jesus the Savior for all — outsiders, the poor, the nations — the one who, on the Emmaus road, opened all the Scriptures to show they were about himself.
How Luke 8:21 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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