Bible Study series: Luke 8:19-21. The natural reading is that these are his full brothers, not step-brothers.
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In the next link to the original chapter, I comment more and offer the Greek text. At the bottom you will find a “Summary and Conclusion” section geared toward discipleship. Check it out!
In this post, links are provided for further study.
Let’s begin.
Scripture: Luke 8:19-21
19 His mother and his brothers came to him, but they were unable to meet him because of the crowd. 20 It was announced to him, “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside wanting to see you.” 21 But in reply, he said to them, “My mother and my brothers are the ones who hear and do the word of God!” (Luke 8:19-21)
Comments:
Liefeld and Pao in their summary of this pericope (pronounced puh-RIH-koh-pea) or unit or section: “On the ecclesiological [church] level, this passage points to the redefinition of the people of God. Those who belong to Jesus are not limited to those who are related him by flesh. Obedience to Jesus’ words becomes the criterion for one to be included in this new community. The theme of redefinition finds its fulfillment to Luke’s second volume, where the inclusion of the Gentiles is at the very center of Luke’s concern” (comment on vv. 1921).
19-21:
These five verses can be looked at in the context of the Gospel of Mark, which places these two verses nearby:
20 “He came home, and again a crowd gathered together, so that they were unable even to eat a meal. 21 When his family heard this, they went out to take him into custody, for they were saying, ‘He was out of his mind’” (Mark 3:20-21).
Jesus has to make a break with his family. In John 7:3-9 his unbelieving (v. 5) brothers tried to micro-manage Jesus’s ministry. They told him to go to Judea so that the disciples there could see the works he was doing. He replied that his time had not yet come, but their time was always here, because they belonged to the world, which does not hate them, but it hates him because he testifies that its works are evil. That passage cannot get any clearer. There was a deep misunderstanding and gulf between him and his brothers. However, the epistles of James and Jude were written by his two brothers (Jude is a variation on Judas). So they must have surrendered to his Lordship, after his resurrection.
Sometimes making a clean break from your own family needs to be done. The fact that his mother and brothers wanted to take him into custody is the part of the story that Luke doesn’t tell, but it fills in the picture a lot more. For all we know, they were standing outside, looking for him, in order to take custody of him.
In Luke 12:49-53 Jesus taught family division may arise, yet in Matt. 15:4-9 he upholds the OT command to honor one’s father and mother. So in comparison between the kingdom and the family, the kingdom comes first, but if the family supports the kingdom citizen or disciple, then we should be grateful. These are general rules, like Proverbs, which admit exceptions.
In Islamic and strict Jewish cultures, converting to Christ—becoming a Christian—is very offensive. Muslim girls who convert are especially vulnerable. They may be “honor-killed.” Jewish children may be disowned. But those who reject their own family for these decisions for Christ are not hearing and doing the word of God. They are outside of right standing with God. Judaism is incomplete, and Islam is off the tracks. Those are strong criticisms, but I believe, after much study, that they are right.
So the bottom line is that people are right to leave those two religions behind and follow Jesus. And people may have to leave a dysfunctional family behind. “Why are you doing this?” You’re weak!” When they leave, let’s gather them in our “church arms” and welcome them into the new church family.
Ten Big Differences between Christianity and Other Religions
“word”: this is the same noun logos, and see v. 11 for extended comments. This is the teaching about living in the kingdom of God as Jesus proclaimed it.
GrowApp for Luke 8:16-18
1. Have you had to make a clean break from your family or a side of your family to follow Jesus? If so, how did that go? Do you know someone who did?
RELATED
11. Eyewitness Testimony in Luke’s Gospel
3. Church Fathers and Luke’s Gospel
2. Archaeology and the Synoptic Gospels
1. The Historical Reliability of the Gospels: Introduction to Series
SOURCES
For the bibliographical data, please click on this link and scroll down to the very bottom:
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