It
came to pass, as he said these things, a certain woman out of the multitude lifted up her voice, and said to him, “Blessed is the womb that bore you, and the breasts which nursed you!” But he said, “On the contrary, blessed are those who hear the word of God, and keep it.”
Luke 11:27-28
Luke 11 [23.] “He that is not with me is against me. He who doesn’t gather with me scatters. The unclean spirit, when he has gone out of the man, passes through dry places, seeking rest, and finding none, he says, ‘I will turn back to my house from which I came out.’ When he returns, he finds it swept and put in order. Then he goes, and takes seven other spirits more evil than himself, and they enter in and dwell there. The last state of that man becomes worse than the first.”
Luke 11 [27.] It came to pass, as he said these things, a certain woman out of the multitude lifted up her voice, and said to him, “Blessed is the womb that bore you, and the breasts which nursed you!”
Luke 11 [28.] But he said, “On the contrary, blessed are those who hear the word of God, and keep it.”
Luke 11 [29.] When the multitudes were gathering together to him, he began to say, “This is an evil generation. It seeks after a sign. No sign will be given to it but the sign of Jonah, the prophet. For even as Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites, so will also the Son of Man be to this generation. The Queen of the South will rise up in the judgment with the men of this generation, and will condemn them: for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and behold, one greater than Solomon is here. The men of Nineveh will stand up in the judgment with this generation, and will condemn it: for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and behold, one greater than Jonah is here.
Meaning:
Jesus has just answered those who claimed he cast out demons by Beelzebul, warning that a person freed from an evil spirit must not be left empty (Luke 11:14-26). In the middle of this tense debate a woman in the crowd calls out a blessing. Jesus’ reply turns attention from his mother to what truly makes a person blessed.
- “a certain woman out of the multitude lifted up her voice”
While religious leaders argued and doubted, this unnamed woman was moved to praise. Her outburst shows that ordinary people were deeply impressed by Jesus’ words and power. She expresses her admiration in a way common in that culture: honouring a great man by blessing the mother who bore him.
- “Blessed is the womb that bore you, and the breasts which nursed you!”
Mary was indeed blessed. Elizabeth said to her, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!” (Luke 1:42), and Mary herself sang, “For behold, from now on, all generations will call me blessed” (Luke 1:48). The woman’s words were not wrong. But they focused on physical relationship to Jesus, as if the greatest privilege belonged only to the woman who had given birth to him.
- “On the contrary, blessed are those who hear the word of God, and keep it.”
Jesus does not deny his mother’s honour, but he points to a greater blessing open to everyone. The word translated “on the contrary” can also carry the sense “rather” or “even more.” True blessedness is found in hearing God’s word and keeping it, that is, obeying and treasuring it. Mary herself is the finest example. When the angel spoke to her, she answered, “Behold, the servant of the Lord; let it be done to me according to your word” (Luke 1:38). Her greatest blessing was her faith and obedience.
Jesus had made the same point when his mother and brothers came to see him: “My mother and my brothers are these who hear the word of God, and do it” (Luke 8:21). Belonging to Jesus is not a matter of family, nationality or admiration, but of a heart that receives God’s word and lives by it.
- Hearing and keeping
To hear is not enough. In the parable of the sower, the good soil represents those who “having heard the word, hold it tightly” and bear fruit (Luke 8:15). James writes, “But be doers of the word, and not only hearers, deluding your own selves” (James 1:22). Jesus ended the Sermon on the Plain by comparing the one who hears and does his words to a man who built his house on rock (Luke 6:47-48).
The Significance of Luke 11:27-28
- A blessing open to all
No one can share Mary’s unique role as the mother of Jesus, but everyone may share the greater blessing of hearing and keeping God’s word.
- Admiration is not discipleship
It is possible to praise Jesus warmly without obeying him. Jesus invites people to move from admiration to obedience.
- Treasuring the word
Keeping God’s word means guarding it in the heart and putting it into practice day by day.
Cross-References:
Luke 8:21: "My mother and my brothers are these who hear the word of God, and do it." True family of Jesus.
James 1:22: "But be doers of the word, and not only hearers," Hearing must lead to doing.
Luke 1:38: "Behold, the servant of the Lord; let it be done to me according to your word." Mary’s obedient faith.
Luke 1:48: "For behold, from now on, all generations will call me blessed." Mary’s song.
Conclusion: When a woman in the crowd blessed the mother who bore and nursed Jesus, he answered that those who hear the word of God and keep it are blessed even more. Mary was honoured, but her deepest blessing, like ours, lay in faith and obedience. The happiness Jesus offers is open to everyone who listens to God’s word and lives by it.
PIB Scriptures are derived from the World English Bible