Luke 8:21

21 He replied, "My mother and brothers are the ones who hear and do God's Word. Obedience is thicker than blood."

Luke 8:21 Meaning and Commentary

Luke 8:21

And he answered and said unto them
Not to his mother and brethren, but to those that told him of them, who either designed to reproach him with them, by reason of the meanness of them, or to interrupt him in his work:

my mother and my brethren are these;
pointing to his disciples:

which hear the word of God;
which he had been preaching, and was meant by the seed in the preceding parable:

and do it;
behave in their lives and conversations agreeably to it; and observe the precepts and ordinances in it; elsewhere called the will of God his Father; (See Gill on Matthew 12:49). (See Gill on Matthew 12:50).

Luke 8:21 In-Context

19 His mother and brothers showed up but couldn't get through to him because of the crowd.
20 He was given the message, "Your mother and brothers are standing outside wanting to see you."
21 He replied, "My mother and brothers are the ones who hear and do God's Word. Obedience is thicker than blood."
22 One day he and his disciples got in a boat. "Let's cross the lake," he said. And off they went.
23 It was smooth sailing, and he fell asleep. A terrific storm came up suddenly on the lake. Water poured in, and they were about to capsize.
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.