Luke 11 28

Luke 11:28 kjv

But he said, Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it.

Luke 11:28 nkjv

But He said, "More than that, blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it!"

Luke 11:28 niv

He replied, "Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it."

Luke 11:28 esv

But he said, "Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!"

Luke 11:28 nlt

Jesus replied, "But even more blessed are all who hear the word of God and put it into practice."

Luke 11 verses

Luke 11 28 Meaning

Luke 11:28 declares that true blessedness does not stem from physical proximity or biological relationships, but from a spiritual commitment: hearing the word of God and actively obeying it. This pronouncement redefines who is truly favored by God, shifting the focus from external associations to an internal and transformative response to divine revelation.

Luke 11 28 Context

Luke 11:28 appears in a section of Luke's Gospel where Jesus is confronted with various responses to His ministry and teachings. Immediately preceding this verse, a woman in the crowd, deeply impressed by Jesus' words and perhaps by the signs and wonders, exclaims, "Blessed is the womb that bore you, and the breasts at which you nursed!" (Lk 11:27). This exclamation celebrates Jesus' physical origin and His mother Mary, reflecting a common human inclination to venerate significant individuals based on their natural associations. Jesus' response in verse 28 directly addresses and reorients this understanding of "blessedness." It follows His teachings on prayer (Lk 11:1-13) and His confrontation with those accusing Him of casting out demons by Beelzebul (Lk 11:14-26). Jesus' teachings often emphasize that true greatness and blessedness are found in spiritual alignment with God's will, not in worldly status or biological ties. Historically, within Jewish thought, special favor or blessing (such as a prophet's or righteous person's lineage) might confer honor. Jesus, however, counters any notion that Mary's unique blessedness came primarily from her physical motherhood; rather, her blessedness, and that of anyone else, comes from her faithful hearing and keeping of God's Word.

Luke 11 28 Word analysis

• ἀλλά (alla) - "But rather, However": This conjunction introduces a strong contrast, correcting the woman's implied understanding of blessedness. It acts as a redirect, pivoting the focus from an external physical relationship to an internal spiritual one. This is not a dismissal of Mary, but an elevation of the principle she exemplified (her 'yes' to God).
• Μακάριοι (Makarioi) - "Blessed are": This is a key term in Jesus' teaching, found prominently in the Beatitudes (Mt 5:3-12; Lk 6:20-22). It signifies a state of divine favor, inner well-being, and spiritual prosperity, granted by God. It refers to someone who is supremely fortunate and truly enviable from a divine perspective, possessing God's approval and spiritual joy, irrespective of external circumstances.
• οἱ ἀκούοντες (hoi akouontes) - "those who hear" (lit. the ones hearing): This is a present active participle, denoting a continuous or habitual action. "Hearing" in the biblical sense implies more than just auditory perception; it signifies listening with attention, understanding, and receptivity, implying a readiness to obey. It speaks of internalizing the message.
• τὸν λόγον τοῦ Θεοῦ (ton logon tou Theou) - "the word of God": "Logos" here refers to God's revelation, His message, His truth. It encompasses Jesus' teachings, the gospel, and broadly, all that God reveals about Himself and His will. It points to divine truth that demands a response.
• καὶ (kai) - "and": This simple conjunction is crucial. It connects hearing with a subsequent action, showing that the two are inseparable for true blessedness. It's not one or the other, but both.
• φυλάσσοντες (phylassontes) - "keep" (lit. the ones keeping/obeying/guarding): This is also a present active participle, indicating ongoing action. "Phylasso" carries a rich meaning: to guard, protect, preserve, observe, adhere to, or obey. It moves beyond intellectual assent to active preservation and obedience. It implies putting the word into practice in one's life.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "Blessed are those who hear the word of God": This highlights the foundational step: receiving God's divine communication. It's about opening one's mind and heart to what God reveals, recognizing its authoritative source.
• "and keep it": This vital addition clarifies that mere auditory or intellectual reception is insufficient for true blessedness. It demands active obedience, integration into one's life, and a commitment to preserve and live by God's truth. This phrase establishes the condition for divine favor, moving from passive hearing to active, transformative doing.

Luke 11 28 Bonus section

The nuance in Jesus' statement "but rather, blessed are those..." does not devalue Mary's role but places her true blessedness within a broader, accessible framework for all believers. Her unique privilege of carrying the Messiah is certainly a grace, but her spiritual preeminence, as indicated by her humility and acceptance of God's will (Luke 1:38), aligns perfectly with this teaching. Thus, Mary is presented as the supreme example of one who both heard and kept the word of God, becoming a model disciple. This verse functions as a clear polemic against any notion that religious privilege or status, even association with Jesus' physical family, automatically grants favor without a corresponding active obedience to God's divine revelation. It elevates spiritual relationship and responsive action above mere lineage or proximity to greatness.

Luke 11 28 Commentary

Luke 11:28 provides a profound spiritual principle directly from Jesus: authentic blessedness is rooted not in external honor, lineage, or physical connection to sacred figures, but in the internal and active reception of God's Word. When a woman lauded Mary, Jesus took the opportunity to redirect the focus. He wasn't diminishing His mother but affirming the profound spiritual basis of true favor. Mary herself exemplified this, for her 'blessedness' truly stemmed from her obedient response to God's astonishing word (Lk 1:38, 45). The verse underlines that hearing without keeping is empty, echoing themes found elsewhere in scripture (James 1:22). It's a call to practical discipleship: those who attentively receive God's word and then diligently apply it to their lives, guarding its precepts and living by its truth, are indeed truly blessed. This redefines spiritual kinship, emphasizing that one's family in Christ is made up of those who do God's will, transcending bloodlines (Matt 12:48-50, Lk 8:21). It serves as a perpetual reminder that knowing what God says must inevitably lead to doing what God says for divine approval and genuine spiritual flourishing.

Examples of practical usage:

• A person attending church faithfully every week, hearing sermons, but not applying biblical principles in their daily work or family life, is challenged by this verse to move from just hearing to doing.
• Someone studying the Bible regularly might gain much knowledge, but true blessedness comes when that knowledge transforms their character and actions, leading to greater patience, forgiveness, or generosity.
• In raising children, parents can teach them God's word, but true blessing on the family comes as everyone (including parents) strives to embody those teachings, rather than merely knowing them intellectually.