Hear and Do

¹⁹Then his mother and his brothers came to him, but they could not reach him because of the crowd. ²⁰And he was told, "Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, desiring to see you." ²¹But he answered them, "My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and do it." (Luke 8:19-21)

To place this scene in context, Jesus is here teaching to a large crowd, having just delivered the parable of the sower and the parable of the lamp. When His family shows up, they can’t even get close because of the masses of people surrounding Jesus, who is notified of the situation. His response is striking: “My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and do it.”

These words may seem harsh at first, but when we consider them with a teachable heart, they challenge and instruct. Jesus does not say this to reject His earthly family, but instead uses this moment to reject the notion that anyone can have special access to the Lord. When presented with a request for His physical presence, Christ chose instead to answer the much more profound application for spiritual intimacy. How can we get close to Jesus (and through Him, the Father)? The answer is excruciatingly simple: “hear the word of God and do it.”

This is one of those passages that is—for me—a necessary smack to the spiritual face. The lesson is simple, but its importance for spiritual health and growth is absolutely fundamental and cannot be overstated. I realize today how far I have fallen from obedience. How many of us have the “hearing” part down? We go to church, bible studies, small groups, and retreats. We read devotionals and Christian books. But when the rubber meets the road, we hesitate, reverting back to our "default" setting of sin. We hear, but we do not do.

Jesus taught time and again the importance of putting faith into practice. In the parable of the sower which immediately precedes this passage, He explains the different metaphors of His parable, ending with the seed that fell on the good soil:

“But the seed in the good soil, these are the ones who have heard the word in an honest and good heart, and hold it fast, and bear fruit with perseverance.” (Luke 8:15)

Friends, this is not something we will ever accomplish perfectly. Surely we will falter, but we must try with honest hearts. This post is not meant to discourage, but to spur to action those who (like me) need a little push. Today I invite you to be challenged with me. Let's reflect on concrete and immediate ways that we can put our faith into practice, never forgetting to hold fast to the life-giving Word! May God bless you as you hear and do!