030 RIC Biblical Articles: Hearing or doing?

030 RIC Biblical Articles  Hearing or doing?  May 16, 2025

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Luke 11:27-28

27. And it happened, as He spoke these things, that a certain woman from the crowd raised her voice and said to Him, “Blessed is the womb that bore You, and the breasts which nursed You!”

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

Greetings, precious soul, 

While Jesus is teaching about the Kingdom of God, something remarkable happens. A woman from the crowd suddenly cries out: “Blessed is the womb that bore You, and the breasts which nursed You!” Although she admires Jesus, it is Mary whom she praises first with her words. She expresses what many think: what an honor it must have been to be the mother of such a Son.

Yet Jesus seizes this moment to bring forward a deeper truth. He replies: “More than that, blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it!” With that, He shifts the focus from natural descent and connection to obedience and spiritual relationship. Jesus emphasizes that true blessedness does not lie in who you are or to whom you are related, but in how you respond to the Word of God.

The woman speaks from a human perspective. In the culture of that time, motherhood was a great privilege, especially if the son grew up to be a wise or influential man. By praising Mary, she is in fact praising Jesus. Yet Jesus makes clear that spiritual obedience is of greater value than natural closeness. He does not say that Mary is not blessed, but He teaches that blessing does not depend on descent, but on response to God's speaking.

Hearing the Word in the Bible is never passive. It is not merely about catching words, but about truly listening, with the intention to obey. To “keep” means not just to remember, but also to guard, to take to heart, and to put into practice. With this, Jesus emphasizes an important point of His message: the Kingdom of God does not ask for admiration, but for surrender.

With this statement, Jesus establishes a fundamental principle: those who hear the Word and keep it are blessed. That excludes no one based on origin but does require an attitude of openness, receptiveness, and obedience. Instead of relying on descent, religious status, or tradition, Jesus invites everyone to personally listen and live according to what God says.

This lesson fits seamlessly with other sayings of Jesus and the broader testimony of God’s Word. In Luke 8:21, He says: “My mother and My brothers are these who hear the word of God and do it.” In Matthew 7:24-29, Christ teaches us that whoever hears and does is like someone who builds his house on a rock. James also writes in his letter in James 1:22: “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” And in Psalm 1, it is said that the blessed man delights in the law of the LORD and meditates on it day and night.

Jesus’ words are therefore not meant as a critique of the woman who speaks to Him, and not as a rejection of human connection, but as an invitation to a deeper relationship with God. True blessing is within reach for everyone: hear the Word, keep it in your heart, and live from it. That is Jesus’ spiritual family: those who listen to the voice of God and live from it.

The woman from the crowd spoke out of admiration. Jesus responded with truth. For admiration alone is not enough. Being close to Jesus only has true value when His words shape your life. You are not blessed because you are connected to Him from a distance, but because you hear His voice and do His will.

This text invites us to self-examination. Do I truly hear the Word of God, or do I let it pass me by? Do I keep it, or do I let it go as soon as it becomes uncomfortable? Jesus speaks with love, but also with clarity. He shows where true blessedness is found: in a heart that listens and obeys. Not in achievements or positions, but in surrender.

But if hearing and keeping God's Word is so central, then it calls each of us to a decision. For it is possible to admire Jesus, to value Him, even to respect Him, and still keep the heart closed to His voice. Jesus does not ask for religious form, but for surrender. Not for distant appreciation, but for a life truly shaped by Him.

Therefore, this is not a noncommittal message. Jesus is speaking to you. His Word demands a response. Maybe you have heard the Word many times, but never truly kept it. Maybe you know the stories, but still live in your own strength. Then He says to you today: turn around. Turn away from a life where you are in control and turn to Me. Repent, and believe the Gospel.

He did not come to condemn, but to save. His call to repentance is an invitation to life. The Word of God that you hear today wants to take residence in your heart. Do not leave it aside. Do not let it be lost. Open your heart. Ask Him to forgive you, to renew you, to fill your life with His Spirit. He wants you to live, by His grace, in fellowship with Him. That is true life.

Today is the day. Hear His voice. Keep His Word. Turn to Him and receive the blessedness He promises.

For blessed are those who hear the Word of God and keep it.

Amen.