Luke 11:27 - Printer Friendly

ESV: As he said these things, a woman in the crowd raised her voice and said to him, "Blessed is the womb that bore you, and the breasts at which you nursed!"

NIV: As Jesus was saying these things, a woman in the crowd called out, "Blessed is the mother who gave you birth and nursed you."

NASB: While Jesus was saying these things, one of the women in the crowd raised her voice and said to Him, 'Blessed is the womb that carried You, and the breasts at which You nursed!'

CSB: As he was saying these things, a woman from the crowd raised her voice and said to him, "Blessed is the womb that bore you and the one who nursed you!"

NLT: As he was speaking, a woman in the crowd called out, 'God bless your mother — the womb from which you came, and the breasts that nursed you!'

KJV: And it came to pass, as he spake these things, a certain woman of the company lifted up her voice, and said unto him, Blessed is the womb that bare thee, and the paps which thou hast sucked.

NKJV: 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!”

Luke continues to offer stories about the difference between someone who follows Satan and one who follows Jesus. A person who truly casts out demons does not follow Satan (Luke 11:14–20). If Jesus can cast out demons, He can destroy Satan's kingdom (Luke 11:21–23). People must decide who they follow or they will, by default, be under Satan's authority (Luke 11:24–26).

The anonymous woman is not wrong. Elizabeth and Mary, herself, affirmed that Mary is blessed (Luke 1:42, 48). And the fact that a woman felt free to interject her blessing into a rabbi's meeting is another sign of how Jesus valued and affirmed women in His ministry. Yet Jesus emphasizes here that even being a close member of Jesus' family is not enough. To receive God's blessings, even Jesus' family members must choose Him as their Savior.

Matthew and Mark don't record this interchange, but they do include a related conversation (Matthew 12:46–50; Mark 3:31–35), as does Luke earlier in his gospel (Luke 8:19–21). Mary and Jesus' brothers have heard that He's over-working Himself and is earning a bad reputation. They show up to take Him home (Mark 3:21). Jesus is inside a crowded house, and they can't get to Him. When someone tells Him they are there, He responds "Who are my mother and my brothers? … Here are my mother and my brothers! For whoever does the will of God, he is my brother and sister and mother" (Mark 3:33–35).

Luke 11:27–28 displays the people's continued misunderstanding of what it means to accept their Messiah. A woman cries out that Mary must be blessed for having Jesus as her son. Jesus responds that true blessings belong to His followers who are known by their obedience. Only Luke records this interaction but Jesus' comments about family in Matthew 12:46–50 and Mark 3:31–35 express the same message.

Jesus teaches the disciples how to pray and explains God's intent to give "good" to those who ask. He then exorcizes a demon and refutes the claim that His power is satanic. Jesus explains that unreasonable skeptics will only see the "sign of Jonah." He then criticizes the superficial legalism of the Pharisees. In response, they plot against Him.

In what some scholars refer to as "The Travelogue to Jerusalem" (Luke 9:51—19:27), Jesus prepares His disciples for His crucifixion and resurrection and the establishment of the church. The description begins with Christ teaching the disciples how to spread the news of the kingdom of God and reaffirming how they will be blessed, culminating in the Lord's Prayer (Luke 9:51—11:13). Luke 11 finishes with accounts of leaders who reject Jesus. The remainder of the travelogue gives a pattern of teaching on the kingdom of God, miracles, and explanations of salvation. Then Jesus enters Jerusalem to face the cross.

Luke was a traveling companion of Paul (Acts 16:10) and a physician (Colossians 4:14). Unlike Matthew, Mark, and John, Luke writes his gospel as an historian, rather than as a first-hand eyewitness. His extensive writings also include the book of Acts (Acts 1:1–3). These are deliberately organized, carefully researched accounts of those events. The gospel of Luke focuses on the earthly ministry of Jesus Christ. Luke's Gentile perspective presents Christ as a Savior for all people, offering both forgiveness and direction to those who follow Him.