Luke 8:21But he answered them, "My mother and my brothers are these who hear the word of God, and do it."
The setting
Capernaum, Israel, ~30 AD. Jesus is teaching inside a crowded house when His family arrives outside, unable to get through the crowd...
The emotion here: firm but loving while establishing necessary boundaries
The original word
poieō (ποιέω) — to do, make, accomplish with intentional action, not passive hearing
Why it matters
Jewish culture placed family honor above all else - this statement was shocking
Read with care
What most readers miss in Luke 8:21
His family thought He was mentally unstable and came to take Him home
Common misconceptionPeople think this means to disrespect biological family, but Jesus is expanding the definition of family to include spiritual bonds, not rejecting blood relationships.
The thread continues
Verses that echo Luke 8:21
Bible Genome reading
Luke 8:21 — Bible Genome reading
Emotional genome
Luke 8:21 comes from the book of Luke, written during the gospel period. These words are attributed to Jesus. The dominant emotion in this verse is growing, with a comfort power of 50% and a tone that is reflective. It belongs to the narrative genre of biblical literature. Key themes include spiritual family, obedience. Notable phrases: my mother and brothers; hear the word of God; and do it.
Emotionally similar
Verses that meet the same growing
“Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.”
— Proverbs 22:6
“So faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”
— Romans 10:17
“He must increase, but I must decrease.”
— John 3:30
“Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.”
— Galatians 6:2
“He believed in Yahweh; and he reckoned it to him for righteousness.”
— Genesis 15:6
Your reflection
What does Luke 8:21 mean to you, today?
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