MORNING SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 9/17/2026
11:22 AM
My
Worship Time Focus:
PT. 2 “A
True Hearer Listens Obediently”
Bible
Reading & Meditation Reference:
Luke
8:19-20
Message of the verses: “And His mother and brothers came to
Him, and they were unable to get to Him because of the crowd. And it was reported to Him, “Your mother and
Your brothers are standing outside, wishing to see you.” But He answered and said to them, “My mother and
My brothers are these who hear the word of God and do it.”
I am happy to look at these verses
because they have always been somewhat of a mystery to me as to why Jesus said
what He said about His mother and brothers.
MacArthur writes “The Lord’s
brothers did not believe in Him (John 7:5) until after the resurrection (Acts
1:14), but Mary understood who He was from the beginning.”
(John 7:5)
5 For not even his brothers believed in him.”
(Acts 1:14)
“14 All these with one accord were devoting
themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and
his brothers.”
“She knew
that He had come to ‘save His people from their sins’ (Matt. 1:21), and
acknowledged her own need for a Savior (Luke 1:47). She confessed that she was neither sinless
nor co-redemptrix with Jesus.”
(Luke 1:47)
“47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,”
“Jesus’ care for Mary and
willingness to redeem His brothers indicates that He was not indifferent toward
them. However His reply, ‘My mother
and My brothers are these who hear the word of God and do it,’ seems at
first glance to suggest otherwise. But
that is not the case, Christ’s point is that
relationships to Him are not defined in human terms by physical or
family ties. While Jesus was not
indifferent to His family, neither was He subservient to them. Those who have a relationship with Him are
the ones who hear the word of God and do it. The Lord made that point again later in Luke’s
gospel. Seeking to honor Mary ‘one of
the women in the crowd raised her voice and said to Him ‘Blessed is the womb
that bore You and the breasts at which You nursed’’ (Luke 11:27). But human relationships are not the issue, as
His reply, ‘On the contrary, blessed are those who hear the word of God and
observe it’ (v. 28) indicates. Only
those who are ‘doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves’
(James 1:22), who hear His words and act on them (Mark 7:24), who continue in
His word (John 8:31), and who demonstrate their love for Him by obeying Him
(John 14:15, 21, 23; 15:10) have a spiritual relationship with the Lord Jesus
Christ.”
(James 1:22)
“22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers
only, deceiving yourselves.”
(Mark 7:24)
“24 ¶ And from there he arose and went away to the
region of Tyre and Sidon. And he entered a house and did not want anyone to
know, yet he could not be hidden.”
(John 14:15, 21, 23; 15:10)
“15 ¶ "If you love me, you will keep my
commandments.”
“21 Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he
it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will
love him and manifest myself to him."
“23 Jesus answered him, "If anyone loves me,
he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and
make our home with him.”
“10 If you keep my commandments, you will abide
in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love.”
“The picture of such people given in
this passage is clear. They are true
hearers of the word, who listen to it evangelistically, authentically,
fruitfully, and obediently. The challenge
Jesus issued that day on the shore of the Sea of Galilee is the some one He
makes to everyone: ‘Take care how you listen.’”
Spiritual
Meaning for my life today: Be a better listener.
My
Steps of Faith for Today: Praying that the Lord will use the
meeting that I am going to this evening to help me with the loss of my dear
wife.
9/17/2026
12:02 PM
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