This unnamed woman in the audience was complementing Jesus by blessing His mother, Mary. Years earlier, the angel who told Mary that she would bear the Messiah, told her that she had found favour with God (Lu 1:30). Elizabeth said that Mary was blessed among women (Lu 1:42).

Jesus followed this word of praise by telling the crowd how they could be blessed more than His mother Mary. What Jesus was saying by “Yea rather, blessed.” The phrase “Yea rather” comes from a compound word literally meaning truly then indeed. The woman in the company had just blessed Jesus’ mother. Jesus did not deny that she was a blessed woman, but to this he added that since Mary was blessed for giving birth to Jesus, truly then indeed others present who heard and kept His word were more blessed. The word “blessed” refers to possessing God’s favour. It has the idea of being fortunate or well off. It is sometimes translated “happy”. Thus, Jesus was pronouncing God’s favour on a select group of His followers.

Transition

Now that we understand what Jesus was saying, let’s look at the two requirements that he gave for being more blessed than Mary.

The first requirement for this blessing is to

Hear the Word of God.

  1. What did Jesus mean by “the word of God”?
    1. These were words that came from God. We find the phrase “word(s) of God” no less than 54 times in the Bible and “the word(s) of the LORD” more than 274 times.
    2. Jesus very likely had the Old Testament scriptures in view, but I do not think that was all He had in mind.
    3. In the context of His teaching and preaching, I believe He also had His own words in view. Not only was He teaching the Word of God, but being God Himself, the words that He spoke were the Word of God.
    4. Many today think the Bible is just a book of myths and morals written by humans. Yet, consider the external evidence that this is God’s divine book. Its continuity (66 books penned by 40 authors over 1400 years yet all in harmony), its amazing revelations (ageless past, endless future, minute details, and no contradictions), its publication surpasses all other books, its influence has transformed millions of lives, its superhuman accounts of the unknown and unknowable (heaven, hell, God, angels, etc.), its accurately fulfilled prophecies, the testimony of archaeology and geology, its presentation of unprejudiced facts (sin, failure), etc. This is the Word of God!
  2. What did Jesus mean by “hear”?
    1. We hear with our ears. As we listen to preaching, teaching, Bible reading, etc., we hear the Word of God.
    2. We hear with our minds. For example, we hear God’s Word when we read the Bible or meditate on it.
    3. We hear with our understanding. If you did not fully understand something you heard, you did not clearly hear it. Unfortunately, the audible sound of the Word of God may reach our ears, but if we do not carefully listen, do not attentively read it, or do not understand it, we may not clearly hear the Word of God. We must pay attention to hear.
    4. Solomon described this kind of hearing in Proverbs 2:1-5. “My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee; So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding; Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding; If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures; Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God.” God wants us to read His word for application not just for information or out of obligation.
    5. Mothers, on this special day to honour you, God wants to bless you, but you must hear His Word. If you do not have a daily habit of reading the Bible, begin today. If you need help, I can give you several useful tips.
    6. Jesus agreed that His mother was a blessed woman, but He stated that you too can be blessed even more if you will truly hear the word of God. This equally applies to men and young people as well as to mothers.
      The second requirement for this blessing is to

Keep the Word of God.

  1. The “it” in this phrase obviously speaks of God’s Word.
    1. The Word of God is God’s mind concerning everything that you need to know to secure eternal life and to live a fruitful and fulfilling life during this lifetime.
    2. The Word of God describes the origin of man, marriage, sin, accountability, suffering, death, strata layers and fossils, and languages in Genesis 1-11.
    3. The Word of God lays out God’s plan of redemption for sinners through Christ’s atoning death and resurrection. (John 3:16-17) “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.“
    4. The Word of God gives us God’s plan for morality, a happy marriage, rearing children, gaining wisdom, the virtuous woman, witnessing, the Christian walk, separation from sin, victory over sin, etc.
    5. All of this and much more is tucked away in the pages of God’s Word, the Bible. It is your job and mine to find these guidelines and promises by careful and attentive reading and hearing of the Word of God.
    6. Living life without attentively hearing the Bible is like trying to assemble a complex machine without using the owner’s manual.
  2. What does it mean to “keep” the Word of God?
    1. This word had two main meanings.
      1. It means to watch or guard.
      2. It also means to keep, observe, or not to violate.
      3. The second definition fits our text the best.
    2. We could say that a simple definition of the word “keep” is to obey or to do.
    3. Jesus made a similar application in his story of the house on a rock. (Luke 6:47-49) “Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like: He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock. But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great.“
    4. The apostle James wrote. (James 1:22) “But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.“
    5. You may know that exercise will help you stay healthy and fit, but if you do not do it, you get no benefit. The same is true spiritually. Jesus said that to be more blessed than Mary, you must hear God’s Word and keep it or do it. Why do you suppose Jesus said that? Probably because He knew that many listening that day were not doing what God told them to do. You cannot receive the blessing without doing what God said you are to do.

Conclusion

The Bible includes many stories about mothers. It gives clear guidelines for rearing children. It outlines your role as a wife. God did not give us His word to overwhelm us, but to show us the way that leads to His blessing. If you depend on the Lord, you can hear and keep God’s word and be blessed by God.

Though Jesus spoke this verse to a woman, it applies equally to each of us.

If you have not been hearing the Word of God with understanding, make it a priority beginning today. If you have not been applying what you hear obediently, ask God to forgive you and to enable you to change.

Song: His Way with Thee – 367
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More Blessed than Mary
12 May 2024 AM – Text: Luke 11:27-28 – Topic: Mother’s Day